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This collection documents the life of Helen Harder (nee Eleanor F. Sugg). Born in 1918, Harder was a flight instructor in the Women's Army Corps (WACS) in World War II. She later worked in a variety of fields including private industry, sales, civil service and education. Harder was interested in spirituality and wrote a number of small essays on the subject.

Flight instructor Helen Harder (left) demonstrates a Link trainer (an early flight simulator) to a new pilot during her service in World War II.

Helen Harder with a dog.

Photographs of Vanguard's 1966 Street Sweep demonstration in San Francisco. Vanguard was an organization of LGBTQ youth and others living on the streets of the Tenderloin district in San Francisco. The Street Sweep was organized to demonstrate their commitment to the neighborhood and to protest ongoing police harassment. This collection also contains photographs of another protest and a few unidentified subjects.

Patron's at Compton's Cafeteria.

A scanned copy of the comic book Dyke Shorts, by indie cartoonist Mary Wings.

Questionnaires with testimony from the children of queer parents, collected by COLAGE in support of the Virginia custody case of lesbian mother Sharon Bottoms.

Mink stole belonging to Eve Finocchio, the owner of Finocchio's nightclub. This item is undated.

Mink stole owned by Eve Finocchio, the owner of Finocchio's nightclub. This item is undated.

Hat worn by Finocchio's doormen. This item is undated.

Hat worn by Finocchio's doormen. This item is undated.

Green lace gown worn by Finocchio's performers. This item is undated.

Large format photograph of performer that was displayed at Finocchio's. This item is undated.

Large format photograph of performer that was displayed at Finocchio's (rear). This item is undated.

Painted portrait of a performer that was displayed at Finocchio's nightclub. This item is undated.

Painted portrait of a performer that was displayed at Finocchio's nightclub. This item is undated.

Red lace gown worn by performers at Finocchio's. This garment was designed by Pat Campano and is undated.

Red lace gown worn by performers at Finocchio's. This garment was designed by Pat Campano and is undated.

Pink feathered hat worn by Finocchio's performers. This item is undated.

Pink feathered hat worn by Finocchio's performers. This item is undated.

Red folding fan used by Finocchio's performers. This item is undated.

Red folding fan used by Finocchio's performers. This item is undated.

A group of attendees at a Halloween drag event.

Libertarians for Gay and Lesbian Concerns (LGLC) records document the activities of LGLC especially those of George Meyer, LGLC's National Coordinator from 1983 to 1987. LGLC was established during the 1981 national Libertarian Party Convention in Denver, Colorado. LGLC succeeded the Thomas Jefferson Libertarian Club, a 1970's gay and lesbian political organization. Despite LGLC's ties with the libertarian movement, it has never been an official organization of the Libertarian party. The organization's mission was to support gay and lesbians libertarians, to persuade gay and lesbians to consider the libertarian view of civil liberties, and to bring awareness of gay and lesbian issues to libertarians. After a slow beginning in Salt Lake City (1981-1983), LGLC moved to Washington, D.C. (1983- 1984). George Meyer moved to San Francisco in late 1984, and began the San Francisco chapter (August 1984) while serving as National Coordinator. Meyer's efforts as National Coordinator saw an increase in the organization's membership and influence. He edited the bi-monthly LGLC Newsletter, which had 400 subscribers during the mid-1980's. Meyer supported the Washington, D.C., New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco local chapters. By 1986, despite his efforts, only the New York City and San Francisco chapters were still active. Meyer also arranged information booths at Libertarian party state and national conventions, encouraged LGLC participation in Gay Freedom Day parades, and maintained a network of contacts in thirteen states.

Correspondence, administrative records, clippings

Correspondence, administrative records, clippings

Correspondence, administrative records, clippings, advertising

Correspondence, administrative records, clippings

Correspondence, administrative records, clippings

The James Dewsnap collection contains two full-length nude portraits of Scott O'Hara by San Francisco artist David Ross; transcripts of 16 interviews from 1994 that Dewsnap conducted with Jackie Phillips, the lead "comedienne" at Finocchio's from the late 1950s to the mid-1970s; and an unpublished book-length typescript on Phillips’ life, called "Oh, what a drag! The life and career of Wacky Jackie Phllips, Finocchio's riotous redhead, as told to Jim Dewsnap."

An oral history of longtime Finocchio's comedy queen Jackie Phillips, taken by James Dewsnap and later incorporated into Phillips' autobiography ghostwritten by Dewsnap.

The autobiography of longtime Finocchio's comedy queen Jackie Phillips, as told to and ghostwritten by James Dewsnap.

Correspondence, administrative records, clippings

Two women kissing and embracing, one has a purple ribbon around her neck.

Drag queen in a light blue leotard and large feathered headpiece standing on the street.

Black and white flyer advertising "Club Q. A Dance Party for Women" taking place on June 23, 1989. With Mixtress Page Hodel. This item is undated.

Black and white flyer advertising the dance club "The Box. "Everybody's Dance Club. A Dance Club for Gay Men and Women Together." With "Mixtress Page Hodel & Annie 'Fingertips' Buerhaus." This item is undated. Advertising "Special After Parade Dance Party" on Sunday June 30, 1991.

Black & white flyer advertising "The Box. A Homosexual Dance Club. San Francisco's first dance club for gay men and women together." With "Mixtress Page Hodel." This item is undated. Advertises "A special after the parade party" taking place on June 24, 1990

Black and white flyer advertising club SKIRTS. "MT Productions Presents: SKIRTS. A Hot New Night Spot For The Gal with Gumption." With DJ Page Hodel. This item is undated.

Black and white flyer advertising the dance club The Box. With "DJ Page Hodel." This item is undated.

