H.I.C. Collection Joins ONE at USC
The Homosexual Information Center, one of the oldest ongoing Gay organizations in the world, having been founded in 1966, following a split with ONE, Inc., has agreed to place their historic library as a special collection in ONE Institute's new archives at USC. This new affiliation with ONE/IGLA provides the Homosexual Information Center with space for housing their important materials. As a result this large Gay and Lesbian archives, one of the richest in materials, has now been reunited with the ONE and IGLA archives.
This agreement was the result of discussions between our two organizations held over the past two years. The recent death of H.I.C.'s chairman Don Slater (see article on page seven), accelerated this process and led to unanimous approval by both organizations.
Among the vast holdings of H.I.C. are its rich files of primary materials on individuals and organizations that exist in no other archives. These papers include significant collections on Dale Jennings, one of the five founders of the Mattachine Society, Don Slater, a leader in ONE, and Tony Reyes, Don's companion for 54 years. Anthonywas one of the three signers of ONE'S incorporation along with Martin Bloch and Dale Jennings. Ryceman is also a professional flamingo dancer. His photo collection, costumes, and other related material were all donated to be used in future exhibits.
Also included in this superb collection are: the original files and library of ONE Inc. which became part of H.I.C. when the split occur[r]ed in 1965, the Knights of tin-Clock, a multi racial Gay group founded in the early 1950's in Los Angeles, the Committee Against Exclusion of Homosexuals From the Military, a group headed by Don Slater in 1966 which organized public demonstrations and received wide coverage, including on national CBS television, and many rare periodicals from early European groups. There are original letters and documents on every known activist in the U.S. and most of the world, prior to the Stonewall Rebellion.
"This is an historic development," said John O'Brien, ONE Institute's Executive Director, who led the negotiations with H.I.C. "It means closure to a split that occured in ONE over thirty years ago. This latest addition of the final third of the original three pre-Stonewall archives in Los Angeles, means that the records of the early Gay/Lesbian rights movement of Southern California and most of the United States are now under the same umbrella".
In the new archives, the organizations will merge their books and periodicals under the rapidly expanding International Gay & Lesbian Archives division of ONE Institute. The large amount of files and records of the H.I.C., its publication Tangents and its book service, will be maintained, as a special collection by the Homosexual Information Center. The staffing, funding and preservation of this permanent special collection will be the responsibility of the board of directors of H.I.C.
Jim Schneider, the new national chair of the Homosexual Information Center stated, "I hope this new relationship will help further the work of both organizations".
Jim Kepner, a key figure in helping to reach this historic agreement, recalls the thirty years of strife between the former ONE, Inc. and H.I.C. "This division of the ONE, Inc. collection in 1966 represented a major physical and psychological defeat for ONE Inc.", said Kepner.
"Both organizations were weakened, never able to reach the size or effectiveness
of the original ONE, Inc. prior to the spilt. The importance of ONE, Inc. as the premiere group and its work were subsequently lost to the generations of activists that emerged after Stonewall", Kepner added.
"When our Movement began to rise rapidly in growth and activity, neither H.I.C. or ONE provided the many new activists with experienced leadership or a sense of their history. Nor would they play a major role in the societal changes realized by the movement over the rest of the century.
"Now we have a chance with a newly reinvigorated ONE/IGLA with its rapidly expanding collections and new volunteers to make a real difference to our Movement and Community in the coming years".
O'Brien believes that had this tragic split not occur[r]ed our movement would be even larger and stronger today. "When the infighting and split occur[r]ed, many members and supporters fled," opined O'Brien. "They didn't wish to take sides or be a part of this regretably [sic] ugly history. It was a needless waste of energy and bickering that deeply hurt ONE, Inc. and disappointed activists working to improve the conditions of Gays and Lesbians everywhere.
"Post Stonewall activists need to understand that we all stand on the shoulders of those who came earlier trying to make a better world." offered O'Brien.[sic] "We would not have been able to accomplish as much as we have, and still need to, if it was not for the earlier efforts of brave individuals and groups like ONE.", stated O'Brien, who was a Stonewall Rebellion participant. "While both organizations will benefit from this new arrangement, the real winners will not only be researchers, students and historians, but future generations of persons who will be able to learn about this important historical period and the many contributions that activists in ONE, HIC, and other early groups helped bring about."
Much of this material has, for over thirty years, remained mostly locked away and unknown. As we go through this treasured collection, and work to save and repair the more fragile parts, we can see the positive effects already. In saving this history by the thoughtful and generous decision of the H.I.C. directors to once more make this collection accessible.
Organizing and preserving this collection will be a major challenge. It is estimated that it will take a full time staff person and volunteers two to three years to process and maintain this collection of 300 oversized boxes at library and archival standards. There will be a high cost to save and maintain this invaluable collection but this is our job and we hope responsible donors and volunteers can join us to complete this task of saving one of the most valuable historic collections of Gay/Lesbian history in the world today.
The period immediately following the Stonewall Rebellion brought a growing recognition of the importance of learning and preserving Lesbian and Gay history. It was during this period that four large Gay/Lesbian library/archives existed in the United States. One of these was located in New York City (the local Mattachine office), until they ceased operating in 1974.
The other three were all in Los Angeles, where the current Movement in the United States had its origins. These were: ONE Inc. which was founded out of the Mattachine Society in late 1952; the Homosexual Information Center; and the Western Gay archives.
The WGA underwent several name changes: the Natalie Barney-Edward Carpenter Library, the National Gay Archives and finally the International Gay & Lesbian Archives. Then, in November, 1994, IGLA merged its library with that of ONE Inc. to become ONE Institute-International Gay and Lesbian Archives.
Of the original three leaders and pioneers of these collections, Dorr Legg, Don Slater and Jim Kepner, only Kepner, our resident historian and board member, remains alive and actively involved.
After two years of preliminary discussions with H.I.C., ONE/IGLA's Executive Director, John O'Brien was invited to attend an HIC board meeting on February 23rd where he presented the proposal approved unanimously by H.I.C.'s representatives and accepted at the ONE Institute board on March 5th.
O'Brien said, "As we approach a new millenium [sic] we will have new opportunities and new challenges to uncover and preserve our history, and to share in educating future generations. We hope our new relationship with H.I.C. will benefit everyone concerned".
The new arrangement will allow both collections to work more closely while being operated independently. In addition to a separate administered space for H.I.C.'s papers and records in the new central library building, H.I.C.'s vice chairman, William Glover will operate their information center in Bossier City, Louisiana.
"With this new cooperation now emerging between our two organizations, we hope to provide data base records of our collections to the office site in Bossier City, Louisiana for researchers to access" said O'Brien. "We also hope to offer other logistical and technical help in organizing and reserving the materials collected and stored in the Louisiana location".
