LGBT History Project: LGBT-038 Joy Ufema Counsel Collection

Number of Pages
6
Date
1991-1995

Joy (Ufema) Counsel was raised in Altoona, Pennsylvania. After completing high school, (Ufema) Counsel began studying to become a nurse at the Altoona Hospital, and later completed a nursing program at Harrisburg Area Community College. Throughout her career as a nurse, (Ufema) Counsel developed an affinity for caring for patients who were terminally ill.

Searching for direction after facing a roadblock in her career, (Ufema) Counsel decided to use her experience in hospice care to alleviate the suffering she had witnessed in the AIDS crisis. After proposing the idea to the mayor of York, PA, (Ufema) Counsel bought an old brownstone for one dollar and began renovations. In 1991, York Hospice House was born. Counsel used her expertise in death and dying to design the home based on a philosophy of extreme attention to detail. She wanted to create “a tone in this hospice of love and acceptance and peace.” From 1991-1995, the York House provided care to 95 dying AIDS patients.

Topics
Year
Time Period
Origin
Gift of Joy Ufema Counsel
Location
LGBT-038 Joy Ufema Counsel Collection

Lavender Letter (Harrisburg, PA) - January 1992

Number of Pages
7
Date
January 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

News featured in this issue includes:

  • "Lancaster MCC about to Buy a Home for Itself" (p. 3)
  • "York Hospice in Gear" (p. 5)
  • "Patriot News Gives Gays Clout" (p. 5)
Find Other Issues
Topics
Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Lorraine Kujawa
Location
LGBT-009 Lavender Letter Collection

"The Lisbon Traviata" Lilybill - July 21 to 24, 1993

Number of Pages
26
Date
July 21 to 24, 1993

Program for "The Lisbon Traviata" performance produced by Lily White & Company at Open Stage of Harrisburg, PA on July 21-24, 1993. 

Topics
General Subjects
Year
Time Period
Origin
Gift of Paul Foltz
Location
LGBT-043 Lily White & Company

LGBT Oral History 116: Joy (Ufema) Counsel

Number of Pages
14
Date
April 29, 2015

Joy (Ufema) Counsel was raised in Altoona, Pennsylvania. After completing high school, Joy began studies to become a nurse at the Altoona Hospital, and later completed a nursing program at Harrisburg Area Community College. Joy worked in numerous hospitals and medical facilities in New York, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Throughout her career as a nurse, Joy developed an affinity for caring for patients who were terminally ill. Her work in the area of death and dying received considerable media attention.

As a result, she was interviewed on 60 Minutes, a TV movie titled A Matter of Life and Death (1981) was made about her work, she authored numerous publications, and she participated in many speaking engagements across the country. In her interview, Joy discusses her work and experiences during the height of her recognition. She goes on to discuss the AIDS hospice she operated in York, Pennsylvania — elaborating on some of her most memorable patients and her experiences running a non-profit. Joy talks about her family’s reaction to her homosexuality, and her experiences as a lesbian in Central Pennsylvania. In the interview Joy goes on to discuss both challenges and the progress she sees as being significant to the LGBT community. Finally, Joy discusses the role of spirituality in her life.

Topics
Year
Time Period
Origin
Gift of Joy (Ufema) Counsel
Collection
Location
LGBT Oral History - Counsel, Joy (Ufema) - 116