BRIAN J. COYLE:
An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical
Society
| | |
|
|
| Creator: | Coyle, Brian J., 1944-1991. |
| Title: | Brian J. Coyle papers. |
| Date: | 1965-1991. |
| Abstract: | Personal, political, and official papers
documenting the life and career of a gay activist and Minneapolis (Minn.) city
council member. |
| Quantity: | 18.5 cu. ft. (19 boxes and 3 oversize
folders, unboxed). |
| Location: | See Detailed Description section for box
location. |
Return to the Table of Contents
Brian J. Coyle was born in Great Falls, Montana (June 25, 1944) and
raised in Moorhead, Minnesota. He graduated from Moorhead High School (1961)
and received his BA degree from the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis (1967).
While attending the University Coyle participated in the Young Democrats and
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS); wrote for the Minnesota Daily; helped
organize the first Vietnam teach-in; and originated the Free University.
After graduation Coyle taught humanities at Moorhead State University
(Sept. 1967-June 1968). He was indicted twice for failure to comply with the
draft (1968), but was acquitted both times as a conscientious objector. He
returned to Minneapolis and worked at the Twin Cities Draft Information Center
(Jan. 1969-Dec. 1971) and helped found the alternative newspaper, Hundred
Flowers. Coyle made public his homosexuality in 1971 and became a life-long
activist in the gay rights movement.
Coyle was a member of the New American Movement (NAM) (1971-1974), a
national organization that attempted to unite the New Left after the collapse
of SDS. He worked as the organization's national office coordinator, directed
the National Campaign to Impeach Nixon, acted as project coordinator for the
Coalition to Stop Funding the War, and coordinated the North Country Peace
Campaign. In 1974 Coyle visited Vietnam as a Midwest representative of the
Indochina Peace Campaign.
During the mid and late 1970s Coyle worked defending tenants' rights
and campaigning for a rent control ordinance; was involved with powerline
protests in rural Minnesota (1978); and organized Minnesotans Against the
Downtown Dome (MADD), a coalition opposed to the construction of a downtown
sports stadium (1979-1981). Coyle was also the founder and director of The
Progressive Roundtable (1980-1988), a monthly forum focused on local and
national progressive issues and personalities.
Coyle ran unsuccessful campaigns for the U.S. Senate (1978),
Minneapolis mayor (1979), and 6th ward alderman (1981). In 1983 he won his bid
for 6th ward alderman and served three successive terms. While on the city
council Coyle's primary interests centered on affordable housing, economic
development, civil and human rights, the environment, and transportation.
Coyle was diagnosed as HIV-positive in 1986 and publicly disclosed the
fact in April, 1991. He died from AIDS-related complications on August 23,
1991.
Biographical data was taken from the collection.
Return to the Table of Contents
Coyle's papers break down into ten different sections, reflecting the
major activities that constituted his personal and public lives:
Political Writings, undated and 1965-1980 are composed of papers,
articles, and correspondence covering a variety of political and social issues.
New American Movement (NAM), undated and 1971-1974, includes draft
political statements and counter statements; internal communications; issues of
the New American Movement newspaper and Internal Discussion Bulletin
(1972-1974); newspaper and magazine clippings; agendas; minutes;
correspondence; and reports. The last section of the NAM papers is composed of
correspondence, agendas, position papers, flyers, and newsletters that reflect
the political thought, organization, and activities of the Minneapolis NAM
chapter (1972-1974).
Rent Control, 1974-1981, contains correspondence, agendas, minutes,
notes, ordinances, brochures, flyers, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, and
booklets, reflecting Coyle's activities as a tenant(s), rights advocate
including his work as an organizer, paralegal, and negotiator for the East-West
Bank Tenants Union during its rent strike (1977-1978).
Progressive Roundtable (PRT), 1980-1988, includes correspondence,
memoranda, notes, agendas, newsletters, bylaws, tax forms, budgets, membership
lists, flyers, photographs, newspaper clippings, and brochures documenting the
goals, administration, and programs of a monthly speakers' forum. Coyle
organized PRT in order to bring progressives together on a regular basis to
hear new ideas, discuss strategies for political action, and develop informal
networks.
Minneapolis City Council, 1981-1991, is the largest section in the
collection, and documents Coyle's election campaigns and his three terms on the
Minneapolis city council as sixth ward alderman. The papers related to Coyle's
four aldermanic campaigns (1981, 1983, 1985, 1989) include volunteer and
contributor lists, schedules, and ward maps used in the "Get Out the Vote"
effort, which consisted of doorknocking, telephoning, literature drops, and
voter registration; calendars; notes and outlines on campaign organization,
issues, and strategy; correspondence; questionnaires and answers; voter
abstracts; financial records; speeches; and campaign literature from Coyle, his
opponents, and other DFL candidates. The papers related to Coyle's activities
on the council consist of memoranda, correspondence, notes, resolutions,
financial statements, crime reports and statistics, speeches, photographs,
newspaper clippings, calendars, newsletters, and flyers.
Gay Organizations and Issues, undated and 1986-1991, contains
correspondence, memoranda, notes, resolutions, brochures, a briefing book,
photographs, programs, flyers, newsletters, and newspaper clippings that
reflect Coyle's life as a gay rights activist and openly gay public official.
AIDS, 1986-1991, includes correspondence, notes, resolutions,
ordinances, bills, executive orders, agendas, programs, statistics, reports,
obituaries, newspaper clippings, magazine articles, newsletters, brochures,
pamphlets, and comic books relating to the fight against the disease and to
AIDS related discrimination.
