Manuscripts Collection

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender

Since the 1970s the Society has been actively engaged in seeking to preserve the papers, photographs, artworks, publications, and artifacts that document the history of Minnesota's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender citizens. Resources are available at the Minnesota History Center to those wishing to study the history of Minnesota's GLBT community. A representative sample of the Society's most important GLBT manuscript collections follows.

Personal Papers

• Brian Coyle (1965-91)
  Elected official and AIDS victim.
• Thom Higgins (1950-94)
  Activist and organizer, includes documentation of the famous 1977 incident in which he hit Anita Bryant with a pie.
• Trina Porte (1968-1999)
  Diaries, correspondence, high school and college papers, poetry, and activism files documenting the childhood, young adulthood, education, family dynamics, romantic relationships, sexual orientation, and protest activities of a Minneapolis lesbian and radical feminist.
• Wallace Swan (1975-94)
  Public administrator, reflects his active role in the Minneapolis gay community as a parent, church member, patron of the arts, and civil rights advocate.
• Leo Treadway (1971-95)
  Documents his work with secular and religious organizations advancing gay rights and human justice issues.

Organizational Records

• Conference on Gay/Lesbian Appointed Officials, Candidates, Prospective Candidates, and Campaign Workers (1987)
  A nonpartisan conference focusing on the mutual concerns and experiences of lesbian and gay elected and appointed officials, candidates, potential candidates, and campaign workers.
• GAMMA (1978-96)
  A social and athletic organization for gay men in the Twin Cities.
• International Gay Olympics (1981-1984)
  Includes minutes, correspondence, notes, newsletters, and other materials documenting the efforts of the Minnesota gay and lesbian community to host the 1986 winter games of the International Lesbian/Gay Olympics (later known as the Gay Games) and the participation by Minnesotans in the 1982 games in San Francisco.
• Lesbian and Gay Interfaith Council of Minnesota (1978-87)
  Composed of several religious groups ministering to the gay community.
• Minnesota Committee for Gay and Lesbian Rights (1974-1984)
  An organization formed in 1974 to work for passing local ordinances and state laws guaranteeing rights for gays and lesbians, to combat homophobia and violence against gays and lesbians, and to educate the public and legislature about gay and lesbian issues.
• Minnesota Queer Student Conference (1994)
  Includes agenda, audio-taped proceedings, and other materials, including a directory of gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender organizations on Minnesota college campuses, of the Minnesota Queer Student Conference, held on the campus of the University of Minnesota in May of 1994.
• Northland Business Association (1982-1988)
  An organization of predominantly gay and lesbian businesses and professionals.
• Out and About Theatre (1977-1984)
  A theater founded in 1977 to seek out and produce plays which dealt with the gay/lesbian experience in a positive way.
• The Women's Coffeehouse Collective (1975-90)
  "A chemically-free meeting place for all women which supports and nurtures the social, cultural, and political life of the Twin Cities lesbian community."