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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LGBT History Project

Date: June 1976

Founded in the early 1970’s, Northeast Pennsylvania Gay Alliance (NEPGA) was a major LGBTQ+ group in northeast Pennsylvania. The newsletter was used to relay monthly meeting minutes and upcoming events.

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics:

Organizations: Northeastern PA Gay Alliance (NEPGA)

View Item: Northeast Pennsylvania Gay Alliance (NEPGA) Newsletter - June 1976

Date: circa 1978

Add sheet advertising gay friendly buisenesses in Northeast Pennsylvania. 

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics:

Organizations: Northeastern PA Gay Alliance (NEPGA)

View Item: Northeast Pennsylvania Gay Alliance (NEPGA) Add Sheet - circa 1978

Date: October 19 - 21, 1979

Draft of schedule for Pride '79, a statewide gay rights conference. 

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

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View Item: Pride '79 Schedule (draft) - October 19 - 21, 1979

Date: April 7 - 9, 1978

List of resolutions introduced from Pride '78, a statewide gay rights conference, with notes on which were passed, amended, or failed. 

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics: Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus

View Item: Pride '78 Resolutions - April 7 - 9, 1978

Date: October 3 - 5, 1980

Program for Pride '80, a statewide gay rights conference. 

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics:

Organizations: PA Lesbian/Gay Support Network (PALGSN)

View Item: Pride '80 Program - October 3 - 5, 1980

Date: April 7 - 9. 1978

Program for Pride '78, a statewide gay rights conference. The program also explains the "Dark Side" of planning Pride '78, specifically the controversy with the Americus Hotel in Allentown, PA. 

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

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Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus

View Item: Pride '78 Program - April 7 - 9, 1978

Date: October 2 - 5, 1980

Invitation poster for Pride '80, a statewide gay rights conference. 

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

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View Item: Pride '80 Invitation Poster - October 2 - 5, 1980

Date: October 19 - 21, 1979

Advertisement poster for Pride '79, a statewide gay rights conference.

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

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Organizations: PA Lesbian/Gay Support Network (PALGSN), PA Governor's Council for Sexual Minorities

View Item: Pride '79 Poster - October 19 - 21, 1979

Date: May 1978

Thank you letter Kathy Blackburn from Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge for the accommendations provided for Pride '78, a statewide gay rights conference. 

Collection: LGBT-011 - Deetz

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View Item: Pride '78 Committee Letter to Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge - May 1978

Date: February 20, 1980

Lesbian/Gay Fundraiser at Rosmary's for Pride '80 featuring Sharon Ettinger. 

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

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View Item: Pride '80 Fundraiser Flyer - February 20, 1980

Date: June 9, 1978

Lesbian/Gay Fundraiser at Rosmary's for Pride '79 featuring Rainbow's End. 

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

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Organizations: PA Lesbian/Gay Support Network (PALGSN)

View Item: Pride '79 Fundraiser Flyer - June 9, 1978

Date: April 7 - 9, 1978

Due to inclement wheather, Pride '78, a statewide gay rights conference, was rescheduled from January 20 - 22 to April 7 - 9. This document contains the updated Brochure and Regsitration info.

Collection: LGBT-074 - Silvestre

Topics:

Organizations: PA Governor's Council for Sexual Minorities, PA Rural Gay Caucus

View Item: Rescheduled Pride '78 Brochure and Registration - April 7 - 9, 1978

Date: October 3 -5 , 1980

Brochure and Registration for Pride '80, a statewide gay rights conference.

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics:

Organizations: PA Lesbian/Gay Support Network (PALGSN)

View Item: Pride '80 Brochure and Registration - October 3 - 5, 1980

Date: January 20 - 22, 1978

Brochure and Registration Materials for Pride '78, a statewide gay rights conference.

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

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View Item: Pride '78 Brochure and Registration Materials - January 20 - 22, 1978

Date: October 19 - 21, 1979

Brochure and Registration for Pride '79, a statewide gay rights conference. 

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics:

Organizations: PA Lesbian/Gay Support Network (PALGSN)

View Item: Pride '79 Brochure and Registration - October 19 - 21, 1979

Date: August 27 - 29, 1982

Exhibit Booth registraion form for Pride '82, a statewide gay rights conference. 

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

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View Item: Pride '82 Exhibit Information Form - August 27 - 29, 1982

Date: October 19 - 21, 1979

Exhibit Booth and Program Sponsor reservation forms for Pride '79, a statewide gay rights conference.  

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

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View Item: Pride '79 Exhibit and Sponsorship Forms - October 19 - 21, 1979

Date: October 17 - 18, 1975

Program for the first Pennsylvania State Gay Conference, a statewide gay rights conference which was later known as Pride. 

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

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Organizations: Governor's Gay Task Force, Gay Community Services of Harrisburg, Gays United Lancaster (GUL), Gay Switchboard of Harrisburg (GSH), Gay Activist Alliance of Philadelphia

View Item: Pennsylvania State Gay Conference Program - October 17 - 18, 1975

Date: undated

Altland’s Ranch was the first official LGBTQ+ bar in the York area, and was the longest running LGBTQ+ bar in the county. It was known for hosting drag balls, discos, and particularly Halloween parties. Altland’s Ranch closed in 2016.

Collection: LGBT-084 - Altland's Ranch

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View Item: Altland's Ranch Welcome Sign - undated

Date: September 25, circa 2000

Altland’s Ranch was the first official LGBTQ+ bar in the York area, and was the longest running LGBTQ+ bar in the county. It was known for hosting drag balls, discos, and particularly Halloween parties. Altland’s Ranch closed in 2016.

Collection: LGBT-084 - Altland's Ranch

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View Item: Altland's Ranch "Udderly 80s" Posters - September 25, circa 2000

Date: September 8, 1997

Altland’s Ranch was the first official LGBTQ+ bar in the York area, and was the longest running LGBTQ+ bar in the county. It was known for hosting drag balls, discos, and particularly Halloween parties. Altland’s Ranch closed in 2016.

Collection: LGBT-084 - Altland's Ranch

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View Item: Altland's Ranch "Square Dance with Anyone in the World" Posters - September 8, 1997

Date: Fall 1997 to Spring 1998

Altland’s Ranch was the first official LGBTQ+ bar in the York area, and was the longest running LGBTQ+ bar in the county. It was known for hosting drag balls, discos, and particularly Halloween parties. Altland’s Ranch closed in 2016.

Collection: LGBT-084 - Altland's Ranch

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View Item: Altland's Ranch "The Susquehanna Squares" Poster - Fall 1997 to Spring 1998

Date: December 31, 2002

Altland’s Ranch was the first official LGBTQ+ bar in the York area, and was the longest running LGBTQ+ bar in the county. It was known for hosting drag balls, discos, and particularly Halloween parties. Altland’s Ranch closed in 2016.

Collection: LGBT-084 - Altland's Ranch

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View Item: Altland's Ranch "New Year's Eve Buffet" Poster - December 31, 2002

Date: June 8, circa 2011

Altland’s Ranch was the first official LGBTQ+ bar in the York area, and was the longest running LGBTQ+ bar in the county. It was known for hosting drag balls, discos, and particularly Halloween parties. Altland’s Ranch closed in 2016.

Collection: LGBT-084 - Altland's Ranch

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View Item: Altland's Ranch "Miss Gay York PA America" Poster - June 8, circa 2011