Pamphlets and flyers from the Solidarity Gay/Lesbian Liberation folder circa 1981-1982. Some items are undated.

Flyer publicizing a demonstration to take place at the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla, CA on Saturday, July 8, 1995 at noon.

Phyllis Lyon, Del Martin, and Jose Sarria as Grand Marshals of 1989 Pride.

Photograph by Roz Joseph. From her series of photographs of the San Francisco drag scene in the mid-1970s.

Photograph by Roz Joseph. From her series of photographs of the San Francisco drag scene in the mid-1970s.

Photograph by Roz Joseph. From her series of photographs of the San Francisco drag scene in the mid-1970s.

Roz Joseph (1926–2019) was a San Francisco-based photographer who in the mid-1970s photographed the pageantry and activism of the city’s diverse drag cultures at Gay Freedom Day parades, Halloween celebrations, Imperial Court coronations and drag and costume balls. The collection consists of matted color photographic prints, notebooks of slides, interviews and manuscript materials, and various ephemera.

"Ambi Sextrous." Photograph by Roz Joseph. From her series of photographs of the San Francisco drag scene in the mid-1970s.

"Ricky". Photograph by Roz Joseph. From her series of photographs of the San Francisco drag scene in the mid-1970s.

Photograph by Roz Joseph. From her series of photographs of the San Francisco drag scene in the mid-1970s.

Photograph by Roz Joseph. From her series of photographs of the San Francisco drag scene in the mid-1970s.

Jean-Baptiste Carhaix (1946-2023) was a French photographer. The collection includes photographs of early members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and images of events, including AIDS fundraisers and marches.

The San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corps distributed the newsletter, Band Notes as a way to keep members informed of the band's up coming rehearsals and performances, list personal ads, and share other kinds of information concerning band membership. This newsletter is dated 02/03/1981.

The San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corps distributed the newsletter, Band Notes as a way to keep members informed of the band's up coming rehearsals and performances, list personal ads, and share other kinds of information concerning band membership. This newsletter is dated 01/20/1981.

Flyer for a San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corps event called, A Toot to the Band. This item is undated.

Photographs of the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corps during the 1978 Gay Freedom Day Parade. This item is a page from a scrapbook in this collection.

Program for the concert, Fives, which included performances by the San Francisco Band Foundation, the San Francisco Tap Troupe, Dick Kramer's Gay Men's Chorale, Mt. Sutro Trio, Skip Barrett and the Foggy City Squares, Sonny Padilla, the Golden Gate Brass Quintet, Empress Connie, and San Francisco Flag Corps.

Program for Crusade, a softball benefit for the 1982 Gay Olympics, presented by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

Program for the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corps concert, A Superband Concert.

The San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corps distributed the newsletter, Band Notes as a way to keep members informed of the band's up coming rehearsals and performances, list personal ads, and share other kinds of information concerning band membership. This newsletter is dated 10/06/1981.

Flyer for the event A Little Rights Music, where the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corps performed. This is a page of a scrapbook in this collection.

Flyer for a performance by the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corps and the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus at Hollywood High School in Los Angeles, California. This is a page from scrapbook in this collection.

This collection contains materials relating to Finocchio’s, one of the oldest and best-known female impersonation clubs in the world. The term, "female impersonators" is a historic term that comes from a straight-coded Victorian theatrical form and continued until the mid-20th century before merging into what we now call drag. Finocchio's performers included what we now know as drag queens, trans people, and cis men in drag.

A list of jokes performed by Finocchio's emcees during shows. This item is undated.

A list of jokes performed by Finocchio's emcees during shows. This item is undated.

Business card for Young's Wigs, located in Oakland, California. This item is undated.

Sign with hours of operation of Finocchio's. This item is undated.

Red lace gown worn by performers at Finocchio's. This garment was designed by Pat Campano and is undated.

Green dirndl dress worn by Finocchio's performers. This item is undated.

Hat worn by Finocchio's doormen. This item is undated.

Mink stole owned by Eve Finocchio, the owner of Finocchio's nightclub. This item is undated.

Decorative textile from Finocchio's nightclub. This item is undated.

Multicolor top and skirt worn by Finocchio's performers. This item is undated.

A run of show listing the schedule of performers and their acts at Finocchio's nightclub.

Flyer for the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corps St. Patrick's Day Parade performance. This is a page from a scrapbook in this collection.

Flyer and tickets for the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corps Superband concert. This is a page from a scrapbook in this collection. This item is undated.

Flyer for Sylvester's Birthday at Dreamland club for which the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corps gave a surprise performance. This is a page from a scrapbook in this collection.

Flyer for the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corps concert, A La Carte. This is a page from a scrapbook in this collection.

Certificate awarded to Steve Scholl for meritorious accomplishments and services rendered from June 1978 to June 1982. Steve Scholl was a founding member of the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corps and a clarinet player. This is a page from a scrapbook in this collection.

The San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corps distributed the newsletter, Band Notes as a way to keep members informed of the band's up coming rehearsals and performances, list personal ads, and share other kinds of information concerning band membership. This newsletter is dated 08/02/1983. This is a page from a scrapbook in this collection.

The San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corps distributed the newsletter, Band Notes as a way to keep members informed of the band's up coming rehearsals and performances, list personal ads, and share other kinds of information concerning band membership. This newsletter is dated 02/17/1981.

Program for the San Francisco Tap Troupe event, 5678. The San Francisco Tap Troupe was a group of dancers that originated as part of the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corps before becoming its own entity.

Postcard for a benefit cabaret event to support the San Francisco Band Foundation. Performers include the San Francisco Tap Troupe, City Swing, and Vocal Minority.

Schedule distributed to performers of the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corps show, Flight of Fancy.