LGBT Oral History Summaries

Number of Pages
120
Date
2018

Since August 2012 the LGBT History Project of the LGBT Center of Central PA has actively collected stories of LGBT history in central PA as told by those who lived them. This growing collection of oral history interviews is housed by the Dickinson College Archives and Special Collections. The attached PDF file contains summaries of each completed interview. To access the full video/audio file or transcription of an interview, contact archives@dickinson.edu or 717-245-1399.

Year
Time Period
Origin
Created by Dickinson Archives and Special Collections Staff
Collection
Location
LGBT Oral History

LGBT History Project: LGBT-111 Bradley "Brad" Gebhart Collection

Number of Pages
2
Date
2008-2023
Bradley “Brad” Gebhart, an active member in the arts scene in central Pennsylvania, serves on the board of the LGBT Center of Central PA as the Events Chair. In addition to his various roles in the community and professional work, Gebhart provided original cartoon drawings for the Central Voice.
Year
Origin
Gift of Bradley Gebhart
Collection
Location
LGBT-111 Bradley "Brad" Gebhart Collection

LGBT History Project: LGBT-105 Richard Schlegel Historical Marker Collection

Number of Pages
2
Date
2020-2022
Richard Lamar Schlegel was born in 1927 in Berrysburg, PA, a small borough in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. In 1949, he moved to Washington, D.C. where he pursued a master’s degree and later took a job in the federal government. His career ended in 1961 when he was fired for “immoral and indecent conduct” after being followed by secret investigators who investigated his personal life. Schlegel appealed his case, Schlegel vs. the United States, which went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court but was refused a hearing. LGBTQ+ activists and community members have repeatedly attempted to get Schlegel the recognition he deserves as a LGBTQ+ rights pioneer. In 2020, Schlegel was nominated for a Historical Marker in Pennsylvania to mark the historic event of Schlegel taking his case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The marker was approved and installed in Harrisburg near the Pennsylvania capitol, outside Schlegel’s former home, in October 2021. After receiving complaints, chiefly from State Senator John DiSanto, the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission voted to remove the marker on June 1, 2022, less than a year after its placement.
Year
Time Period
Origin
Gift of Anonymous Donor
Location
LGBT-105 Richard Schlegel Historical Marker Collection

LGBT History Project: LGBT-112 Borough of Carlisle Collection

Number of Pages
2
Date
2016-2021
Carlisle Borough, located in south-central Pennsylvania in Cumberland County, was founded in 1751 and incorporated as a borough in 1782. Carlisle serves as the county seat of Cumberland County. It is home to the U.S. Army War College, Dickinson College, and Penn State Dickinson School of Law. Carlisle Borough hosted its first official Pride Week celebration in 2019. The Carlisle Anti-Discrimination Ordinance, also known as the Borough of Carlisle Human Relations Ordinance, was passed in December 2016. This ordinance established a Human Relations Commission and protection of LGBTQ+ community in the Borough, specifically when it comes to sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
Places
General Subjects
Year
Time Period
Origin
Gift of Carlisle Borough
Location
LGBT-112 Borough of Carlisle Collection

LGBT History Project: LGBT-110 Mark Segal Collection

Date
1975
Mark Segal was born January 12, 1951, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Germantown High School and later Temple University. He moved to New York City in 1969 where he became heavily involved with the LGBT civil rights movement. Segal participated in the Stonewall Riots, was a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front, and was a member of the Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day Committee. In 1976, he founded the Philadelphia Gay News, a weekly LGBT newspaper publication in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The newspaper is still published today. He has continued to serve as an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, serving on the Joint Diversity Council of Comcast NBC/Universal and working with the Obama administration to plan and open The John C. Anderson Apartments, the nation’s first “LGBT Friendly” senior affordable housing apartment building in 2013.
People
Year
Time Period
Origin
Gift of Mark Seal
Collection
Location
LGBT-110 Mark Segal Collection

