Guide to the Veronica Berrill Libel Lawsuit Collection,
1973-2005.

Collection Number: 7747

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library

Contact Information:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
2B Carl A. Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-3530
Fax: (607) 255-9524
rareref@cornell.edu
http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
Compiled by:
Sarah Keen
Date completed:
March 2008
EAD encoding:
Ezra Corral, June 2008
Christine Bonilha, November 2010
Date modified:
RMC Staff, February 2012

© 2010 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Veronica Berrill Libel Lawsuit collection, 1973-2005.
Collection Number:
7747
Creator:
Veronica. Berrill
Quantity:
0.1 cubic ft.
Forms of Material:
Correspondence, Newspapers
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
Planning documents, correspondence, publicity, and news coverage of Veronica Berrill's libel lawsuit against Kathleen and Neal Houde.
Language:
Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Veronica Berrill, a high school teacher in Connecticut, initiated school anti-bullying programs.
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Planning documents, correspondence, publicity, and news coverage of Veronica Berrill's libel lawsuit against Kathleen and Neal Houde related to Veronica Berrill's advocacy in 1995 of the gay "Safe Zones" program at Brookfield High School in Brookfield, Connecticut, where she taught. Includes a suggested mission statement for and press release from the Committee for the Defense of Classroom Tolerance, which was founded to provide moral and financial support to Veronica Berrill, and a copy of the Houdes' 1999 statement of revocation.
Plus a selection of brochures, leaflets, and news clippings about AIDS and gay issues from the late 1970s and early 1980s, collected by her son K. Berrill, including a 1979 interview with Dr. C.A. Tripp, "An Open Letter to CBS Television..." from Homosexuals Intransigent!, a flyer explaining the protest of two movies portraying gay men and lesbians, "Cruising" and "Windows," 1981 Wall Street Journal stories on "mysterious ailment" plaguing drug users and homosexual males, a May 11, 1982 New York Times story "New Homosexual Disorder Worries Health Officials," Michael Denneny's "Gay Manifesto for the 80's" from a 1981 Christopher Street magazine, and Jan Fowler's 1981 analysis of the Family Protection Act.
SUBJECTS

Names:
Berrill, Veronica.

Subjects:
AIDS (Disease)
Homophobia.
Homosexuality and education--Connecticut.
Gay men--United States.
Lesbians--United States.
Sexual orientation.
Gay liberation movement--United States.

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:
Veronica Berrill Libel Lawsuit collection, #7747. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
RELATED MATERIALS

Collecting program: Human Sexuality Collection.
Related collection: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force records, #7301, contains substantial files from K. Berrill's work directing the Anti-Violence Project, 1982-1994.
CONTAINER LIST

Date
Description
Container
AIDS- early response
 Box 1 Folder 1
Berrill v. Houde: Committee for the Defense of Classroom Tolerance public records
Box 1 Folder 2
Berrill v. Houde: CDCT public relations [originals]
Box 1 Folder 3
Berrill v. Houde: newspaper clippings
 Box 1 Folder 4
Berrill v. Houde: newspaper clippings [originals]
Box 1 Folder 5
early 1980s
Gay articles
 Box 1 Folder 6
early 1980s
Gay articles [originals]
 Box 1 Folder 7