Main content
Bonnie Tinker Papers
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
Bonnie Jeanne Tinker was born on May 26, 1948 in Boone, Iowa. She was a social activist who campaigned against war and domestic violence, but she is best known for her work for gay and lesbian rights. Her activism started long before her adulthood; her family won the Supreme Court case, Tinker v. Des Moines School Board, which reaffirmed students' rights of free speech and to wear black arm bands in protest of the Vietnam War.
In 1972, Bonnie Tinker worked with Quakers to open the Prescott House, a shelter for women. From 1975 to 1979, she was the founding director of the Bradley-Angle House, a shelter for battered women, and she was the first chairperson of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. She was the director of Love Makes a Family, a nonprofit group which she founded in 1992 in Portland, OR, that advocated for non-traditional families, especially gay and lesbian families and transracial families. Bonnie Tinker also produced a video called "Love Makes a Family" in 1992.
Most of her later adult life was focused on her work to combat the marriage inequality and anti-homosexual sentiments within the Quaker and larger community. She and her partner, Sara Graham, had three children: Josh, Connie, and Alex. In 2004, Sara and Bonnie were legally married in a Quaker ceremony before the marriages were revoked. Bonnie Tinker died at the age of 61 in a bicycle accident in Blacksburg, Virginia, while attending Friends General Conference Gathering.
The papers were separated into four groups, following Bonnie Tinker's labels:
- Series 1: Papers, drafts, letters, resources that pertain to what Tinker labeled "Lesbian and Gay Families" and mostly concern the making of the video, "Love Makes a Family."
- Series 2: Miscellaneous personal documents, including correspondences, addresses, writings on marriage, and conferences for lesbian and gay friends
- Series 3: Opening Hearts and Minds workshop papers and workbook
- Series 4: Quaker Gatherings
Gift of Sara Graham
Accession No.: FHL.2013.036 and FHL.2014.005
VHS tapes and cassettes removed to FHL AV Collection.
People
Organization
- Love Makes a Family Foundation
- Friends General Conference (U.S.)
- North Pacific Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
- American Friends Service Committee
- Multnomah Friends Meeting (Portland, Or.)
Subject
- Publisher
- Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
- Finding Aid Author
- FHL staff
- Finding Aid Date
- 2014
- Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open for research.
- 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
Tax exemption certificate, letter of support
Physical Description1 folder
Early Pressure Groups, The Friendly Line, Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting Newsletter
Physical Description1 folder
Interview with Cindey Reichley and Linda Quiring, release forms and photos, Chapter 1 of "LMF", request for marriage and Unami Friends Meeting response
Physical Description1 folder
Unami Monthly Meeting, letter to his parents about his homosexuality, "our attempt to register our marriage", invitation to Celebration of Commitment
Physical Description1 folder
Friends Journal 1987-1988 Issues, "The Bible and Homosexuality"
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Book search record, Reference Books Bulletin
Physical Description1 folder
Photos, letters, postcards, checks
Physical Description1 folder
Contact info, letter to Ben Richmond from Friends for Lesbian and Gay Concerns, letter to Bonnie, letter from Friends United Meeting
Physical Description1 folder
Letters by and to Bonnie outlining projects and applications for funding and support. Includes some duplicates.