LGBT History Project: LGBT-114 Richard L. Schlegel Collection

Number of Pages
4
Date
1949-2006
Richard Lamar Schlegel was born in 1927 in Berrysburg, PA, a small borough in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. In 1949, he moved to Washington, D.C. where he pursued a master’s degree and later took a job in the federal government. His career ended in 1961 when he was fired for “immoral and indecent conduct” after being followed by secret investigators who investigated his personal life. Schlegel appealed his case, Schlegel vs. the United States, which went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court but was refused a hearing. He then returned to Pennsylvania where he worked for the Department of Highways and started a small chapter of the Janus Society in Harrisburg. This is believed to be the first gay organization created in central Pennsylvania.
Year
Origin
Gift of Robert ''Bob'' Deibler
Collection
Location
LGBT-114 Richard L. Schlegel Collection

York Lesbian Alliance Meeting Minutes - April 13, 1997

Number of Pages
5
Date
April 13, 1997

York Lesbian Alliance meeting minutes focusing on the York City School District Anti-Discrimination Policy and adding sex/sexual orientation to hate crimes status.

York Lesbian Alliance was started by Peg (Stoppard) Welch in the 1990s. 

Places
Organizations
Year
Time Period
Origin
Gift of Peg & Delma Welch
Collection
Location
LGBT-080 Peg & Delma Welch Collection

The Lesbians/Gay/Straight Alliance interest and sign-up sheet - circa 1994

Number of Pages
2
Date
circa 1994

Sign-up sheet for the Lesbian/Gay/Straight Alliance in York County. 

Places
Year
Time Period
Origin
Gift of Peg & Delma Welch
Collection
Location
LGBT-080 Peg & Delma Welch Collection

Text of Newspaper article about anti-discrimination law in York, PA (draft) - 1993

Number of Pages
2
Date
1993

Draft text of newspaper article to be released about the passing of an act to include sexual orientation and martial status in anti-discrimination laws in York, PA.

York Area LAMBDA, started in the 1990s and originally known as York Support Inc., was an educational, political, and social group for the LGBTQ+ community of York, PA and the surrounding area.

Places
General Subjects
Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Peg & Delma Welch
Collection
Location
LGBT-080 Peg & Delma Welch Collection

York City United Support for Mayor William J. Althaus - 1993

Number of Pages
2
Date
1993

Announcement supporting Mayor William J. Althaus' proposal to extend York City's civil rights guarantees to include sexual orientation and marital status.

York Area LAMBDA, started in the 1990s and originally known as York Support Inc., was an educational, political, and social group for the LGBTQ+ community of York, PA and the surrounding area.

Places
Organizations
General Subjects
Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Peg & Delma Welch
Collection
Location
LGBT-080 Peg & Delma Welch Collection

York Area LAMBDA Newsletter - May/June 1996

Number of Pages
7
Date
May/June 1996

York Area LAMBDA monthly newsletter with focus on Peg (Stoppard) Welch resigning as President.

York Area LAMBDA, started in the 1990s and originally known as York Support Inc., was an educational, political, and social group for the LGBTQ+ community of York, PA and the surrounding area.

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Places
Organizations
Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Peg & Delma Welch
Collection
Location
LGBT-080 Peg & Delma Welch Collection

York Area LAMBDA Petition for Signature Act - January 30, 1993

Number of Pages
3
Date
circa 1993

Memo containing petition to sign to support the expansion of York's Civil Rights Ordinance to include sexual orientation and marital status.

York Area LAMBDA, started in the 1990s and originally known as York Support Inc., was an educational, political, and social group for the LGBTQ+ community of York, PA and the surrounding area.

Places
Organizations
General Subjects
Year
Time Period
Origin
Gift of Peg & Delma Welch
Collection
Location
LGBT-080 Peg & Delma Welch Collection

York Area LAMBDA Lesbian and Gay Voters Guide - 1993

Number of Pages
7
Date
1993

Questionnaire put together by York Area LAMBDA with answers from candidates for Mayor, City Council, and School Board for York City.

York Area LAMBDA, started in the 1990s and originally known as York Support Inc., was an educational, political, and social group for the LGBTQ+ community of York, PA and the surrounding area.

Places
Organizations
General Subjects
Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Peg & Delma Welch
Collection
Location
LGBT-080 Peg & Delma Welch Collection

York Area LAMBDA Newsletter - March/April 1993

Number of Pages
5
Date
March/April 1993

York Area LAMBDA newsletter discussing local issues and the specifically the anti-discrimination ordinance that was passed by the York City Council to include sexual orientation.

York Area LAMBDA, started in the 1990s and originally known as York Support Inc., was an educational, political, and social group for the LGBTQ+ community of York, PA and the surrounding area.

