2021

Colin Kreitzer was born in 1947 in Enola, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Wormleysburg, PA with his parents and his younger sister. He attended West Chester College (now West Chester University) and moved to Harrisburg in 1977, where he began getting involved in the gay community through activism and social activities. Kreitzer was involved in the Gay and Switchboard of Harrisburg (GSH), later known as the Gay and Lesbian Switchboard of Harrisburg (GLSH), Dignity/Central PA, Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) of the Spirit, and volleyball.

These materials contain artwork designed by Lawrence Valerio for LGBT events and organizations in Central PA, including Dignity of Central PA, a forum for human concerns, a place of seeking for greater self, knowledge, and wisdom, an affirmation of one's sexual orientation in faith, and personal ministry; the Open Air Festival, which was a precursor to what is known today as Central PA PrideFest; and the South Central AIDS Assistance Network (SCAAN) Caring a la Carte fundraiser, which was a local dinner held to raise funds to support the work of SCAAN and it’s support of the local HIV/AIDs positive community.

Samuel Deetz was born in Quakertown, PA on April 21, 1951 and was one of eight children. His father was a minister, so his family moved from place to place throughout his childhood, until they came back to Central PA where Deetz finished high school. While living at home after high school, Deetz started working as an accountant, which led him to continue a career in accounting.

Deetz became active in the LGBTQ+ community in his mid-twenties in the 1970s. He, with help from Mark Seagal, founded the Susquehanna Valley Gays United (SVGU) in the summer of 1975. He was a member of the PA Rural Gay Caucus from its inception in 1975 until 1978, where he was co-chair for the first Gay Lobby (Education) Day in March 1976 and became the convener of the Legislative Committee. He was invited to become a member of the PA Governor’s Council for Sexual Minorites in 1976, where he became a facilitator between the Rural Gay Caucus and the Council, as well as the Council and the PA State Police Department. He also was treasurer for the Pennsylvania for Social Justice Political Action Committee (PAC) from 1982 to 1985.

Deetz passed away in 2019.

This collection highlights Deetz’s activism in various LGBTQ+ groups in Central PA. Deetz was an accountant by trade which enabled him to hold treasurer positions in most of the organizations highlighted in this collection.

The Central Pennsylvania Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (CPGLCC) was established in 2007. It grew out of The Business Association of Gays and Lesbians (BAGAL), which was established in the 1990s by Dan Miller. Miller wanted to create an association that brought together professionals of the LGBTQ+ community to network. After Miller stepped down from leadership, the group evolved into more of a social network over the years. In 2007, new leadership reshaped BAGAL with the rebrand to CPGLCC. A business affiliate of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, CPGLCC began building partnerships between gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses, professionals, and students of business. Today, their mission is to “support diversity and assist Central Pennsylvania’s business community in pursuit of an ideal workplace, marketplace, industry, and region.”

Deb Fulham-Winston served as the director of development for South Central AIDS Assistance Network (SCAAN) from January 1992 until June 1995. This collection contains materials from SCAAN promoting HIV/AIDS awareness.

This collection was donated by Anonymous donors and houses two pins dealing with HIV/AIDs awareness in the mid-1990s. The AIDSWAlK was an annual fundraiser in Harrisburg, PA sponsored by the South Central Aids Assistance Network (SCAAN), and the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt was a national organization that served as a memorial to celebrate the lives of people who have died of HIV/AIDS.

Richard H. Hause was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, on May 21, 1947, and moved to Harrisburg after he graduated from high school in 1965. After coming out to his family when he was eighteen, Richard began working for the State Government in the Department of Highways. He was an active member in the Dignity Chapter of Central Pennsylvania, which was one of the first LGBT organizations started in the area. Dignity/Central PA is a forum for human concerns, a place of seeking for greater self, knowledge, and wisdom, an affirmation of one's sexual orientation in faith, and personal ministry.

This collection contains documents from the Gay and Lesbian Switchboard of Harrisburg (GLSH). Items include a Fall Achievement Benefit Program, information on the Alternative Central (a LGBTQ+ positive publication published by the GLSH), GLSH organizational maps and website information, a program and fundraiser letter for Pride 2005, and a series of Central PA Gay and Lesbian FilmFest posters. Digital copies of these items are held on the thumb drive in this collection.

Marlene Kanuck was born in 1949 in Hazleton, PA. Kanuck was a founder of the LGBT Center of Central PA, served as Vice President of the Central Pennsylvania Womyn’s Chorus, and was involved in a Harrisburg-area lesbian group called the Professional Women’s Organization. Currently Kanuck works at the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

This collection contains an informational flyer on The Lesbian Connection, LGBTQ+ and feminist activist buttons and pins, and LGBTQ+ artist vinyl records.

Julia “Julie” Lobur was born in New Kensington, Pennsylvania in 1955 and moved to Harrisburg in 1970. She received her bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) and received a master’s degree in Computer Science in 2003. Lobur briefly served in the military in 1983, eventually being discharged for being a lesbian, but it was also where she met her wife Marla.