Newspaper Clippings, 1981-1991, relate primarily
to the Minneapolis City Council, gay rights, and AIDS.
Personal Papers, 1981-1991, includes correspondence, notes, memoranda,
journals, obituaries, newspaper and magazine clippings, and photographs,
largely documenting Coyle's own battle against AIDS.
Audio-Visual Materials, include photographs of Coyle's family,
friends, and colleagues; two slide shows with accompanying text, one based on
Coyle's trip to North Vietnam (1974) and used in presentations he gave after
his return, the other a tour of Minneapolis' sixth ward (1987); seven audio
tapes (1974, 1977-1978, 1982, 1990) comprising interviews, speeches, and a
campaign advertisement; and nine video tapes (1984-1991) related to Coyle's
tenure on the Minneapolis city council and the public disclosure of his
HIV-positive status, including the series "Private Man, Private Struggle" that
aired on KSTP-TV (April 1991), and the KTCA program "Artists and AIDS" (April
24, 1991).
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Table of Contents
| | |
|
|
| 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: |
| | AIDS (Disease). |
| | City council members - Minnesota - Minneapolis. |
| | Coming out (Sexual orientation). |
| | Gays. |
| | Group homes - Minnesota - Minneapolis. |
| | Homosexuality - Laws and legislation. |
| | Housing policy - Minnesota - Minneapolis. |
| | New Left - United States. |
| | Rent control - Minnesota - Minneapolis. |
| | Rent strikes - Minnesota - Minneapolis. |
| | Socialism - United States. |
| | Street-railroads - Minnesota - Minneapolis. |
| | Transportation - Minnesota - Minneapolis. |
| | Unmarried couples - Minnesota - Minneapolis - Legal status,
laws, etc. |
| | Urban policy - Minnesota - Minneapolis. |
| | Urban renewal - Minnesota - Minneapolis. |
| | Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975 - Protest movements. |
| Persons: |
| | Boyte, Harry Chatten, - 1945-. |
| | Davidov, Marv. |
| | Fraser, Donald. |
| | Hanson, Dick, - 1950-1987. |
| | Hayden, Tom. |
| | Humphrey, Hubert H. - (Hubert Horatio), -
1911-1978. |
| | Kinoy, Arthur. |
| | Lerner, Michael, - 1943-. |
| | Lynd,Staughton. |
| | Nixon, Richard M. - (Richard Milhous), - 1913- -
Impeachment. |
| Organizations: |
| | Human Rights Campaign Fund (Washington, D.C.). |
| | Minnesota Aids Project. |
| | Minnesota Committee For Gay and Lesbian Rights. |
| | Minnesota Tenants Union. |
| | New American Movement (Organization). Minneapolis
Chapter. |
| | New American Movement (Organization). |
| | Minneapolis (Minn.). City Council. |
| | Alive and Trucking Theater (Minneapolis, Minn.). |
| Organizations: |
| | American Indian Business Development Corporation
(Minneapolis, Minn.). |
| | Coalition for Affordable Housing (Minneapolis,
Minn.). |
| | East-West Bank Tenants Union (Minneapolis, Minn.). |
| | Farmer-Labor Association (Minn.). |
| | Gay and Lesbian Association (Minn.). |
| | Heartland Data Coop (Minneapolis, Minn.). |
| | Indochina Peace Campaign (Organization : U.S.). |
| | Neighborhood Transportation Network (Minneapolis,
Minn.). |
| | North Country Chautauqua (Minneapolis, Minn.). |
| | Progressive Roundtable (Minneapolis, Minn.). |
| | Twin Cities Men's Chorus (Minneapolis, Minn.). |
| | Citizens Lobby (Saint Paul, Minn.). |
| | About Face Conference (1990: University of
Minnesota). |
| | Creating Change Conference (23rd 1990: Minneapolis,
Minn.). |
| | National Conference of Gay/Lesbian Elected and Appointed
Official. |
| Title: |
| | Hundred flowers. |
| Places: |
| | Cedar-Riverside Area (Minneapolis, Minn.). |
| | Central Business District (Minneapolis, Minn.). |
| | Nicaragua - Description and travel - 1981-. |
Return to the Table of Contents
| | |
|
|
| Preferred Citation: |
| | [Indicate the cited item and/or series
here]. Brian J. Coyle Papers. Minnesota Historical Society. |
| | See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional
examples. |
| Accession Information: |
| | Accession number: 14,660 |
| Processing Information: |
| | Processed by: Frank P. Hennessy, September, 1992 |
| |
| | PALS number: 09-00036776 |
Return to the Table of Contents
Note to Researchers: To request materials, please note both the
location and box numbers shown below.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Political Writings, undated and 1965-1980:
|
| The writings are composed of papers, articles, and correspondence
covering a variety of political and social issues. They include correspondence
between Coyle and Vicky Smith, a woman with Students for a Democratic Society
(SDS) who was romantically involved with Coyle (1967-1968); an issue of an
underground newspaper he published entitled Notes From
the Underground (1968); articles from the underground newspaper
Hundred Flowers in which he came out as gay (June
25 and July 22, 1971); miscellaneous writings on the war in Vietnam (1965,
1970, 1975); a pamphlet (1975) Coyle published, in which he attacked the
politics of Hubert Humphrey, entitled Hubert Humphrey in
'76?; notes for a paper examining the collapse of the New Left, entitled
"What Ever Happened to the Movement" (1976); and background material, drafts,
and manuscript of a paper entitled "Working Papers for North Country Activists:
Public Interest Politics and the Need for Democratic Grass Roots Independent
Organization" (1977-1978). |
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.1.2 | 1 |
Correspondence, undated and 1965-1969.