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Places
Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Peg & Delma Welch
Collection
Location
LGBT-080 Peg & Delma Welch Collection

York Area LAMBDA General Meetings Memo - January 17 and February 21, 1993

Number of Pages
3
Date
January 17 and February 21, 1993

York Area LAMBDA memo in replacement of general meeting minutes for January 17 and February 21 meetings. The memo updates members on the status of the gay rights ordinance proposed by Mayor Althaus to the York City Council. 

York Area LAMBDA, started in the 1990s and originally known as York Support Inc., was an educational, political, and social group for the LGBTQ+ community of York, PA and the surrounding area.

Places
Organizations
Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Peg & Delma Welch
Collection
Location
LGBT-080 Peg & Delma Welch Collection

Steven Leshner and Richard Hause at event in Washington, D.C. – circa 1990

Date
1990

This is a photo of Steven Leshner (left) and Richard Hause (right) at an event in Washington, D.C. around 1990. Two copies of this picture are found on pages 7 and 39 of the Dignity/Central PA Scrapbook.

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 scrapbook was created by Steven Leshner, a member of Dignity/Central PA, and includes mostly photos, unless otherwise noted, of annual picnics, events, and members, like those of founder Jerry Brennan and Father Wallace Sawdy.

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Organizations
Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Steven Leshner
Collection
Location
LGBT-029 - Steven Leshner Collection

Aaron Spicher and Ted [Hogonvesher] at Philadelphia Gay Pride – 1976

Date
1976

This is a photo of Aaron Spicher and Ted Hogonvesher at Philadelphia Gay Pride in 1976. This picture is found on page 4 of the PDF of the Dignity/Central PA Scrapbook.

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 scrapbook was created by Steven Leshner, a member of Dignity/Central PA, and includes mostly photos, unless otherwise noted, of annual picnics, events, and members, like those of founder Jerry Brennan and Father Wallace Sawdy.

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Organizations
Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Steven Leshner
Collection
Location
LGBT-029 - Steven Leshner Collection

PA Rural Gay Caucus group at Philadelphia Gay Pride - 1976

Date
1976

This is a photo of PA Rural Gay Caucus members at the Philadelphia Gay Pride in 1976. Members include Aaron Spicher (with the Dignity Banner), Joe Burns, Richard Hoffman (with GCS Berks Banner), Sam Deetz (turned away from the camera) and Jerry Brennan. This picture is found on page 5 of the PDF of the Dignity/Central PA Scrapbook.

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 scrapbook was created by Steven Leshner, a member of Dignity/Central PA, and includes mostly photos, unless otherwise noted, of annual picnics, events, and members, like those of founder Jerry Brennan and Father Wallace Sawdy.

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Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Steven Leshner
Collection
Location
LGBT-029 - Steven Leshner Collection

Aaron Spicher at the Philadelphia Gay Pride – 1976

Date
1976

Picture of Dignity/Central PA member Aaron Spicher at the Philadelphia Gay Pride in 1976. This picture can be found on page 4 of the PDF of the Dignity/Central PA Scrapbook.

Dignity/Central PA's 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 scrapbook was created by Steven Leshner, a member of Dignity/Central PA, and includes mostly photos, unless otherwise noted, of annual picnics, events, and members, like those of founder Jerry Brennan and Father Wallace Sawdy.

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Organizations
Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gif of Steven Leshner
Collection
Location
LGBT-029 Steven Leshner Collection

LGBT History Project: LGBT-096 Alberta Hamm Collection

Number of Pages
4
Date
2000 - 2007, 2019

Alberta Hamm was born April 1, 1941 and assigned male at birth. After high school, Hamm entered the seminary for a short time before ultimately enrolling in the Army. She was stationed at Fort Dix, NJ and served 13 months in Korea. After being discharged in 1961, Hamm entered sales, owning her own business for a time, and working for Montgomery Ward department store starting in 1979 selling appliances throughout stores in Pennsylvanian for the next 20 years. From a young age Hamm knew she was different. She started to transition in 1995 and after retiring in 1999, had transition surgery in 2001 at the age of 60. She also enrolled in Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) in 2000, where she pursued a degree in social services. While at HACC, she served as president of the campus LGBTQ+ organization, student senator, and in 2002 became the first transgender individual in the nation to become student body president of a collegiate student government. She served in this position from Spring 2002 to Spring 2004. After Hamm graduated, she worked for the Center for Independent Living, and stayed active with local LGBT+ organizations like TransCentral PA and Common Roads. Hamm passed away in October 2019 at the age of 78.

