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Bruce Grimes and Geoffrey Kaiser Journal Collection

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:
RG5.284
Repository:
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Extent:
0.5 linear ft. (1 box)
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item or series here], Bruce Grimes and Geoffrey Kaiser Journal Collection, RG5/284, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Date:
1971-1999 (inclusive)
Creator:
Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns, Kaiser, Geoffrey D., and Grimes, Bruce G.
Abstract:
Bruce Grimes and Geoffrey Kaiser are Quakers and were involved in Friends for Lesbian and Gay Concerns from its beginning in the early 1970s. The collection contains their manuscript and typescript journals entitled Gay Quakers in the Late Twentieth Century; it also includes personal correspondence and addenda.

Bruce Grimes and Geoffrey D. Kaiser were members of Unami Meeting of Friends and married under its care in 1987. The couple moved to California after 2005. They have been involved in Friends for Lesbian and Gay Concerns (FLGC, now FLGBTQC). Bruce served as Editor of the FLGC Newsleter until 1995.

The collection contains personal journal volumes (1971-1999) as well as personal correspondence (1986, 1988-1989) and addenda (1977-2000). The former chronicle the life of Bruce Grimes, beginning with his move to San Francisco in 1971, and concluding with his departure from Friends for Lesbian and Gay Concerns (FLGC) in 1996. During this 25 year period, Bruce met Geoffrey Kaiser and the two collaborated on a second journal detailing their lives together, both as gay men and Friends. There are typescript and manuscript versions of both journals; the typescript includes further commentary written by Bruce after the fact, as well as more detailed personal anecdotes. Their association with Unami Meeting and the debates surrounding same-sex Friends and marriage are of particular interest in this collection.

Organized in five series:

  1. Ser.1 Journals
  2. Ser.2 Correspondence

Gift of Bruce Grimes, 2002.

People
Subject

Publisher
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Finding Aid Author
FHL staff
Finding Aid Date
2012
Access Restrictions

"Private journal to be read only by permission according to policy of historical collection;" apply to Curator of Friends Historical Library.

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

Journals of Bruce Grimes and Geoffrey Kaiser: Gay Quakers in the Late Twentieth Century - Addenda, 1972, 1977-2000.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folder

[Manuscript] Journal of Geoff and Bruce Volumes One and Two, 1971-1983.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Contains accounts similar to those found in the typescript versions, however, there are fewer personal anecdotes.

Physical Description

1 folder

[Typescript] Journals of Bruce Grimes and Geoffrey Kaiser: Gay Quakers in the Late Twentieth Century Volume One – Journal of Bruce Grimes (1971-1975), 1971-1975.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Contains accounts of Bruce's life in San Francisco, his introduction to Quaker Meetings, as well as other personal anecdotes.

Physical Description

1 folder

[Typescript] Journals of Bruce Grimes and Geoffrey Kaiser: Gay Quakers in the Last Quarter of the Twentieth Century Volume Two – Journal of Bruce Grimes, pg. 29-161, 1972-1985, 1988, 1996-1999.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Contains accounts of Bruce's application of membership to Unami Meeting, Quaker conferences, the controversy surrounding the Gathering of Friends in Berea, KY (June 27-July 4, 1981), personal anecdotes, Quaker business proceedings, and additional commentary (1988, 1996-1999).

Physical Description

1 folder

[Typescript] Journals of Bruce Grimes and Geoffrey Kaiser: Gay Quakers in the Last Quarter of the Twentieth Century Volume Two – Journal of Bruce Grimes, pg. 162-328, 1985-1999.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Contains accounts of Bruce and Geoffrey's presentations on homosexuality at various meetings, the wedding of Bruce and Geoffrey under the care of Unami Monthly Meeting at Gwynedd Meetinghouse, personal anecdotes, Bruce's position as editor of FLGC newsletter, Geoffrey's Quaker history lectures, Quaker business proceedings, as well as additional commentary (1996-1999).

Physical Description

1 folder

Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1986, 1988-1989.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Miscellaneous correspondence between Geoffrey or Bruce and others concerning a variety of topics.

Physical Description

1 folder

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