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An image of the Vanguard Street Sweep protest, an action by the LGBTQ youth group Vanguard. The protest reclaimed the streets of the Tenderloin from police officers who would "sweep" for trans people, queer people, and sex workers. By physically sweeping the streets, Vanguard argued that Tenderloin residents should define what their community needed, and that what they needed was a clean and safe place to live, free of harassment.

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.

Patrons at the Opus One club, which featured live classical music and catered to gay men.

A menu from the Black Cat bar.

Bill Beardemphl (1926-2002) was a journalist, activist, and chef who is best known for founding the Society for Individual Rights (SIR), a homophile organization, and publishing its magazine Vector. In the 1980s, he was also the owner of the San Francisco Sentinel. The collection contains Beardemphl’s journalistic notes, subject files, and photographs, as well as early issues of Vector.

Photograph of Bill Beardemphl with his lifelong partner Johnny DeLeon, circa 1960s.

A mailer/poster exemplifying the opposition to Propositions A and B, which were local ballot measures in San Jose and Santa Clara County intended to outlaw discrimination against LGBTQ people. The poster is part of Bill Beardemphl's large collection of homophobic materials, which he collected as part of his research into his political opponents.

Notes towards an unwritten history of queer San Francisco, potentially titled "Homosexualizing the City," by Bill Beardemphl.

Photograph of Bill Beardemphl's lifelong partner, dancer Johnny DeLeon, circa 1960s. This image may have been taken at an Imperial Court of San Francisco event, given DeLeon's Renaissance costume.

Photograph of Bill Beardemphl and his lifelong partner Johnny DeLeon, circa early 1960s ("must have been taken in '63 or '64" on verso).

Verso of photograph of Bill Beardemphl and his lifelong partner Johnny DeLeon, circa early 1960s (labeled "must have been taken in '63 or '64").

Photograph of Bill Beardemphl and his lifelong partner Johnny DeLeon.

Photograph of Bill Beardemphl and his lifelong partner Johnny DeLeon.

Photograph of Bill Beardemphl (right), his lifelong partner Johnny DeLeon (center), and an unidentified friend, circa 1960s. This photo may have been taken at an Imperial Court event, given the Renaissance costumes worn by the men.

A posed photograph of Bill Beardemphl at work.

Photograph of Bill Beardemphl with his lifelong partner Johnny DeLeon at home.

The program of the SIRLebrity Capades of 1965, a variety show fundraiser for the Society for Individual Rights, founded in 1964 by Bill Beardemphl.

Collection consists of black and white and color photographs, negatives, slides, and contact sheets produced by photographer Richard Boetger in the early 1970s. Many of the items in the collection are portraits of male nudes but also include a few portraits of women and ballet dancers, as well as a framed photograph of opera singer Birgit Nilsson.

A photograph of a nude man.

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

A collection of poems by David Cannon Dashiell.

This collection documents the creative works of artist David Cannon Dashiell. This collection includes written, conceptual, and design works produced from the middle 1970s through 1993 when the artist died. Personal items in the collection are limited to a small cache of photographs and slides.

A collection of poems by David Cannon Dashiell.

Prose works by David Cannon Dashiell.

David Cannon Dashiell's "An Imaginary Manifesto."

An art planning notebook by David Cannon Dashiell.

The catalog to David Cannon Dashiell's tarot-themed exhibition, "Invert, Oracle."

PDF scans of photographs of David Cannon Dashiell, his partner, his home, and his friends.

Description of David Cannon Dashiell's Queer Mysteries exhibition.

Various music criticism pieces written by David Cannon Dashiell, as "Biff Bourguignon," for the publication California Voice.

A collection of poems by David Cannon Dashiell.

Black and white sequined jacket worn by Sylvester. Designed by Pat Campano. This item is undated.

Black and white sequined jacket worn by Sylvester. Designed by Pat Campano. This item is undated.

Black and white sequined jacket worn by Sylvester. Designed by Pat Campano. This item is undated.

Peach sequined tunic and skirt with crane motif worn by Sylvester. This garment appears to be handmade and there is no designer label attached. This item is undated.

Peach sequined tunic and skirt with crane motif worn by Sylvester. This garment appears to be handmade and there is no designer label attached. This item is undated.

