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Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns

Notifications

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
RG4.091
Repository:
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Extent:
7 linear ft. (14 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item or series here], RG4/091, Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns Records, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Date:
1973-2009 (inclusive)
Creator:
Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns, Grimes, Bruce G., Gross, Arthur (Editor), and Leuze, Robert
Abstract:
Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns (FLGBTQC) is a North American Quaker faith community. It was founded in 1971 as a Committee of Concern. In 1978 it became the Friends for Lesbian and Gay Concerns (FLGC), a national Quaker-affiliated group of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and sympathetic others. The name was changed to Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns at the Mid-Winter Gathering held February 2003. Records consist of minutes, clerks' correspondence, financial records, publication records, miscellaneous resource files, and conference materials.

Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns (FLGBTQC) is a North American Quaker faith community. A national Quaker-affiliated group of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and sympathetic others was initially organized as the Committee of Concern in 1971. In 1974 the name was changed to Friends Committee on Gay Concerns. In 1978 the name became Friends for Lesbian and Gay Concerns. The name was changed to Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns at the Mid-Winter Gathering held February 2003.

FLGBTQC holds twice yearly conferences. The Midwinter Gathering is held over the long weekend surrounding U.S. President's Day in February, and the Summer Gathering is held with the larger Friends General Conference Gathering the first week in July.

The group was started by Ron Mattson, ministering secretary at Minneapolis Meeting, who gathered with other Friends including Larry S. Butler, Gerald Turnbull, Geoffrey Kaiser, D.W. Kaiser, and D.W. Beedle to create a "Committee of Concern." Ron Mattson published the newsletter from 1973-1975. Arthur Gross took over as editor in 1975, and the group was renamed the Friends Committee for Gay Concerns. Bruce Grimes assumed the editorship after 1976. In 1978, the name of the group was broadened to include lesbians, Friends for Lesbian and Gay Concerns (FLGC). In 2003, it formally acknowledged broader inclusion with the name change to Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns (FLGBTQC). In 1989, the group published Each of Us Inevitable, a compilation of keynote addresses given at FLGC Gatherings, 1977-1989, edited by Robert Leuze. In 2003, an expanded version was published in a book form.

Records of the Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns, 1973-2009. Includes minutes, clerks' correspondence, publication files, financial records, miscellaneous resource files, and conference records. Topics of particular interest include same-sex marriage and the gay rights movement within the Society of Friends.

The collection is divided into six series:

  1. Minutes
  2. Clerks' correspondence and Ministry and Counsel
  3. Publications
  4. Financial records
  5. Miscellaneous
  6. Conferences

Donor: Bruce Grimes, 1989, 1989-90. Accession number: 1990.16

Accruals: 1990, 1999, 2006

Transferred from Haverford College (L.S. Butler Papers, E5.14.1) Bruce Grimes' donation sorted by topic, order maintained; L.S. Butler Papers were largely unsorted and included approximately 1.5 linear ft. of reference materials on homosexuals and homosexual issues. Most of this material was not directly related to the Committee or to Friends in general and was not retained.

Donor: FLGBTQC. Accession number: 2015.002 Donor: Bruce Grimes. Accession number: 2006.005 Additional accrual: papers collected by Robert Leuze. Accession number: 2018.063.

Materials were retained in the same units in which they were received, and arranged into series according to function. 2015 deposit included RG4/128 Quaker Lesbian Conference Planning Committee records which were processed as RG4/128.

See also:

  1. RG4/128 Quaker Lesbian Conference Planning Committee records, 1977-2009/
  2. RG5/290 Bonnie Tinker papers
  3. RG2/PHy Philadelphia Yearly Meeting records

The following materials, originally received with the records, have been recatalogued:

Newsletters

  1. Committee of Concern (Ron Mattson, Secretary). [Newsletter], 1973-1975.
  2. Subcommitte (sp) on Lesbian and Gay Concerns/Family Relations Committee of Philadelphia Yearly
  3. Meeting. NEWSLETTER, 1988-90 (incomplete).
  4. Lone Star [Austin, Texas] FLGC. NEWSLETTER, 1989-1990.
  5. Bay Area Quaker Lesbian Meeting. Newsletter, 1985-1987. Includes mailings of Quaker Lesbian Conference.
  6. Friends Meeting of Washington, D.C. Friends for Lesbian and Gay Concerns. Newsletter, 1985-87, 1988.
  7. Friends for Lesbian and Gay Concerns/New York. Newsletter, 1981-1990.
  8. Friends for Lesbian and Gay Concerns (Baltimore, Md.). Newsletter, 1984-1989.
  9. Twin Cities Friends for Lesbian and Gay Concerns. F.L.G.C. Newsletter, 1985-1990.
  10. Dallas Friends Meeting AIDS Committee. Networking Quaker Concerns on AIDS, 1987.

Books, moved to the FHL stacks:

  1. BX7613.P6735 1978 Kirkman, Steven & David Murphy. The Poetic Friends Nosegay: An Anthology of Quaker Poetry, ca. 1978
  2. BX7748.S47 K7 1984 Kristensen, Eric. Voices from Exile: Lesbians and Gay Men in the Church, 1984.
  3. RC607.A26 W52 1990 Wick, Gary Dean. Aids: A Healing Harvest, [1989].
  4. BX7748.S47 R3 1988 Quaker Home Service. Study Pack/The Recognition of Same-Sex Relationships in the Religious Society of Friends, 1988.
  5. + BX7748.S47 D26 1987 Ben Pink Dandelion. The History of F.H.F., 1973-87, [1987].

Audio Visual: Audio Cassettes

  1. OE Pictures Oversize Photograph: Friends for Lesbian and Gay Concerns Worship Annual
  2. Gathering of Friends (FGC)
  3. Banner/Timeline
  4. Computer discs Keith Harpending discs with Midwinter Keynotes 1990 Muriel Bishops Steve Finn
  5. Computer disc, "Quakers for over 350 Years," Australian Friends

Subject

Publisher
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Finding Aid Author
FHL staff
Finding Aid Date
2015
Access Restrictions

Clerks' and Ministry and Counsel correspondence restricted for a period of 75 years from date of creation; permission to access may be obtained from the Clerk of FLGBTQC.

Use Restrictions

Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce items in this collection beyond the bounds of Fair Use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder or their heirs/assigns. See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/.

Collection Inventory

Committee on Concern, Continuing Committee, 1973.
Box 1
Minutes, 1978.
Box 1
Minutes, 1979.
Box 1
Minutes, 1980.
Box 1
Minutes, 1981.
Box 1
Minutes, 1982.
Box 1
Minutes, 1983.
Box 1
Minutes, 1984.
Box 1
Minutes, 1985.
Box 1
Minutes, 1986.
Box 1
Minutes, 1987.
Box 1
Minutes, 1988.
Box 1
Minutes, 1989.
Box 1
Minutes, 1990.
Box 1
Minutes, 1991.
Box 1
Minutes, 1992.
Box 1
Minutes, 1993.
Box 1
Minutes, 1994.
Box 1
Minutes, 1996.
Box 1
Minutes, 1997.
Box 1
Minutes, 1998.
Box 1
Minutes, 1999.
Box 1
Minutes, 2000.
Box 1
Minutes, 2001.
Box 2
Minutes, 2002.
Box 2
Minutes, 2003.
Box 2
Minutes, 2004.
Box 2
Minutes, 2005.
Box 2
Minutes, 2006.
Box 2
Minutes, 2007.
Box 2
Minutes, 2008.
Box 2
Minutes, 2009.
Box 2
Planning Committee, Midwinter Gathering, 1989-1990.
Box 2

AFSC, 1975-1977.
Box 2
Annual Meeting, 1976.
Box 2
Committee of Concern, 1975.
Box 2
Correspondence, 1975.
Box 2
Correspondence, 1976.
Box 2
Financial, 1975.
Box 2
Movement for a New Society, 1975.
Box 2
Pending / Things to do / Projects, 1975-1976.
Box 2
PYM Gathering on Human Sexuality, 1975.
Box 2

Correspondence, 1976-81.
Box 3
Correspondence, 1982.
Box 3
Correspondence, 1983-84.
Box 3
Correspondence, 1985.
Box 3
Correspondence, 1986.
Box 4
Correspondence, 1987.
Box 4
Correspondence, 1988-89.
Box 4
Correspondence, 1990-91.
Box 4
Correspondence, 1992-93.
Box 4
Correspondence, 1994.
Box 5
Correspondence, 1995.
Box 5
AFSC materials on affirmative action, ca. 1976.
Box 5
AFSC, MRO Lesbian and Gay Taskforce Minutes, 1984.
Box 5
Berkeley Monthly Meeting (CA), Lucas-McNelly marriage, 1985-86.
Box 5
California Yearly Meeting, 1977-78.
Box 5
Correspondence and announcements from local chapters of FLGC and other groups.
Box 5
Friends Meeting of Washington, Minute on Celebrations Commitment, 1986.
Box 5
Keith, Jeff: Correspondence with Clarabel Marstaller, 1974.
Box 5
Kent Larrabee vs FLGC Overseers, 1991-93.
Box 5
Mattson, Ron, 1979.
Box 5
Miscellaneous flyers, pamphlets, etc.
Box 4
Old newsletter items and correspondence, 1977.
Box 5
Responses to the Epistle from Midwinter Gathering (Philadelphia), 1978.
Box 5
Robert Martin/Prison Rape, 1993.
Box 5
Tom Bodine correspondence, 1981.
Box 5

General correspondence, 1982-1988.
Box 5
John Calvi, Quaker healer, 1987-1988.
Box 5
Appointment of Homosexuals to QVW, 1988.
Box 5

General correspondence, 1991-1992.
Box 6
FCNL and Quaker Information Center, 1993-1994.
Box 6

Stop the Hate Campaign, 1999.
Box 6

Joann Neuroth visit to Cleveland Meeting after its disownment from Ohio Yearly Meeting, 1996.
Box 6
Travel fund requests, 1997-1998.
Box 6
General, 1996-1998.
Box 6
General, 1998-1999.
Box 6

Correspondence, 2006-2007.
Box 6
Correspondence, 2008.
Box 6

Committee of Concern newsletter, 1973-ca. 1975.
Box 6
Friends Committee for Gay Concerns Newsletter, 1975-78.
Box 6
F.L.G.C. Newsletter, 1982-1985.
Box 6
Friends for Lesbian and Gay Concerns Newsletter, 1985-1989.
Box 6
Friends for Lesbian and Gay Concerns Newsletter, 1990-2001.
Box 7
FLGC Notes, 2001-2002.
Box 7
Source materials, #39, 40, 41, 1984-87.
Box 7
Source materials, 42, 1987.
Box 7
Source materials, 43, 45, 46, 1987-88.
Box 7
Source materials, 44, 1988.
Box 7
Source materials, 50, 1989.
Box 7
Source materials, 52, 1989.
Box 7
Sources Issue #56, 1990.
Box 7
Material for Issue #58, 1991.
Box 7
Material for #60, 1991.
Box 7
Source materials, #61, 1991-92.
Box 7
Source materials, #62, 1992.
Box 7
Source materials, #63, 1992.
Box 7
Source materials, #64, 1992.
Box 7
Source materials, #65 Spring, 1993.
Box 7
Source materials, #66, 1993.
Box 7
Source materials, Issue #67, 1993.
Box 7
Source materials, #68 Winter, 1993-94.
Box 7
Source materials, #69 Spring, 1994.
Box 7
#70, 1994.
Box 7
#73, Spring, 1995.
Box 7
#74 Summer, 1995.
Box 7
#75, 1995.
Box 7
Poems submitted to the Newsletter (Jun/Jul 1991), 1991.
Box 7
Publication correspondence, 1992.
Box 7

Each of Us Inevitable, booklet, 1989.
Box 7
FLGC Publications Committee, organized in 1987, 1987.
Box 8
FLGC Publications Committee correspondence, 1992-1993.
Box 8
Robert Leuze correspondence, 1994-1998.
Box 8
Robert Leuze correspondence, 1998-2003.
Box 8
Robert Leuze correspondence concerning planning and transcriptions, 1992-1998.
Box 8
Cover design and sample, 2003.
Box 8
Permissions, 1989-2003.
Box 8
Reviews, promos, 2003-2005.
Box 8
Author bios for 2003 edition, 2003.
Box 8
Becky Birtha correspondence, text.
Box 8
Muriel Bishop correspondence, text.
Box 8
John Calvi correspondence, text, 1994-95.
Box 8
Stephen Finn correspondence, text, transcript.
Box 8
Arlene Kelly correspondence, text.
Box 8
Bill Kreidler text. obit, etc.
Box 9
George Lakey correspondence, drafts.
Box 9
Elizabeth Watson correspondence, text.
Box 9