Physical Description1 folder
More Light Updates, PHEWA
Physical Description1 folder
13th Anniversary event
Physical Description1 folder
Budget and timeline of Lesbian and Gay Families
Physical Description1 folder
Photos of Families, FLGC 1989 group picture with identification
Physical Description1 folder
Correspondence with Joe Snyder - veterinary
Physical Description1 folder
Correspondence, 1990 issues
Physical Description1 folder
Letter, "LMF" stickers, resume, news clipping, document in Dutch, search record
Physical Description1 folder
"Love Makes a Family" timeline summary
Physical Description1 folder
Letters by Bonnie, directory of the Oversight Committee
Physical Description1 folder
Budgets for "Love Makes a Family", bills, correspondence from Bruce
Physical Description1 folder
Proposal to and rejection from equity foundation
Physical Description1 folder
"LMF" Introduction and Chapter 1 with annotations
Physical Description1 folder
Three booklets from Little Friends Press
Physical Description1 folder
Quaker Peace and Service Journal correspondence
Physical Description1 folder
Release form
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Application and rejection letter on Fellowship to Writers
Physical Description1 folder
"LMF" postcards, photographs, sample fonts
Physical Description1 folder
Application and rejection for grant
Physical Description1 folder
Grant proposal and granted $250. John Domrose: a writer who worked with the gay community
Physical Description1 folder
Recommendation and endorsements, application for grant
Physical Description1 folder
Application
Physical Description1 folder
Permission to use the song in "LMF"
Physical Description1 folder
Scripts, contact information, annotated slide show drafts from various people
Physical Description1 folder
Correspondence from publishers, contact information
Physical Description1 folder
Handbook, news clippings, "Second Stone"
Physical Description1 folder
Postcards, correspondence, release forms
John Calvi: worked with refugees, abused children, and people with AIDS
Physical Description1 folder
B and N Printing invoice
Physical Description1 folder
Summary of video, 1992 Best of the Northwest entry form and showing times
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Receipts
Physical Description1 folder
Correspondence, newsletters of Baltimore Monthly Meeting, resume, application to Stony Run Friends Meeting
Physical Description1 folder
Support and critique for "Love Makes a Family" from Friends for Lesbian and Gay Concerns
Physical Description1 folder
Financial summary and budget, application, outline and timeline of "LMF"
Astraea: National Lesbian Action Foundation
Physical Description1 folder
Order requests from 1993
Physical Description1 folder
Barbara - researcher in childcare centers in Santa Cruz, UCSC
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Minute on the marriage of Steve and Jim
Physical Description1 folder
News clipping: "Lesbian loses fight for custody"
Physical Description1 folder
Photograph
Physical Description1 folder
News clipping
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 sheet of notes about Bob
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
News clippings, scripts, overview, timeline of "LMF"
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Contacts of different channels
Physical Description1 folder
Two pamphlets: "Sexuality and Spirituality Series"
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1988 commemorative calendar, photographs of families, 1992 slide show script draft 4
Physical Description1 folder
Includes model release froms, correspondence, to-do list, "Homosexuality from the Inside" by David Blamires, "Towards a Quaker view of sex"
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Includes "Same-Gender Marriage May Soon Become Legally Recognized"
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Drafts of a kid's story by Estuardo Wolff
Physical Description1 folder
Constitutional Amendment 36 amended the Oregon Constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman and, therefore, banned same-sex unions. This amendment was passed in 2004, but was declared unconstitutional in 2014.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Campaign with straight families that support Lesbian Gay Marriage Equality
Physical Description1 folder
Includes interviews, statements, "A Brief History of How I came to Talk about Marriage Equality", testimony to the Portland City Council, debates
Physical Description1 folder
Pamphlets (Friends for L and G Concerns), letters, PWA Live newsletters
Physical Description1 folder
Resources on same-sex issues, copies of books and articles
Physical Description1 folder
Includes issues of "The Friendly Line", which contains various updates of members of the Tinker family
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
"Lightning Rod of Quaker Conflicts"
Physical Description1 folder
News clippings
Physical Description1 folder
Multnomah Monthly Meeting endorsement, Pacific Northwest Gathering of L and G Friends endorsement
Physical Description1 folder
Conference schedules
Physical Description1 folder
Short story by Sara Graham on the strugle of Multnomah Monthly Meeting on same sex marriage, correspondence with Friends Journal
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Writings including some by Jan Hoffman and Brian Drayton
Physical Description1 folder
Letters, QLC directory
Physical Description1 folder
North Pacific Yearly Meetings, Correspondence with Starshind, "Personal Perspective on History of Same-Sex Marriage" by Tinker
Physical Description1 folder
Guide for discussions on sexuality, "Clearness and Committee on Clearness", Pamphlets
Physical Description1 folder
Contains a copy of "Mantalk"
Physical Description1 folder
Includes an invitation to serve on the Interim Committee, application for resources for children with queer parents
Physical Description1 folder
Schedule, letters, