About LGBT History Project Resources
The LGBT Center of Central PA and the Dickinson College Archives and Special Collections have partnered to document the stories and history of LGBT life and activism in the greater Central Pennsylvania region. This site contains oral histories that have been recorded for the LGBT History Project, as well as fully accessible digital versions of documents, images, and artifacts that have been donated to the project.
This is a quickly growing collection, and not all items are available through this website. Please contact Malinda Triller-Doran at archives@dickinson.edu for information about how to access all of the resources of the LGBT History Project, as well as how to donate additional materials.
Generous support to make these unique resources accessible has been provided by the Schlegel Deibler Charitable Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
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Date: September 1993
Created by Lorraine Kujawa, Cindy Mitzel, Mary Nancarrow, and several others in 1983, the Lavender Letter Newsletter was a calendar of events for, by, and about lesbian women to create community in the Central Pennsylvania area. The newsletter was distributed monthly until the mid-2000s.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics: HIV/AIDs
Organizations: South Central Aids Assistance Network (SCAAN), The Hope Foundation, Women's Information Network (WIN), Lesbian Herstory Archives
View Item: Lavender Letter (Harrisburg, PA) - September 1993
Date: August 1993
Created by Lorraine Kujawa, Cindy Mitzel, Mary Nancarrow, and several others in 1983, the Lavender Letter Newsletter was a calendar of events for, by, and about lesbian women to create community in the Central Pennsylvania area. The newsletter was distributed monthly until the mid-2000s.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics:
Organizations: Women's Information Network (WIN)
Date: July 1993
Created by Lorraine Kujawa, Cindy Mitzel, Mary Nancarrow, and several others in 1983, the Lavender Letter Newsletter was a calendar of events for, by, and about lesbian women to create community in the Central Pennsylvania area. The newsletter was distributed monthly until the mid-2000s.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics:
Organizations: Women's Information Network (WIN)
View Item: Lavender Letter (Harrisburg, PA) - July 1993
Date: June 1993
Created by Lorraine Kujawa, Cindy Mitzel, Mary Nancarrow, and several others in 1983, the Lavender Letter Newsletter was a calendar of events for, by, and about lesbian women to create community in the Central Pennsylvania area. The newsletter was distributed monthly until the mid-2000s.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics:
Organizations: Women's Information Network (WIN)
View Item: Lavender Letter (Harrisburg, PA) - June 1993
Date: May 1993
Created by Lorraine Kujawa, Cindy Mitzel, Mary Nancarrow, and several others in 1983, the Lavender Letter Newsletter was a calendar of events for, by, and about lesbian women to create community in the Central Pennsylvania area. The newsletter was distributed monthly until the mid-2000s.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics:
Organizations: Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
View Item: Lavender Letter (Harrisburg, PA) - May 1993
Date: April 1993
Created by Lorraine Kujawa, Cindy Mitzel, Mary Nancarrow, and several others in 1983, the Lavender Letter Newsletter was a calendar of events for, by, and about lesbian women to create community in the Central Pennsylvania area. The newsletter was distributed monthly until the mid-2000s.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics:
Organizations:
Date: March 1993
Created by Lorraine Kujawa, Cindy Mitzel, Mary Nancarrow, and several others in 1983, the Lavender Letter Newsletter was a calendar of events for, by, and about lesbian women to create community in the Central Pennsylvania area. The newsletter was distributed monthly until the mid-2000s.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics:
Organizations:
Date: February 1993
Created by Lorraine Kujawa, Cindy Mitzel, Mary Nancarrow, and several others in 1983, the Lavender Letter Newsletter was a calendar of events for, by, and about lesbian women to create community in the Central Pennsylvania area. The newsletter was distributed monthly until the mid-2000s. This issue features a note saying that the Lavender Letter will not be giving any infromation to the Gay and Lesbian Switchboard of Harrisburg's Calendar of Events.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics:
Organizations: Gay and Lesbian Switchboard of Harrisburg, Her Story Bookstore
Date: January 1993
Created by Lorraine Kujawa, Cindy Mitzel, Mary Nancarrow, and several others in 1983, the Lavender Letter Newsletter was a calendar of events for, by, and about lesbian women to create community in the Central Pennsylvania area. The newsletter was distributed monthly until the mid-2000s.
This issue includes a reflection on the 10th anniversary of the Lavender Letter.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics:
Organizations: Gay and Lesbian Switchboard of Harrisburg
Date: May 1978
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community.
In this report, the Caucus gives the location of the nest meeting in June and gives the meeting minutes from the May meeting. Minutes to note are:
- discussion of formation of a state wide gay support group
- postive and negative comments of Pride '78
- update on the Human Relations Ordinance in Allentown, PA
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: Human Relations Ordinance, PA House Joint Resolution 683
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Report - May 1978
Date: March 1978
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community.
In this report, the Caucus gives the location for the next meeting in April and more information on the Rural Conference.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Report - March 1978
Date: December 1977
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community.
In this report, the Caucus discusses the new board that was elected and the progress of the Rural Conference.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Report - December 1977
Date: November 1977
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community.