Ledger book, 1977-85.
Box 9
Ledger book, 1989-91.
Box OE
Treasurer's Records, 1987-89.
Box 9
Treasurer's Records, 1989.
Box 9
Treasurer's Records, 1990.
Box 9
Treasurer's Records, 1991.
Box 9
Treasurer's Records, 1992.
Box 9
Treasurer's Records, 1992-93.
Box 9
Treasurer's Records, 1993-94.
Box 9
Treasurer's Records, 1994-95.
Box 9
Mid-Winter Financials, 1991-1997.
Box 10
Financial reports, 1987-1999.
Box 10
Minutes concerning finance, outside Treasurer's reports (excerpts from Minutes), 1987-1996.
Box 10
Finance Committee, 1991-1998.
Box 10
Discussion about application for 501(c)3, 1993.
Box 10

Address Lists, 1977-96.
Box 10
AFSC- Amicus Brief Re: Georgia Sodomy Law, 1986.
Box 10
AFSC: National Summit on Homosexuality, 1990.
Box 10
Albany Meeting, 1992.
Box 10
Anti-racism, topic for discussion, 1997.
Box 10
Articles including "Purple Balloons on Market Street," Chuck Fager Other Side "Lets be Gay and Dance,", 1984-86.
Box 10
Bonnie Tinker Love Makes A Family , 1991-93.
Box 10
Canadian Yearly Meeting, 1992.
Box 10
Committees and Service, to North American FLGC, 1995-1998.
Box 11
Fall-out from Annual Gathering (inc. 7/81 incident and aftermath), 1981.
Box 11
FLGC Listserve, 11997-1998.
Box 11
FLGC Misc. Stories and People, 1989-93.
Box 11
FLGC name discussion, inclusion issues, 1997.
Box 11
FLGC regional information.
Box 11
Foster Doan Report in Westtown Newsletter, 1979.
Box 11
Friendly Letter, 6/82 Article Re: West Elkton Friends Church and Homosexuality, 1982.
Box 11
Friends Homosexual Fellowship, 1981.
Box 11
FUM/FGC, 1988.
Box 11
FWCC Conference in Honduras-Interest Group, 1991.
Box 11
Gay Rights Movement in the Religious Society of Friends: Background Information, including rough timeline, ca. 1985.
Box 11
Gay Spirituality, 1992.
Box 11
Gay/Lesbian Youth Program, AFSC Northwest Region-Seattle, WA, 1990-92.
Box 11
Homosexuals/Quakers Paper by, Jim Cavener, 1993.
Box 11
John Boswell, "Rediscovering Gay History", 1985.
Box 11
Keith Gann.
Box 11
Kerry Wiessman writings, including The History of FLGC of State College MM, 1995.
Box 11
Lesbian Pastor Forced Out West Branch, Iowa (FUM) Autumn, 1990.
Box 11
Local chapters miscellaneous, 1993-94.
Box 11
Local Newsletters, 1990-93.
Box 11
Manuscripts for FLGC Publication, 1979-92.
Box 11
Marriage Article Sent for Newsletter but not used, 1990.
Box 12
Marriage at Cambridge Mtg. Revised Procedures (Eric Kristensen), 1991.
Box 12
Marriage Procedures in Faith Practices (material from Jan Hoffman), 1988.
Box 12
Marriage, Article about a Quaker same-sex wedding, 1995.
Box 12
Minutes on Marriage, 1973-1993.
Box 12
Minutes on Marriage III, 1990-95.
Box 12
Miscellaneous, 1985-2007.
Box 12
Monthly Meetings on Same Sex Marriage (copies of letters sent to District of Columbia judge), 1991.
Box 12
Networking Quaker Concerns on AIDS (Dallas Friends Meeting), 1987-88.
Box 12
News Clipings Wichita Conference: Letter from Tom Bodine, 1977.
Box 12
Obituaries/ Memorial Minutes, 1989-94.
Box 12
Pacific NW Gay, Lesbian, and Bi-Sexual Quakers Gatherings, 1984-90.
Box 12
Packet made for NEYM Workshop "Friends Meetings and the Issue of Homosexuality", 1982.
Box 12
Minutes in support of gay rights, 1974-1990.
Box 12
Parenting/Custody, n.d.
Box 13
Photographs, 1977; n.d.
Box 13
Profile photographs, n.d.
Box 13
Quaker Lesbian Conference (East Coast), 1980.
Box 13
Robert Leuze letter concerning FLGC and Quaker identity, 1991.
Box 13
Quaker Volunteer Witness, 1988.
Box 13
Same Sex Divorce Milwaukee MM, 1988.
Box 13
Same Sex Marriage- Hawaii, 1993.
Box 13
Same Sex Marriage Newsletters from Bob Roehm n Columbus- Lake Erie YM- Cleveland, 1992-93.
Box 13
Same Sex Marriage Various Friends Meetings, 1986-88.
Box 13
Same Sex Marriage, 1983-85.
Box 13
Same Sex Marriage, 1986.
Box 13
Same Sex Marriage, 1987-1998.
Box 13
Same Sex Marriage, 1988-90.
Box 13
Study packet on homosexuality (Hartford Meeting), 1986.
Box 13
Tingle Report on FLGC, 1980.
Box 13
Wedding Invitations, 1981-90.
Box 13

Midwinter Gathering, 6th Annual (Philadelphia, PA), 1978.
Box 13
Midwinter Gathering, 6th Annual (Washington, DC), 1982.
Box 13
Midwinter Gathering, (Cleveland, OH), 1985.
Box 13
Midwinter Gathering (Baltimore, Md.), 1986.
Box 13
Midwinter Gathering (New York, N.Y.) and FGC (Boone, NC), 1988.
Box 13
Midwinter Gathering (Minneapolis, Minn.), 1989.
Box 13
Midwinter Gathering (Washington, D.C.),, 1991.
Box 9
Midwinter Gathering (Cambridge, Mass.), 1992.
Box 13
Midwinter Gathering (N.Webster, Indiana), 1993.
Box 13
Midwinter Gathering (Ellenton, Florida), 1994.
Box 14
Midwinter Gathering (Philadelphia, Pa.), 1995.
Box 14
Midwinter Gathering (Fenton, Mich.), 1996.
Box 14
Midwinter Gathering (Leesburg, FL), 1997.
Box 14
Midwinter Gathering (Front Royal, VA); Summer (River Falls, WI). Leuze and Lakey providing music, 1998.
Box 14
Midwinter Gathering (Watsonville, CA), Summer (Rochester, NY), 2000.
Box 14
Midwinter Gathering (Philadelphia, PA), 2001.
Box 14
Midwinter Gathering (Watsonville, CA), Summer (Rochester, NY), 2002.
Box 14
Midwinter Gathering Gathering (Albiquiu, NM); Summer (Johnstown, PA), 2003.
Box 14
Midwinter Gathering (Wyndmoor, PA); Summer (Amherst, MA), 2004.
Box 14
Midwinter Gathering (Blacksburg, VA), 2005.
Box 14
Midwinter Gathering (Fenton, MI); Summer (Puget Sound, WA), 2006.
Box 14
Midwinter Gathering (Greensboro, NC); Summer (River Falls, WI), 2007.
Box 14
Midwinter Gathering Gathering (Maple Lake, MN); Summer (Johnstown, PA), 2008.
Box 14
Midwinter Gathering (Molalla, OR), 2009.
Box 14

Newsletters, 1982-1991.
Box 14
Mailing lists, 1979-1986.
Box 14
Reference materials, 1972-1988.
Box 14
Scope and Contents

Contains materials not produced by FLGBC New York, including news clippings and Quaker meeting minutes.

Correspondence, meeting minutes, and related documents, 1982-1990.
Box 14

Print, Suggest