|
| |
"Coming Out" Articles, June 25 and July 22,
1971.
|
| |
Political Writings, undated and 1967-1968, 1971-1972,
1975, 1978-1980. 3 folders
|
| |
Speech Cards.
|
| |
Writings on Vietnam, 1965, 1970, 1975.
|
| |
"Hubert Humphrey in '76?," 1975.
|
| |
"What Ever Happened to the Movement?," 1976.
|
| |
Public Interests Working Papers, 1977-1978. 4 folders
|
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Organization of the Collection Section
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
New American Movement (NAM), undated and
1971-1974:
|
| As NAM's national office coordinator Coyle kept a large file of
material documenting the organization's history from its inception in 1971. NAM
was started by a group of West Coast radicals as an attempt to provide
discipline and organization to the New Left after the decline of SDS in the
late 1960s. The collection documents the NAM Planning Conference held in
Chicago (Oct. 1971); a "program conference" held in Davenport, Iowa (Nov.
25-29, 1971); the founding convention (June 1972) that adopted a constitution
and conducted several workshops; succeeding annual conventions (1973-1974);
meetings of the elected national leadership, the National Interim Committee
(NIC); local chapter activity; NAM task forces on racism, economics, the
workplace, and welfare; and projects such as a national conference on women and
socialism (Fall 1972), a nationally coordinated effort against discrimination
at AT&T (1972), an internal education program (1972-1973), and the National
Campaign to Impeach Nixon (1973-1974). |
| Papers (1973-1974) from a variety of left-wing political
organizations are also included as are a number of articles that debate the
idea of a new political party called the Mass Party of the People. The idea of
a new party and the possibility of unifying the Left resulted in joint meetings
between NAM, the People's Party, the Socialist Party, USA, and the National
Interim Committee for a Mass Party of the People. One of the outcomes of these
meetings was the idea of a possible merger between NAM and the People's Party.
|
| The last section of the NAM papers is composed of correspondence,
agendas, position papers, flyers, and newsletters that reflect the political
thought, organization, and activities of the Minneapolis NAM chapter
(1972-1974). Among the chapter activities represented are the people's history
project which included the Alive and Trucking Theater's production of the play,
The People are a River (1972-1973); the
Metropolitan Task Force, which fought for community control of development and
conducted a successful campaign to block the construction of a downtown dome
(1973); the Praxis school, a socialist education project; and the North Country
Peace Campaign (NCPC), which served as a clearinghouse for anti-war information
and facilitated local organizing efforts and actions against the war. |
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.1.2 | 1 |
The New Left In the Early 1970s. 2 folders
|
| |
NAM Newspaper, 1971-1972.
|
| |
Planning Conference, Oct. 1971.
|
| |
Davenport Program Conference, Nov. 25-29,
1971.
|
| |
NAM Papers, Dec. 1971- March 1972.
|
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.1.3B | 2 |
National Interim Committee Workshop, April 6-7,
1972.
|
| |
Chapter Reports, Summer 1972.
|
| |
Sexual Politics and NAM, undated and 1972.
|
| |
Constitution, 1972.
|
| |
Founding Convention, June 22-25, 1972. 3 folders
|
| | |
Preparation, 1972.
|
| | |
Workshop Reports and Contact Lists, June
1972.
|
| | |
Political Statement, June 1972.
|
| |
Administration, 1972-1973.
|
| |
National Interim Committee Meeting (Yellow Springs,
Ohio), Aug. 4, 1972.
|
| |
National Interim Committee Papers, Fall
1972.
|
| |
Women and NAM, Fall 1972.
|
| |
Task Forces, 1972.
|
| |
AT&T Project, 1972.
|
| |
Magazine and Newspaper Clippings, 1972.
|
| |
Harry Boyte's Writings on NAM, 1972.
|
| |
National Office Mailings, 1972-1973.
|
| |
NAM Newspaper, 1973.
|
| |
Discussion Bulletins, Fall 1972-June 1973.
|
| |
National Council Meeting, Jan. 1973.
|
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.1.3B | 2 |
Campaign '73.
|
| |
Convention, 1973. 2 folders
|
| |
National Interim Committee Papers, March-Dec.
1973.
|
| |
NAM Papers, Fall-Winter 1973.
|
| |
Discussion Bulletin, Fall 1973.
|
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.1.4F | 3 |
Local Chapter Papers, 1973.
|
| |
Literature On Socialism, 1972-1973.
|
| |
NAM Political Education, undated and
1972-1973.
|
| |
NAM Papers, 1974.
|
| |
Discussion Bulletins, Winter-Sept. 1974. 2 folders
|
| |
Convention, 1974.
|
| |
Wisconsin Alliance, 1974.
|
| |
The Revolutionary Union and Attica Brigade,
1973-1974.
|
| |
Democratic Party, 1974-1976.
|
| |
Miscellaneous Political Groups, 1974.
|
| |
The People's Party, 1973-1974.
|
| |
Mass Party of the People, undated and 1973-1974.
3 folders
|
| |
Minneapolis Chapter, undated and 1972-1974. 3 folders
|
| |
North Vietnam Trip, July-August 1974. 2 folders
|
| | | Coyle visited North Vietnam for two weeks (July-August 1974) as
an emissary from the NCPC at the invitation of Tom Hayden, Jane Fonda, and the
Indochina Peace Campaign. The papers documenting this trip include photographs;
Coyle's draft card, birth certificate, and vaccination certificate; a U.S.
Information Service News Bulletin containing Nixon's resignation speech (Aug.
9, 1974); maps; newspaper clippings; miscellaneous papers in Vietnamese; and
two journals Coyle kept during the trip. The journals contain Coyle's
observations and thoughts on NAM's third annual convention (July 11-14, 1974);
an outline of Coyle's "life" scenario; a list of gifts for the North
Vietnamese; questions to pursue while in Vietnam; expectations of the trip;
Coyle's impressions of Tom Hayden; a biographical sketch; a proposed trip
agenda; notes on discussions and interviews with the Vietnamese; and an outline
of a taped interview with a North Vietnamese official (slide show, with notes
and audio tapes, is located in Box 18). |
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Organization of the Collection Section
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Rent Control, 1974-1981:
|
| Contains correspondence, agendas, minutes, notes, ordinances,
brochures, flyers, newspapers clippings, pamphlets, and booklets, reflecting
Coyle's activities as a tenants' rights advocate, including his work as an
organizer, paralegal, and negotiator for the East-West Bank Tenants Union
during its rent strike (1977-1978) (related audio tape is located in box 19);
his participation on the Cedar Riverside Project Area Committee (1981); and his
work as a staff member of the Minnesota Tenants Union (1979). The bulk of the
papers (1979-1981) relate to Coyle's work with a group he helped found called
the Coalition for Affordable Housing (CAH) and primarily document its efforts
at passing a comprehensive rent and condominium control ordinance. There is
also a large amount of background material related to an earlier attempt to
pass a Minneapolis rent control ordinance (1974-1975); various studies of the
impact of rent control on available housing (1976, 1978, 1980); mandatory
national rent control and a National Conference on Rent Control (Nov. 10-12,
1979); rent control in other cities; and miscellaneous rent control
literature. |
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.1.5B | 4 |
Minneapolis Rent Control, 1974-1975.
|
| |
Minnesota Tenants Union and West Bank Tenants Strike,
1977-1978, 1981.
|
| |
Coalition for Affordable Housing (CAH), undated and
1979-1981. 5 folders
|
| | |
Miscellaneous Correspondence and Papers, 1979-1981.
4 folders
|
| | |
Literature Committee.
|
| |
Newspaper Clippings, 1976-1981. 2 folders
|
| |
Arguments Against Rent Control, undated and
1978-1980.
|
| |
Rent Control Studies, undated and 1976, 1978,
1980.
|
| |
National Rent Control and National Conference for Rent
Control, 1979-1980.
|
| |
Rent Control in Other Cities, undated and 1979-1980.
2 folders
|
| |
Rent Control Literature, undated and 1974, 1977,
1979-1980. 2 folders
|
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Organization of the Collection Section
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Political Activity, 1975-1982:
|
| This section documents a variety of activities that Coyle was
involved with after leaving NAM and before his election to the city council.
Topics include the North Country Chautauqua, a series of talks and
presentations Coyle originated with Marv Davidov and Karl Voss; his work with
the Farmer-Labor Association (FLA) and support of the presidential candidacy of
Fred Harris (1976); his participation and arrest in an anti-powerline protest
in West-Central Minnesota (1978); Coyle's unsuccessful campaigns as an
independent candidate for U.S. Senate (1978) (related audio tape located in box
19) and for Minneapolis mayor (1979); his work as an organizer for Minnesotans
Against the Downtown Dome (MADD), a statewide coalition opposed to legislation
that would enable the construction of a domed stadium (1979-1981); his role as
an organizer and communications officer for the Citizens Lobby, a coalition
formed to fight budget cuts in the early 1980s (1980-1982); and his plans for a
grass roots community development consulting firm called "Hired Gums" and a
monthly regional magazine entitled Northern Lights
(1980). The last group of papers in this section relates to a project involving
the FLA and Hartland Data Coop aimed at increasing the membership of the FLA
and mobilizing progressives from the state to support FLA and other progressive
candidates through the compilation of a computer database (1981). |
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.1.5B | 4 |
North Country Chautauqua, 1975.
|
| |
Minneapolis Mayoral and 6th Ward Elections,
1975-1977.
|
| |
Farmer-Labor Association (FLA) and Democratic Farmer
Labor Party (DFL), 1976-1979, 1984.
|
| |
Personal Political Strategy, 1978-1981.
|
| |
Powerline Protest, 1978.
|
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.1.6F | 5 |
U.S. Senate Campaign, 1978.
|
| |
Domed Stadium, 1979-1981.
|
| |
Mayoral Campaign, 1979.
|
| |
Citizens Lobby, 1980-1982.
|
| |
Hired Gums and Northern Lights, 1980.
|
| |
Heartland Data Coop and FLA Database, 1981.
|
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Organization of the Collection Section
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Progressive Roundtable (PRT), 1980-1988:
|
| Includes correspondence, memoranda, notes, agendas, newsletters,
bylaws, tax forms, budgets, membership lists, flyers, photographs, newspaper
clippings, and brochures documenting the goals, administration, and programs of
a monthly speakers' forum. Coyle organized PRT in order to bring progressives
together on a regular basis to hear new ideas, discuss strategies for political
action, and develop informal networks. The Roundtable featured both national
and local figures including Tom Hayden, Tony Bouza, Hazel Henderson, Robert
White, Ronald Dellums, Daniel Ellsberg (audio tapes are located in box 18),
Morris Udall, and others. |
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.1.6F | 5 |
Long Range Plan, Bylaws, Tax-Exempt Papers, and Budget,
1980-1985.
|
| |
Membership List, 1982.
|
| |
Program Ideas, 1982-1983.
|
| |
Grants, undated and 1981.
|
| |
Changing Times, 1980-1983, 1985, 1988.
|
| |
Miscellaneous Correspondence and Papers, undated and
1983-1988.
|
| |
PRT, 1980-1985, 1988. 6 folders
|
| |
Newspaper Clippings, 1980-1982.
|
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Organization of the Collection Section
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Minneapolis City Council, 1981-1991:
|
| This section, the largest in the collection, documents Coyle's
election campaigns and his three terms on the Minneapolis city council sixth
ward alderman. |
| The papers related to Coyle's four aldermanic campaigns (1981,
1983, 1985, 1989) include volunteer and contributor lists, schedules, and ward
maps used in the "Get Out The Vote" effort, which consisted of doorknocking,
telephoning, literature drops, and voter registration; calendars; notes and
outlines on campaign organization, issues, and strategy; correspondence;
questionnaires and answers; voter abstracts; financial records; speeches; and
campaign literature from Coyle, his opponents, and other DFL candidates. |
| Coyle ran against incumbent Jackie Slater during his first city
council campaign and lost by a narrow margin (1981). The following year he
worked on Caucus '82, an effort sponsored by the Minnesota Committee for Gay
and Lesbian Rights to mobilize gay and lesbian attendance at precinct caucuses.
In early 1983 a city-wide coalition was formed called the Neighborhood
Priorities Coalition. The coalition was based on a housing, jobs, and
community-based development platform and worked to elect city council
candidates. With the support of the Coalition, and the gay and lesbian support
he secured during Caucus '82, Coyle won his second race for city council
(1983). His next two campaigns (1985 and 1989) successfully stressed themes of
job creation, community controlled development, affordable housing, crime
prevention, and civil and human rights. |
| The papers related to Coyle's activities on the council are
composed of memoranda, correspondence, notes, resolutions, financial
statements, crime reports and statistics, speeches, photographs, newspaper
clippings, calendars, newsletters, and flyers. |
| Coyle served as chair of the city council's transportation and
public works committees and as a member of five other standing committees. He
was also chosen as city council vice president (1990). The most prominent
issues and organizations represented in the papers include the Urban
Revitalization Action Program (URAP) (1986-1988); various neighborhood
organizations such as the Whittier Alliance, the Phillips Neighborhood
Improvement Association (PNIA), and Elliot Park Neighborhood, Inc.; the
proposed development of light rail transit (1987-1989); Project for Pride In
Living (PPL); the Safety For Everyone Program (SAFE); the homeless and
single-room occupancy housing projects; refurbishing the Nicollet Mall
(1986-1988); the city's lawsuit with HUD concerning the disposition of Cedar
Square West (1987-1988); "Year of the City", a state funding program for the
cities of Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Duluth (1988-1989); Mayor Donald Fraser's
proposals to amend the city charter (1988); the Neiman-Marcus/BCE Development
project (1988); the convention center hotel project (1989); a resolution
barring the city from retaining the services of the O'Connor & Hannan law
firm due to its representation of the ARENA party in El Salvador (1989);
recycling and solid waste disposal, including an ordinance to ban plastic food
packaging (1988-1991); the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (1990-1991); the
management and proliferation of group homes (1984-1989) and Coyle's proposed
moratorium on additional community-based residential facilities (1988-1989);
the redevelopment of Franklin Avenue and the American Indian Business
Development Corporation (AIBDC) (1978-1988); the passage of a domestic partners
ordinance (1983-1991) (video tape of hearing located in box 19); Coyle's
support of an ordinance opposed by a large segment of the Gay community that
regulated the city's bathhouse and adult bookstores in order to prevent the
spread of AIDS (1987-1988); opposition to the Hennepin County garbage
incinerator (1987-1988); and the proposed expansion of I-35W (1987-1991). |
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.1.6F | 5 |
Aldermanic Campaign, 1981. 6 folders
|
| | |
Miscellaneous Correspondence and Papers. 2 folders
|
| | |
Coyle Campaign Literature.
|
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.1.7B | 6 | |
Campaign Organization.
|
| | |
Notes and Calls.
|
| | |
Other Candidates' Campaign Literature.
|
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.1.7B | 6 |
"Get Out the Vote," 1981 and 1983.
|
| |
Campaign Finances, 1981 and 1983.
|
| |
Precinct Caucuses, 1982.
|
| |
Aldermanic Campaign, 1983. 9 folders
|
| | |
Neighborhood Priorities Coalition.
|
| | |
Volunteer, contributes, and Supporter
Lists
|
| | |
Themes and Issues.
|
| | |
Miscellaneous Correspondence and Papers. 3 folders
|
| | |
Correspondence.
|
| | |
Other Candidates' Campaign Literature.
|
| | |
Convention Speech.
|
| |
General Files, 1984.
|
| |
General Files, 1985. 2 folders
|
| |
Aldermanic Campaign, 1985. 2 folders
|
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.1.8F | 7 |
General Files, 1986. 3 folders
|
| |
General Files, 1987. 4 folders
|
| |
Light Rail Transit (LRT), 1987-1988.
|
| |
City Council, 1988. 6 folders
|
| |
Year of the City, 1988.
|
| |
City Charter Amendments, 1988.
|
| |
Nieman Marcus and BCE Development Project,
1988.
|
| |
Aldermanic Campaign, 1989. 6 folders
|
| | |
Themes and Issues.
|
| | |
Miscellaneous Correspondence and Papers. 2 folders
|
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.1.9B | 8 | |
Finances.
|
| | |
Other Candidates' Campaign Literature.
|
| | |
Volunteer, Donor, and Delegate Lists. 2 folders
|
| |
City Council, 1989. 7 folders
|
| |
Solid Waste and Recycling, 1988-1990. 2 folders
|
| |
Homeless, 1989.
|
| |
City Council, 1990. 2 folders
|
| |
Elections, 1990.
|
| |
City Council, Jan.-July, 1991. 2 folders
|
| |
Certificates of Election, 1983, 1985, 1989.
|
| |
Group Homes, 1984-1990. 12 folders
|
| | |
Alpha House, 1984-1985. 2 folders
|
| | |
Stevens House and Crossroads Aftercare Program,
1984-1985.
|
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.1.10F | 9 | |
Pursuit Hometel, 1986-1990. 2 folders
|
| | |
Pillsbury House and Crosby Mansion,
1988-1989.
|
| | |
Group Homes, undated and 1987-1989. 6 folders
|
| |
Phillips Neighborhood, 1989.
|
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.1.10F | 9 |
Franklin Ave. Development, 1978-1988. 5 folders
|
| |
Franklin Ave. Development-Library Block, undated and
1984-1987. 2 folders
|
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.2.1B | 10 |
Domestic Partnership Ordinance, 1983-1991. 19 folders
|
| | |
Miscellaneous Correspondence and
Papers,1983-1985.
|
| | |
Work Plans, 1989-1990.
|
| | |
Legal Opinions, undated and 1985,
1989-1990.
|
| | |
Ordinance Drafts, undated and 1986,
1990-1991.
|
| | |
Employee Benefits, 1990.
|
| | |
Notes and Messages, 1990-1991.
|
| | |
Correspondence, 1989-1991.
|
| | |
Background, 1989-1990. 2 folders
|
| | |
Hearing Notes and Background, undated and 1990-1991.
2 folders
|
| | |
First Domestic Partners Registration, Feb. 19,
1991.
|
| | |
University Task Force On Domestic
Partnership,1991.
|
| | |
Press Packet.
|
| | |
Newspaper and Magazine Clippings, 1989-1991.
6 folders
|
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.2.2F | 11 |
Bathhouse Ordinance, undated and 1987-1988. 3 folders
|
| |
Garbage Incinerator, Dec. 1987-Oct. 1988.
|
| |
I-35W, 1987-1991. 6 folders
|
| |
Appointment Books, 1984-1990. 8 volumes.
|
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Organization of the Collection Section
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Scrapbooks, Vols 1-5:
|
| The scrapbooks contain photographs, campaignliterature,
correspondence and newspaper clippings documenting Coyle's U.S. Senate Campaign
(1978), aldermanic campaigns (1981, 1983, 1989), and first two terms on the
Minneapolis City Council. |
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.2.3B | 12 |
Vol. 1. 1978, 1981.
|
| |
Vol. 2. 1983.
|
| |
Vol. 3. 1983.
|
| |
Vol. 4. 1984-1986.
|
| |
Vol. 5. 1986-1990.
|
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Organization of the Collection Section
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gay Organizations and Issues, undated and
1982-1991:
|
| Contains correspondence, memoranda, notes, resolutions, brochures,
a briefing book, photographs, programs, flyers, newsletters, and newspaper
clippings that reflect Coyle's life as a gay rights activist and openly gay
public official. Topics include his breakfast meetings with gay and lesbian
activists (1986-1987); the repeal of the state sodomy statute (1987); the Gay
and Lesbian Community Action Council (GLCAC); gay athletes and San Franciso's
bid to host the 1996 Olympic games (1988); the Twin Cities Men's Chorus; the
annual Gay/Lesbian Festival of Pride; the Northstar Project, a survey conducted
by GLCAC to assess the needs of the Twin Cities gay and lesbian community
(1990); and international gay/lesbian rights (1990-1991). |
| Coyle's efforts to make the public aware of a series of 12 to 15
gay murders, to foster cooperation between the police and the gay community,
and to encourage Twin Cities homosexuals to launch an anti-violence campaign
through the formation of Community United Against Violence (CUAV) are all
documented (1984-1990), as is his involvement in the National Conference of
Gay/Lesbian Elected and Appointed Officials (1985), including its annual
meetings (1985-1990) and a lobbying campaign in Washington D.C. (March 6-7,
1986) attended by ten openly gay elected officials, including Coyle. Other
organizations and issues represented include the Human Rights Campaign fund
(HRCF), a national gay political action committee; the National Gay &
Lesbian Task Force's third annual Creating Change Conference, which was held in
Minneapolis (Nov. 9-12, 1990); the National March On Washington (1987), which
Coyle helped organize; and Coyle's work calling for a third national march on
Washington to be held in 1992 (1990-1991). |
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.2.4F | 13 |
Gay Issues, undated and 1982-1991. 8 folders
|
| |
"About Face," Nov. 9, 1990. 2 folders
|
| | | Coyle attended a national organizing conference at the
University of Minnesota entitled "About Face: Combatting ROTC's Anti-Gay
Policy" (Nov. 9, 1990), and a conference program and briefing book compiled by
the American Civil Liberties Union containing lists of resources, critical
documents, and strategy suggestions are included. |
| |
Gay Pride Celebration, 1985, 1988-1991. 2 folders
|
| |
Twin Cities Men's Chorus and Minnesota Freedom Band,
1983, 1985-1990. 2 folders
|
| |
Violence Against Gays, 1984-1987. 4 folders
|
| |
Minnesota Committee for Gay and Lesbian Rights Political
Action Committee (MCGLR/PAC), 1982-1986.
|
| |
National Association of Gay/Lesbian Elected and
Appointed Officials, 1985-1991. 8 folders
|
| | |
Miscellaneous, 1985-1988, 1991.
|
| | |
Washington Lobbying Trips, 1986-1987. 2 folders
|
| | |
Conferences, 1985-1988. 3 folders
|
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.2.5B | 14 | |
Conferences, 1989-1990. 2 folders
|
| |
March on Washington, 1987. 2 folders
|
| |
Human Rights Campaign Fund (HRCF), 1987-1991.
3 folders
|
| |
"Creating Change" Conference, 1990.
|
| |
March On Washington, undated and 1990-1991. 2 folders
|
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Organization of the Collection Section
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
AIDS, 1986-1991:
|
| Includes correspondence, notes, resolutions, ordinances, bills,
executive orders, agendas, programs, statistics, reports, obituaries, newspaper
clippings, magazine articles, newsletters, brochures, pamphlets, and comic
books. |
| Organizations and issues represented include prevention measures
and AIDS-related discrimination; state and city funding; educational programs
and materials; the Minnesota AIDS Project and its AIDS housing program
(1986-1991); the death of farm and gay activist Dick Hanson (July-Aug., 1987);
the International Lesbian & Gay Health Conference & AIDS Forum (July
20-26, 1988; July 18-22, 1990; July 24-28, 1991); Minneapolis Health
Department; Hennepin County AIDS Task Force; testimony of Coyle, Mayor Don
Fraser, and others before the task force of the National Commission on AIDS
(Jan 4, 1990); an AIDS prevention program for gay Latino men designed by the
Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) (Feb. 1990); American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU) and AIDS (1987; June 30, 1988; July-Nov. 1990); the AIDS Action Council;
the Minnesota AIDS Funding Consortium (March-April 1989, June 1, 1990; Aug. 1,
1990); The Aliveness Project; and the NAMES Project AIDS memorial quilt, which
was displayed in Minneapolis (July 16-17, 1988). |
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.2.5B | 14 |
AIDS, 1986-1988. 13 folders
|
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.2.6F | 15 |
AIDS, 1988-1991. 10 folders
|
| |
Minnesota AIDS Project (MAP), 1986.
|
| |
Minnesota AIDS Project Housing Proposal,
1986-1987,1990.
|
| |
"The Names Project," 1987-1988.
|
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Organization of the Collection Section
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Newspaper Clippings, 1981-1991:
|
| The clippings are almost exclusively from local newspapers and
deal primarily with topics related to Coyle's tenure on the city council, gay
rights, and AIDS. The two bibliographies were generated through computer
searches and consist of a printout comprising of citations to all occurrences
of Coyle's name in the Star and Tribune: Newspaper of the
Twin Cities between January 1986 and February 1989 and a packet of full
text printouts from the Star and Tribune: Newspaper of
the Twin Cities and The St. Paul Pioneer Press
Dispatch of articles related to issues Coyle was involved with
(1988-1990). |
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.2.6F | 15 |
1981-1985. 7 folders
|
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.2.7B | 16 |
1986-1991. 22 folders
|
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.2.8F | 17 |
Bibliographies, 1986-1990.
|
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Organization of the Collection Section
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Personal Papers, 1981-1991:
|
| Includes correspondences, notes, memoranda, journals, obituaries,
newspaper and magazine clippings, and photographs. |
| Most of the personal papers are related to Coyle's battle with
AIDS (1986-1991), including his daily journal (Oct. 8, 1989-Aug. 22, 1991)
which he stated was "for self guidance, dream recording, and expanded
creativity." After disclosing his HIV status (April 1991), Coyle released
excerpts from the journals (Oct. 1989-July 1990) to Equal
Time, which printed them under the title "Coming to Terms: The Coyle
Journals" (May 1991). He also released excerpts to the Star and Tribune covering the week during which he
publicly revealed his illness (April 21-28, 1991). The original journals and
copies of both newspaper articles are included. |
| Coyle publicly disclosed his HIV-positive status through a
personal letter to friends and colleagues (April 22, 1991), an article in Minnesota Monthly (May 1991), and a series of reports
on KSTP-TV 10 PM news (April 23, 1991). He was also interviewed on KTCA
television's documentary, "Artists and AIDS: Light from a Dark Room" (April 24,
1991) (video tapes located in box 19). A copy of the letter and the article are
included, as well as related correspondence, notes, and newspaper
clippings. |
| Hundreds of supportive cards and letters received following the
disclosure (April 22-Aug. 1991) are included, together with cards received for
his 47th birthday (June 22, 1991) and get-well cards he received after being
hospitalized at the beginning of July. There are also a few negative letters
and a folder of articles and letters regarding possible alternative medical
treatments. |
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.2.8F | 17 |
Coyle Personal Journals, Oct. 8, 1989-Aug. 22, 1991.