In this report, the Caucus discloses the location of the Rural Conference that they have been planning over the past month.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Report - November 1977
Date: October 1977
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ+ community. In this report, the Caucus updates on the Rural Conference and Allentown Gay Rights.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: Human Rights Ordinance
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus, Citizens Organized for Decency (C.O.D.)
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Report - October 1977
Date: August 1977
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ+ community. In this report, the Caucus gives the location of the meeting in September and the meeting minutes from August. The minutes discuss the Rural Conference that is being planned and efforts to pass a Human Rights Ordinance in Allentown, PA.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: Human Rights Ordinance
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus, Humans Relations Commission
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Report - August 1977
Date: June 1977
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ+ community. In this report, the Caucus apologizes for not getting the report out for the month of May. They give the date and location for the July meeting and they provide updates on PA Senate Bill 531 and topics that will be converged at the July Meeting, which includes discussion of a Rural conference/festival.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: PA Senate Bill 531
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Report - June 1977
Date: April 1977
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ+ community. In this report, there is mention of Human Rights Day and the process of both PA Senate Bill 83 and 531. There are no minutes from the April meeting, as they were not available for this report.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: PA Senate Bill 83, PA Senate Bill 531
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Report - April 1977
Date: March 1977
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ+ community.
In this report, the Caucus mentions the location of the meeting in April and the meeting minutes from March. Minutes to note are:
- The update on PA Senate Bill 83
- The Allentown Human Relations Ordinance
- The PA Rural Gay Caucus sending a letter to the Dade County Coalition for the Humanistic Rights of Gays in supporting their stance against Anita Bryant
- The idea of a gay youth center is raised
- Shippensburg State College passes a non-discrimination clause
- Discussion of reaching out to people of color
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: Sodomy Repeal Bill, PA Senate Bill 83, Human Relations Ordinance, Inclusivity
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus, Gay Youth of Central PA
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Report - March 1977
Date: February 1977
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report newsletter was used as outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community. In this report, the Caucus mentions the location of the meeting in March and provides the meeting minutes from February. Minutes to note is the passing of PA Senate Bill 83 in the State Government Committee.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: PA Senate Bill 83
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Report - February 1977
Date: January 1977
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ+ community. In this report, the Caucus mentions the location of the February meeting and provides the meeting minites from the previous January meeting.
Meeting minutes of note are:
- Deputy State Attorney General addressed the Caucus and discussed the "Sodomy Repeal Bill," as well as the concern about PA Senate Bill 83, which would bar gay or lesbian individuals from certain employment positions
- Report on the Lebanon High School student who committed sucide and how the Caucus Education Committee was to proceed with outreach and support
- Report on the Telephone Tree that was established
- Discussion of the status of other organizations that are part of the Rural Gay Caucus
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: Sodomy Repeal Bill, PA Senate Bill 83
Organizations: Lebanon High School, Gays United Lancaster (GUL), Gay Switchboard of Lancaster, Gay Era, Lehigh Valley Homophile Organization (Le-Hi-Ho), PA Rural Gay Caucus, Gay Coordinating Society of Berks County, Reading (GCS Berks)
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Report - January 1977
Date: December 1976
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The newsletter was used as outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community. In this report, the Caucus gives the location for the January meeting and provides the meeting minutes from December. Theses minutes include:
- Legislative Committe Report Communications Committee Report
- Education Committee Report
- Summary of groups that make up the Rural Gay Caucus
- Notice about the Phone Tree that was put together
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: Voluntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse Status
Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus, Gay Alcoholics Anonymous, PA Governor's Council for Sexual Minorities, Lehigh Valley Homophile Organization (Le-Hi-Ho), Northeastern PA Gay Alliance (NEPGA), Gay Switchboard of Harrisburg (GSH)
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Report - December 1976
Date: November 1976
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The newsletter was used as outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community. In this report, the Caucus provides the location of the December meeting and the minutes from the November meeting.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations:
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Report - November 1976
Date: March 1976
The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The newsletter was used as outreach to the Central PA LGBTQ community. Highlights of this report include:
- Plans for Gay Lobby Day
- Dyketactics group protests film "The Snuff"
- Efforts to pass Human Relations Act in Reading, PA
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics: Human Relations Act, PA Senate Bill 743
Organizations: Dyketactics, PA Rural Gay Caucus, Gay Coordinating Society of Berks County, Reading (GCS Berks)
View Item: PA Rural Gay Caucus Report - March 1976
Date: December 1992
Created by Lorraine Kujawa, Cindy Mitzel, Mary Nancarrow, and several others in 1983, the Lavender Letter Newsletter was a calendar of events for, by, and about lesbian women to create community in the Central Pennsylvania area. The newsletter was distributed monthly until the mid-2000s. This newsletter specifically highlights the Lesbian and Gay Community Recognition Brunch.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics:
Organizations:
Date: November 1992
Created by Lorraine Kujawa, Cindy Mitzel, Mary Nancarrow, and several others in 1983, the Lavender Letter Newsletter was a calendar of events for, by, and about lesbian women to create community in the Central Pennsylvania area. The newsletter was distributed monthly until the mid-2000s.
Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter
Topics:
Organizations: Your Turf, Triangle Interests