For Lobur, her introduction to the LGBTQ+ community was influenced by the Commerce Diner. Located across the street from the then 400 Club, a LGBTQ+ bar of the time, and adjacent to State Street in Harrisburg, PA, the Commerce Diner catered to LGBTQ+ clientele in the 1970s. The diner eventually closed, and the building was demolished in the late 1980s.

Lobur currently works as a computer architect for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is an adjunct professor of computer science for Penn State. She resides in Central PA today.

Nancy Helm was born in Lancaster, PA and graduated from Manheim Township High School in 1981. After graduating, she worked for a printing company and had other odd jobs before opening a hair salon with her partner. In 1991, she decided to open a bookstore cattycorner from the salon on Prince Street: The Closet. Helm started the bookstore as an outlet for the gay community of Lancaster so they could meet, hang out, and shop. The bookstore became the target of anti-gay crime that same year, including bombings and multiple threats, and because of that closed in 1992.

Helm was also a member of the Pink Triangle Coalition (PTC). Created in 1991 the coalition was instrumental in getting sexual orientation non-discrimination protection added to the Human Relations Ordnance in the City of Lancaster. Helm was the key spokesperson for the group. Helm still resides in Central Pa today.

Patricia “Pat” Saunders grew up in the suburbs of Boston, where she became a hairdresser. After Saunders married, she and her family moved to Lancaster, PA, but later she moved back to Boston until moving to New York City for her hairdressing firm. She rose in the ranks of the company, eventually taking the lead in marketing and PR for 300 salons. One night at work she slipped on an ice cube and sustained a severe head injury, impacting her mobility and faculties. She then moved from New York City to New Jersey, and then to back to the Central Pennsylvania area.

Saunders had two friends who passed away from AIDS. Seeing the seriousness of the disease in the Central PA area, and her personal connection to it, Saunders began working for various non-profit organizations committed to supporting people with HIV/AIDS and raising awareness for the disease. She worked for the American Red Cross, Art Against AIDS/Lancaster AIDS Project, and The Betty Finney House. Saunders helped these organizations with fundraising, organizing events, and writing any letters to various celebrities to collect items for silent auctions.

Marths ''Marty'' Tornblom was born in Utah and was raised in the greater Salt Lake City area as a member of the Mormon Church. She decided to get a degree in education, which led her to teaching. She moved with her family to Harrisburg in 1980, and that began her involvement in the local community and her work around HIV/AIDS. Tornblom started off as a volunteer in the South Central AIDS Assistance Network (SCAAN) in their Buddy Program, which paired a volunteer up with someone who had HIV/AIDS to be their support when needed. She later worked as the Prevention Educator for the organization.

This collection covers materials related to Tornblom's time with the South Central AIDS Alliance Network (SCAAN).

Opened in 1966 in the small town of Spring Grove, PA, Altland’s Ranch was the first official LGBTQ+ bar in the York area, and was the longest running LGBTQ+ bar in the county. Altland’s Ranch was abspace for the LGBTQ+ community to make their own. It was known for hosting drag balls, discos, and particularly Halloween parties.

Altland’s Ranch became more than just a party space, it was also a space for LGBTQ+ community groups to use for programs and became a type of community center for the LGBTQ+ community in the York area. Altland’s Ranch closed in 2016.

Peg (Stoppard) Welch was born in December 1951 near Chester County, Pennsylvania. Peg was a young mother of two and worked at various jobs until joining Parents Without Partners where she met her second husband, Phil. With his help, Peg was able to graduate from Millersville University with a degree in social work, and later worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters, the United Way, the YWCA, and Planned Parenthood. At the YWCA, Peg met her future wife, Delma Welch. Peg was an active member in York Area Lambda, helped to establish the Lesbian Alliance, and was involved in activism to get LGBT ordinances passed with the York City Human Relations Commission.

Delma Welch was born in Washington D.C. and grew up in Cardiff, Maryland. Delma began going to National Organization for Women (NOW) meetings in 1975 after becoming interested in feminism. After being in a relationship with a man for 23 years, she met her future wife, Peg (Stoppard) Welch, at the YWCA. Today, Peg and Delma live in York, 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.

Joy Verner was born in 1963 and grew up in Franklin, PA. She relocated to Central PA to attend graduate school at Shippensburg University and performed her practicums at Dickinson College in the early 1990s. In 2008, Verner became a full-time staff member in the Student Development office at Dickinson College until 2013. While at Dickinson, Verner created the event Pride@Dickinson, which is now known as Out on Britton and takes place on National Coming Out Day. She now resides in Central Pennsylvania with her wife Sue and their four children.

The Keystone Conference is a program for transgender individuals and their allies that has been held annually in Pennsylvania since 2009. The items in this collection include programs from previous conferences and vendor materials from the 2018 conference.

Steven Leshner became a member of Dignity/Central PA, a Catholic organization for LGBTQ+ individuals that has been active in the Harrisburg, PA area since 1976, in the 1970s, where he participated in events and activities, as well as became part of the social committee. The materials in this collection document the activities of this group. Leshner is still active in the Dignity community today.