Dickinson College Archives and Special Collections

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.

Statement proposed by Joseph W. Burns in representation of the PA Rural Gay Caucus against the PA House of Representatives for rejecting Governor Shapp's Proclamation of Gay Pride Week, June 12 -19, 1976.

Flyer for the annual Reading Spring Picnic.

Letter to the National Gay Task Force asking for resource materials for planning workshops in preperation for Gay Lobby Day, held on March 23, 1976. 

Letter from Sam Deetz to members of the Susquehanna Valley Gay Organization (SVGU) about Gay Lobby Day planning.

Letter from Williams James stating his opinion on the American O. Church. 

Announcement letter and informational flyer for Human Rights Day, held May 24, 1977 at Harrisburg, PA.

A list of Gay Pride Slogans created by Citizens Concerned for a Better Community (CCBC).

This is an update on the planning progress of Gay Lobby Day, which was held on March 23, 1976. There is information on upcoming workshops on lobbying, recruitment, educational packets, and what to expect on Gay Lobby Day itself.

This is the formal report from Gay Lobby Day, held on March 23, 1976 in Harrisburg, PA at the State Capitol. The repot includes results of Gay Lobby Day and suggestions for future events.

This is a copy of the informal report of Gay Lobby Day that was held on March 23, 1976 in Harrisburg, PA. There are also two correspondences included between William F. Hollabaugh to Artemis House, asking about lobbying suggestions and if the Gay Lobby Day Informal Report could be housed there.

This is a collection of recruitment flyers and letters created by the Gay Lobby Day Committee for Gay Lobby Day held on March 23, 1976.

A wooden and metal plaque awarded to the 2nd Runner Up of the 2010 Studs Magazine Nubian Studd & Femme Pageant. On the plaque are two rectangular, bronze metal plates, the top one has the STUDs logo along with "STUDS Magazine Handsomely, Beautiful, Women." The Lower plate has a black background with gold lettering that says "2010 Studs magazine Nubian Studd & Femme Pageant 2nd Runner-Up."

The Harrisburg Hustler's volleyball team received this Charm City Invitational Baltimore (MD) trophy in 1987.

The Pennsmen is a leather and Levi men's group in Central Pa. This item is a round, metal belt buckle with the Pennsmen logo on the front. The Logo consists of a sword pointing into the Harrisburg Capital Dome, cross by two arrows, which are chained together at the bottom, with "Pennsmen" arching over where all three cross.

A gay trivia game in a pink, black and white box. It has questions about politics, romance, history, fads, entertainment, arts, people and places. The game includes score cards, two pencils, a die, instructions, and 1800 trivia questions.

This trophy was received by the Harrisburg Hustlers volleyball team. It is labelled as the L.P. Rec. "B" Division League 2nd place trophy for 1983-84.

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.