00012 JOAN DRESSEN: An Inventory of the Dressen Family Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society Finding aid prepared by David B. Peterson.

MHS finding aid format: Fruin

Finding aid encoded by Dennis Meissner, November 8, 2004. OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION Minnesota Historical Society Dressen, Joan, ca.1933-. Joan Dressen and family papers. 1981-2000. Correspondence, news clippings, and other material collected by Joan and Roger Dressen of Hopkins, Minnesota, documenting their involvement in organizations for the parents and families of gay and lesbian people. 0.25 cu. ft. (1 box). See Detailed Description section for shelf location. BIOGRAPHY OF JOAN DRESSEN

Joan and Roger Dressen were residents of Richfield and (later) Hopkins, Minnesota. They were the parents of three children: daughters Jennifer and Lori, and a son, Roger Jr. After their son "came out" they became involved in gay rights causes and in PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), which described itself as a support, education, and advocacy organization promoting dialogue and understanding with regard to gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and their families.

SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE COLLECTION

The collection consists of correspondence, news clippings, photocopies of newsletters, issue papers, statements and news releases, organizational bylaws, parent testimonials, and other miscellaneous material concerned almost exclusively with gay rights issues, especially with the fight to end discrimination against gays and lesbians, and with their involvement in PFLAG and other organizations and support groups for the families of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people. Correspondents include Joan Dressen, politicians and office holders, parents of other gay and lesbian people, elected officials, supreme court justices, church leaders, and officials of PFLAG and similar organizations.

INDEX TERMS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics: Coming out (Sexual orientation). Gay rights. Gays--Minnesota. Homosexuality. Lesbians--Minnesota. Parents of gays. Self-help groups. Persons: Dorn, Bill. Dressen, Roger, ca.1930-. Dressen, Roger, ca.1960-. Urbanski, Donna, 1935-. Urbanski, Roger, 1934-. Organizations: Federation of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Inc. (Washington, D.C.). Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays Minnesota. PFLAG St. Paul/Minneapolis (Minneapolis, Minn.). ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Joan Dressen and Family Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 15,805

Processing Information:

Processed by: David B. Peterson, April 2004

CATALOG ID number: 002896909

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Note to Researchers: To request materials, please note both the location and box numbers shown below.

142.G.14.4F-1 1 Clippings, 1988-1996. Dressen, Joan: Correspondence, undated and 1984-2000. Federation of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Washington, D.C.), 1989-1992. Parents FLAG of Minnesota: Newsletter, 1984-1987.

This organization was apparently called "Minneapolis/St. Paul Chapter, Families & Friends of Lebsians and Gays, Inc." through October 1985, after which time it became an independent organization called "Parents FLAG of Minnesota."

P-FLAG Minnesota, undated and 1987-1997. PFLAG (Washington, D.C.), undated and 1991-1997. PFLAG St. Paul/Minneapolis, 1996. Weitzman, Marcia, Ph.D.: Homosexuality as Viewed from Five Perspectives, 1981. Miscellany, undated.