Barbara Gittings and Kay Tobin Lahusen collection, 1965-2007.
Collection Number: 7645

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Barbara Gittings and Kay Tobin Lahusen collection, 1965-2007.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
7645
Abstract:
News clippings featuring Gittings over her years of lesbian and gay rights activism, 1965-2007, including photocopies of photographs of Gittings in demonstrations in front of Independence Hall on July 4, 1966 and July 4, 1969 and in front of the White House in October 1965, a clipping about Gittings' 1969 visit to speak at Cornell University, and obituaries and information about her memorial service. Also, brochures, position statements, and flyers from gay rights events and organizations, including election materials from Franklin Kameny's congressional run in 1971, and 1982 news clippings about efforts to establish a gay scholarship and gay book fund at Cornell.
Abstract:
Also, DVD "Gay Pioneers" and video "Out of the Past" (a documentary about the gay rights movement)
Creator:
Gittings, Barbara, 1932-2007.
Tobin, Kay.
Quanitities:
.4 cubic feet.
Language:
Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Gittings and Lahusen played important roles in the gay liberation movement emerging in the 1950s. Gittings helped organize the New York City chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis in 1958. Lahusen joined the New York City Daughters of Bilitis in 1961, and the two met there. From 1963-66, Gittings served as editor of DOB's periodical publication, THE LADDER, and Lahusen worked on it with her. Lahusen co-authored THE GAY CRUSADERS in 1972. Gittings was active in the campaign that led to the American Psychiatric Association dropping its categorization of homosexuality as a mental illness in 1973. Gittings was also active in the American Library Association for 16 years. Though not a librarian, she was an avid book lover, and joined ALA's Task Force on Gay Liberation as soon as she found out about it in 1970. Gittings and Lahusen remained active in the gay civil rights movement and remained partners until Gittings' death on Febrary 18, 2007.

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

DVD "Gay Pioneers" and video "Out of the Past" (a documentary about the gay rights movement), news clippings featuring Gittings, including clippings about the video "Out of the Past," and photocopies of photographs of Gittings in gay rights demonstrations in front of Independence Hall on July 4, 1966 and July 4, 1969, and in front of the White House in October 1965. Also, obituaries and information about Gittings' memorial service; brochures, position statements, flyers and clippings from gay rights events and organizations and on various gay rights subjects, including election materials from Franklin Kameny's congressional run in 1971; and a 1969 clipping about Gittings' visit to speak at Cornell University and 1982 news clippings about efforts to establish a gay scholarship and gay book funds at Cornell.

RELATED MATERIALS

Collecting program: Human Sexuality Collection.
Original of the July 4, 1969 photograph taken by Nancy Tucker is at the Lesbian Herstory Archives in Brooklyn, NY.

SEPARATED MATERIAL

The following publications have been separated from collection 7645 and cataloged as individual titles in the Human Sexuality Collection.
Feb. 15, 1974 Commonweal offprint,
May 1973 Connexion (United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry)
Gay Insurgent - nos. 6-7
1972-1973 Gay People and Mental Health - v.1
1969-1971 Homphophile Action League. Newsletter
1958-1966 The Ladder - various issues
1968 Daughters of Bilitis, Philadelphia Chapter. Newsletter - v.1: no.8-11

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:

Barbara Gittings and Kay Tobin Lahusen miscellany, #7645. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

SUBJECTS

Names:
Gittings, Barbara, 1932-2007.
Subjects:
Library fund raising.
Gays -- Scholarships, fellowships, etc.
Gay liberation movement -- United States.

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Series I. About Gittings
Box 1 Folder 1
Obituaries and memorial service
2007
Box 1 Folder 2
Resume
Box 1 Folder 3
Speech: 4th annual Christopher Street Liberation Day March, New York City
24-Jun-73
Box 1 Folder 4
Gittings at Cornell
Oct-69
Box 2 Folder 1
11 items donated in 1999
Scope and Contents
Photocopies of photographs of Gittings in gay rights demonstrations in front of Independence Hall on July 4, 1966 and July 4, 1969, and in front of the White House in October 1965. News clippings about the video "Out of the Past," a documentary about the gay rights movement, and 1982 news clippings about efforts to establish a gay scholarship and gay book funds at Cornell University.
Box 2 Folder 2
Clippings on Gittings
1970-2006
Series II. Subject Files
Box 1 Folder 5
Child custody: Judd Marmor, M.D., letter to Bruce Voeller
3-May-73
Box 1 Folder 6
Decriminalizing Homosexuality
Box 1 Folder 7
Police and Entrapment
Box 1 Folder 8
Discrimination Policies
1964-1975
Box 1 Folder 9
Military
Ca. 1968-1975
Box 1 Folder 10
Psychology, clippings and statements
1969-1978
Box 1 Folder 11
Religion
College and University Issues
Box 1 Folder 12
Flyers for Campus Events
Box 2 Folder 3
Course Syllabi and Campus Issues
Box 2 Folder 4
Teaching and Children's Books
Book Issues
Box 1 Folder 13
Lesbian Book, call for submissions
1975
Box 1 Folder 14
J. Michael McConnell, U of Minnesota librarian job discrimination case
1970
Box 2 Folder 5
Library Issues
Box 1 Folder 15
Reminder Day, Philadelphia
1968-1969
Box 1 Folder 16
Barney Frank for Massachusetts State Representative
[1972]
Box 2 Folder 6
Kameny for Congress
Ca. 1969
Series III. Organizational Files
Box 1 Folder 17
American Civil Liberties Union
Ca. 1972-1975
Box 1 Folder 18
American Library Association Task Force on Gay Liberation and Gay Task Force
Ca. 1970-1985
Box 1 Folder 19
Daughters of Bilitis
Ca. 1970
Box 1 Folder 20
Eastern Regional Homophile Conference
1967-1968
Box 2 Folder 7
Gay Activists Alliance, Philadelphia and New York City
Box 1 Folder 21
Gay Liberation of Minnesota: "Love and Let Love" brochure
Ca. 1971
Box 1 Folder 22
Homophile Action League
Box 1 Folder 23
Homophile Action League, Philadelphia
Box 1 Folder 24
Janus Society
Box 2 Folder 8
Mattachine Society of Washington
1962-1969
Box 2 Folder 9
Mattachine, New York City
Box 2 Folder 10
National Organization for Women: 1971 resolution on lesbian rights and lesbian custody issues and 1975 Lesbian Caucus Resolution
Fall 1971, October 26, 1975
Box 1 Folder 25
Queens Liberation Front, cross dressers, New York City
Ca. 1971
Box 1 Folder 26
Student Homophile League, including "Statement on the Lesbian"
Ca. 1968-1972
Box 2 Folder 11
Student Homophile League, Columbia University
Series IV. Clippings and Ephemera
Box 1 Folder 27
Film showings and advertisements
Box 1 Folder 28
Brochures, miscellaneous
Box 1 Folder 29
Gay Rights Ephemera, miscellaneous
1967-1996
Box 1 Folder 30
Clippings, miscellaneous
Box 2 Folder 12
Clippings, miscellaneous
Box 1 Folder 31
Clippings, annotated
Box 2 Folder 13
Notes and clippings re: Oliva (1951) and movie 'The Pit of Loneliness' (1954) with photo of NGTF Staff
Series V. Videos
Box 2 DVD-515
Gay Pioneers
Box 2 V-442
Out of the Past