La Rose Rouge (Harrisburg, PA)

This collection contains a t-shirt from La Rose Rogue, an LGBTQ+ bar in Harrisburg, PA. La Rose Rogue was the final LGBTQ+ bar iteration at the 400 North 2nd Street location in Harrisburg, opened in 1978 by John Koch, and was open until 1990.

These materials document several LGBTQ+ bars that operated in the Harrisburg, PA area, namely The Archives Nightclub and Restaurant (1983), La Rose Rouge (1978-1992), Neptune’s Lounge (1972), and the Shadows bar (1980-1984). These items take the form of bar memorabilia, photographs, and video recordings.

This collection also includes trophies, plaques, and buttons highlighting the Harrisburg Hustler’s volleyball team, which Larry Wilson sponsored from 1981-1987. In addition, it includes an anniversary pin from The Pennsmen Inc., an organization for LGBTQ+ individuals with an interest in the leather/rubber/fetish lifestyle and was founded in South Central PA in 1977, and a scrapbook featuring Pennsmen events.

The beginning pages of the Pennsman scrapbook also includes pictures of Benedict A. “Wesley” Trautwein, a drag performer known as Francis Parker. Wesley was a part of the The Jewel Box Revue, a troupe of drag performers who traveled around the country from 1939 to 1969, which made many stops in Pennsylvania. After departing the Revue, he moved back to Harrisburg and continued preforming at local bars and clubs, such as The Neptune Lounge.

Red matchbook from La Rose Rouge in Harrisburg, PA

These audio recordings are copies of mixed tapes that a Harrisburg resident made in the 1980s for the former La Rose Rouge Bar at 400 North Second Street.

The GSH Newsletter is an outreach feature of the Gay Switchboard of Harrisburg. Notable articles in this issue are:

• "Gay by Birthright" (p. 1)
• "Switchboard Elections" (p. 4)
• "Co-Director Mr. Buns" (p. 4)
• "1981 Flea Mkts. Nets $125.38" (p. 4)
• "Rabbit - November 14" (p. 5)

The GSH Newsletter is an outreach feature of the Gay Switchboard of Harrisburg. Notable articles in this issue are:

• "A Rose" [La Rose Rouge] (p. 1)
• "Switchboard Summer Picnic" (p. 1)
• "June 30 - ERA Rally" (p. 3)
• "Dignity/Central PA is Six" (p. 3)
• "2 Flea Mkts. Net $98.38" (p. 4)
• "Gods & Gays Part I" (p. 6)

The GSH Newsletter is an outreach feature of the Gay Switchboard of Harrisburg. Notable articles in this issue are:

• "Anniversary Party, April 26" (p. 1)
• "Harrisburg Gay Switchboard Presents 'That Rabbit'" (p. 1)
• "Pennsmen Night" (p. 1)
• "Joann Farr Outstanding" (p. 2)
• "What's going on?" (p. 3)
• "Library Missing Books" (p. 3)
• "February a Record!" (p. 4)

Pamphlet and organizational document that explains the Gay Switchboard of Harrisburg’s mission, background, funding, call-in categories, and call statistics.