Pink sequined jacket and pants worn by Sylvester. Designed by Pat Campano. This item is undated.

Pink sequined jacket and pants worn by Sylvester. Designed by Pat Campano. This item is undated.

White gown with satin and tulle netting, wire understructure, and small mirrors. This garment does not have a label indicating the designer. This item is undated.

White gown with satin and tulle netting, wire understructure, and small mirrors. This garment does not have a label indicating the designer. This item is undated.

Poster for the Thrillpeddlers revival production of Pearls Over Shanghai. Pearls Over Shanghai was originally a Cockettes musical written by Link Martin and Richard Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Poster for the Thrillpeddlers revival production, Hot Greeks. Hot Greeks was originally a Cockettes musical written by Martin Worman and Scrumbly Koldewyn in 1972.

Costume for the character, Mother Fu (performed by Russell Blackwood) from the Thrillpeddlers revival production of Pearls Over Shanghai. Pearls Over Shanghai was originally a Cockettes musical written by Link Martin and Richard Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Smoking jacket worn by Russell Blackwood (Thrillpeddlers founder and artistic director) during introductions to shows at The Hypnodrome theatre.

Yellow insect headpiece used as part of a costume in an unidentified Thrillpeddlers production. This item is undated.

Tech lighting map for the Thrillpeddlers production, Blood Bucket Ballyhoo.

A series of photographs mounted on poster board depicting the installation of the Hypnodrome Theatre, the long time home of the Thrillpeddlers located in the SoMa district of San Francisco.

Headpiece from the Thrillpeddlers revival production, Hot Greeks. Hot Greeks was originally a Cockettes musical written by Martin Worman and Scrumbly Koldewyn in 1972. This headpiece is meant to resemble the corinthian greek architecture order.

Headpiece from the Thrillpeddlers revival production, Hot Greeks. Hot Greeks was originally a Cockettes musical written by Martin Worman and Scrumbly Koldewyn in 1972. This headpiece is meant to resemble the ionic greek architecture order.

Purple costume from the Thrillpeddlers revival production of Pearls Over Shanghai. Pearls Over Shanghai was originally a Cockettes musical written by Link Martin and Richard Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Poster advertising Creepshow Camp, an arts education program that taught horror and science fiction performance skills to youth.

Stage designs for the Thrillpeddler's production, The Bloody Debutant.

Sequined costume from the Thrillpeddlers revival production of Pearls Over Shanghai. Pearls Over Shanghai was originally a Cockettes musical written by Link Martin and Richard Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Headpiece from the Thrillpeddlers revival production, Hot Greeks. Hot Greeks was originally a Cockettes musical written by Martin Worman and Scrumbly Koldewyn in 1972. This headpiece is meant to resemble the corinthian greek architecture order.

Headpiece from the Thrillpeddlers revival production, Hot Greeks. Hot Greeks was originally a Cockettes musical written by Martin Worman and Scrumbly Koldewyn in 1972. This headpiece is meant to resemble the corinthian greek architecture order.

Headpiece from the Thrillpeddlers revival production, Hot Greeks. Hot Greeks was originally a Cockettes musical written by Martin Worman and Scrumbly Koldewyn in 1972. This headpiece is meant to resemble the ionic greek architecture order.

Headpiece from the Thrillpeddlers revival production, Hot Greeks. Hot Greeks was originally a Cockettes musical written by Martin Worman and Scrumbly Koldewyn in 1972. This headpiece is meant to resemble the ionic greek architecture order.

Costume for the character, Mother Fu (performed by Russell Blackwood) from the Thrillpeddlers revival production of Pearls Over Shanghai. Pearls Over Shanghai was originally a Cockettes musical written by Link Martin and Richard Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Costume for the character, Mother Fu (performed by Russell Blackwood) from the Thrillpeddlers revival production of Pearls Over Shanghai. Pearls Over Shanghai was originally a Cockettes musical written by Link Martin and Richard Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Purple costume from the Thrillpeddlers revival production of Pearls Over Shanghai. Pearls Over Shanghai was originally a Cockettes musical written by Link Martin and Richard Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Purple costume from the Thrillpeddlers revival production of Pearls Over Shanghai. Pearls Over Shanghai was originally a Cockettes musical written by Link Martin and Richard Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Purple costume from the Thrillpeddlers revival production of Pearls Over Shanghai. Pearls Over Shanghai was originally a Cockettes musical written by Link Martin and Richard Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Sequined costume from the Thrillpeddlers revival production of Pearls Over Shanghai. Pearls Over Shanghai was originally a Cockettes musical written by Link Martin and Richard Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Sequined costume from the Thrillpeddlers revival production of Pearls Over Shanghai. Pearls Over Shanghai was originally a Cockettes musical written by Link Martin and Richard Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Thrillpeddlers was a San Francisco-based multigenerational queer theater company specializing in Grand Guignol plays and Theatre of the Ridiculous.

Sixth issue of Baseline Bay Area Disco Report, published in May 1979. This issue includes an article written by Maria Sanchez, who was a regular contributor to this publication.

Headpiece from the Thrillpeddlers revival production, Hot Greeks. Hot Greeks was originally a Cockettes musical written by Martin Worman and Scrumbly Koldewyn in 1972. This headpiece is meant to resemble the doric greek architecture order.

Headpiece from the Thrillpeddlers revival production, Hot Greeks. Hot Greeks was originally a Cockettes musical written by Martin Worman and Scrumbly Koldewyn in 1972. This headpiece is meant to resemble the doric greek architecture order.

Headpiece from the Thrillpeddlers revival production, Hot Greeks. Hot Greeks was originally a Cockettes musical written by Martin Worman and Scrumbly Koldewyn in 1972. This headpiece is meant to resemble the doric greek architecture order.

Invitation for a party where Maria Sanchez DJed/spun records.

Excerpt of issue 3 of Baseline Bay Area Disco Report. Baseline was a disco zine that Sanchez regularly contributed to. This issue includes a piece by Sanchez called, The Beat Steams On.

Script for the opening scene of the Thrillpeddlers production, A Visit to Mrs. Birch and the Young Ladies of the Academy, containing stage cues and other annotations. This production was featured as part of Shocktoberfest 14.

Program for the Thrillpeddlers show, Farewell to the Hypnodrome. Farewell to the Hypnodrome was the final Thrillpeddlers' production held at the Hypnodrome Theatre due to the sudden sale of the building. Ticket sales revenue for this show were used to help cover the cost of moving.

Chart listing special effects used during Shocktoberfest XV.

Digital audio file of a recording of an interview with Harvey Milk. Recorded by G. Kenneth Ward at San Francisco City Hall on February 2, 1978.

Maria Sanchez was a popular San Francisco DJ who spun records at many venues including the Sutro Bathhouse and the Fairoaks Hotel. She was a member of the Bay Area Disco DJ Association (BADDA) and wrote a monthly disco gossip column in "Baseline: Bay Area Disco Report."

Set piece reading "Alwayz Eze" used in the Thrillpeddlers production, Hot Greeks. Hot Greeks was originally a Cockettes musical written by Martin Worman and Scrumbly Koldewyn in 1972.

Bruce G. Rodgers was the author of The Queens’ Vernacular: a Gay Lexicon, a dictionary of gay slang. He was born October 15, 1942 in Wisconsin, moved to San Francisco in 1966 and died August 10, 2009. He is buried at the Santa Clara Mission Cemetery. Rodgers graduated from Wausau Senior High School in Wausau, Wisconsin in 1959. He attended Barstow Jr. College, 1960-1961 and University of Southern Nevada, 1961-1963. During the 1960s he worked as a teletype operator and supervisor for Review Journal Daily in Las Vegas and as a teletype operator at the Wall Street Journal in San Francisco. In the 1970s he worked in order fulfillment at Western Tape in Mountain View, California, then in the1980s at Albert L. Shultz Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto. He retired in 1996. On his resume (circa 1982), Rodgers describes his personal interests: “I have an overriding interest in linguistics and languages. I (sic) am reading fluent in Spanish, French, Judeo-Spanish, and Hebrew, and am knowledgeable of Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Italian, German, and Turkish. I am constantly interested in slang expressions in all languages.” His partner from 1966 to 1989 was Joe Jenkins (1935-1989) who had an interest in George Washington memorabilia. Jenkins’ collection of George Washington memorabilia was donated by Rodgers to the San José Historical Museum (currently History San José) in 1994.