People
Year
Time Period
Origin
Gift of Anonymous
Collection
Location
LGBT-096 Alberta Hamm Collection

Crossroads Magazine Premier Issue Sneak Peak - July 30, 1995

Number of Pages
22
Date
July 20, 1995

Crossroads Magazine was a bi-monthly local LGBTQ+ magazine created, edited, and published by Dr. Eric Selvey. The goal of Crossroads was to bring together the LGBTQ+ community of Central Pennsylvania by creating a space to showcase the efforts and talents of local LGBTQ+ organizations, people, and events, with all articles being voluntary contributions. Crossroads was published from June 1996 – October 1997.

This is a sneak peak of the premier issue later published in April 1996.

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Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Barry Loveland
Collection
Location
LGBT-014 Barry Loveland Collection

Crossroads Magazine - October/November 1997

Number of Pages
64
Date
October/November 1997

Crossroads Magazine was a bi-monthly local LGBTQ+ magazine created, edited, and published by Dr. Eric Selvey. The goal of Crossroads was to bring together the LGBTQ+ community of Central Pennsylvania by creating a space to showcase the efforts and talents of local LGBTQ+ organizations, people, and events, with all articles being voluntary contributions. Crossroads was published from June 1996 – October 1997.

In this Education & Gay/Lesbian Issues Issues:

  • Gay Dollars! A look at this Summer's Gay and Lesbian Entrepreneurial Spirit
  • Lynn Lavner Interview
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Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Dr. Eric Selvey
Collection
Location
LGBT-013 Eric Selvey Collection

Crossroads Magazine - December 1996/January 1997

Number of Pages
64
Date
December 1996/January 1997

Crossroads Magazine was a bi-monthly local LGBTQ+ magazine created, edited, and published by Dr. Eric Selvey. The goal of Crossroads was to bring together the LGBTQ+ community of Central Pennsylvania by creating a space to showcase the efforts and talents of local LGBTQ+ organizations, people, and events, with all articles being voluntary contributions. Crossroads was published from June 1996 – October 1997.

In this AIDS Issue:

  • Central Pennsylvania in the Face of AIDS Spotlights
    • SCANN Closure 
    • York Hospice House
    • Coverage of the NAMES Project Memorial Quilt
  • 1997 Community Calendar
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Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Dr. Eric Selvey
Collection
Location
LGBT-013 Eric Selvey Collection

Crossroads Magazine - October/November 1996

Number of Pages
60
Date
October/November 1996

Crossroads Magazine was a bi-monthly local LGBTQ+ magazine created, edited, and published by Dr. Eric Selvey. The goal of Crossroads was to bring together the LGBTQ+ community of Central Pennsylvania by creating a space to showcase the efforts and talents of local LGBTQ+ organizations, people, and events, with all articles being voluntary contributions. Crossroads was published from June 1996 – October 1997.

In this National Coming Out Day Issue:

  • The AIDS Quilt Returns to D.C. - Susquehanna Valley Names Highlights
  • The Renaissance Man
  • Organizational Spotlight - Bi-GLYAH
  • Community Scrapbook
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Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Dr. Eric Selvey
Collection
Location
LGBT-013 Eric Selvey Collection

Crossroads Magazine - August/September 1996

Number of Pages
63
Date
August/September 1996

Crossroads Magazine was a bi-monthly local LGBTQ+ magazine created, edited, and published by Dr. Eric Selvey. The goal of Crossroads was to bring together the LGBTQ+ community of Central Pennsylvania by creating a space to showcase the efforts and talents of local LGBTQ+ organizations, people, and events, with all articles being voluntary contributions. Crossroads was published from June 1996 – October 1997.

This is Pride Issue: 

  • Tips to Same Sex Estate Planning
  • The Supreme TKO - The Court's Decision on Amendment 2
  • Take a Trip to Alpha Bathhouse Omega - The Crossroads' Short Story
  • Community Spotlight - York Area Lambda and their upcoming Judy! Benefit 
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Organizations
Year
Time Period
Format
Origin
Gift of Dr. Eric Selvey
Collection
Location
LGBT-013 Eric Selvey Collection