7 folders
|
| | | COPYRIGHT RESERVED |
| |
HIV Disclosure, 1991. 2 folders
|
| |
Post-HIV Disclosure, April-Aug. 1991. 15 folders
|
| | |
Letters. 4 folders
|
| | |
Negative Letters.
|
| | |
Alternative Treatments.
|
| | |
Cards and Messages, April-June 1991. 5 folders
|
| | |
Birthday Cards, June 1991. 2 folders
|
| | |
Get Well Cards, July-Aug. 1991. 2 folders
|
| |
Coyle's Obituaries, Aug.-Oct, 1991.
|
| | | Coyle died at home on August 23, 1991 and obituaries from gay
and neighborhood newspapers are included. |
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.2.9B | 18 |
Notes and papers, undated and 1975, 1979, 1982-1983,
1987, 1989-1991. 2 folders
|
| | | Includes resumes; notes that Coyle kept regarding career and
life planning; biographical information on Coyle's grandmother, Selma Stenersen
(1889-1978); notes on a fictional story Coyle developed; notes from a trip
Coyle took to New York City (1989); mandellas and yoga chakras (1990); Coyle's
notes regarding the donation of his papers to the Minnesota Historical Society;
and notes on the papers' made by a friend of Coyle's, Clark Miller (Sept.
1991). |
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.2.9B | 18 |
Nicaragua Trip, Sept. 13-20, 1986. 2 folders
|
| | | Coyle visited Nicaragua as a member of the Santa Barbara
Fact-finding Delegation (Sept. 13-20, 1986). The delegation was comprised
primarily of Los Angelas media figures and a few Midwest politicians. A journal
Coyle kept while in Nicaragua is included, along with photographs and
miscellaneous printed matter related to the trip. |
| |
Correspondence, 1981-1991. 4 folders
|
| | | The personal correspondence (1981-1991) is composed of letters
from Coyle's mother and father, his sister Kathy, friends, colleagues, and
constituents. The correspondence is primarily concerned with family and
personal affairs as well as Coyle's political career. |
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Organization of the Collection Section
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Audio-Visual Material, 1974, 1977-1978, 1982,
1984-1991:
|
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.2.9B | 18 |
Photographs, undated and 1984-1986, 1991.
|
| |
Slide Shows, 1974, 1987.
|
| | |
Vietnam Slide Show and Text, 1974.
|
| | |
"The Good, Bad, & the Ugly-A Study of Urban
Contrasts in the Sixth Ward," 1987.
|
| | | | Slide show and text. |
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.2.10F | 19 |
Audio Tapes, 1974, 1977-1978, 1982, 1990. 6 cassettes
and 1 reel-to-reel.
|
| | |
Interview with North Vietnamese Official, 1974. 2
cassettes.
|
| | |
Daniel Ellsberg, Nov. 13, 1982. 2
cassettes.
|
| | |
West Bank Tenants Union Rent Strike,
[1977?].
|
| | |
Interview with Brian Coyle and St. Paul City Council
member Bill Wilson, Aug. 23, 1990.
|
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.2.10F | 19 | |
Brian Coyle for U.S. Senate campaign radio
advertisement, 1978. reel-to-reel tape.
|
| |
Video Tapes, 1984-1986, 1988-1991.
|
| | |
Coyle's Swearing-in and Miscellaneous City Council
Issues, 1984-1985.
|
| | |
"Out of the Neighborhood Skillet, Into the Political
Fires," 1986.
|
| | | | Panel discussion. |
| | |
Coyle On Homeless, Gay Murders, and Other Issues,
1986.
|
| | |
Coyle On Housing, Drugs, Domestic Partners, and Earth
Day, 1988, 1990.
|
| | |
Whittier Village Fair, Aug. 20. 1989.
|
| | |
Domestic Partners Hearing, July 30, 1990.
|
| Location | Box |
| 143.E.2.10F | 19 | |
Conversations With Brian Coyle at Elliot Park's 12th
Annual "All Peoples Gathering," Aug. 11, 1990.
|
| | |
"Public Man, Private Struggle"; Almanac (KTCA-TV) Interview; Excerpt from "Artists and
AIDS"; and Story on Coyle from Gaze TV, April 1991.
|
| | |
"Artists and AIDS," April 24, 1991.
|
| | | | Coyle's interview begins at 1 hour mark. |
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Organization of the Collection Section
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Oversize Materials:
|
| Location | Box |
| +196 | |
Folder 1.
|
| | | Includes a poster advertising a women's film series shown as a
benefit for Coyle's U.S. Senate campaign (Oct. 21, 1978); a chart comparing the
Coalition for Affordable Housing's proposed rent and condominium controls with
the city council's "Fair Rent" plan (1981); a timeline (1944-1984) depicting
Coyle's view of American political history; an outline of Coyle's observations
of E. F. Schumacher's "5-Principles of Smallness in Large-Scale Organizations";
organizational models for an independent, grass-roots Public Interest
Association (PIA); a poster from the AIDS Action Committee; a calendar
(Jan.-Dec., 1981) that includes Coyle's campaign activities; and copies of 17
photographs of domestic partners by Mark Morrill that were exhibited in the
Minneapolis mayor's office (Oct. 7-Nov. 1, 1991). |
| Location | Box |
| +196 | |
Folder 2.
|
| | | Includes a photograph of Coyle taken with Richard Nixon while
Coyle headed a high school group he organized called "Students for Nixon"
(1960). |
| |
Folder 3.
|
| | | Includes a chart comparing Coyle's and Jackie Slater's
contributors, a chronology and analysis of Coyle's campaign, and a breakdown of
voting results by precinct (1981). |
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Organization of the Collection Section
|
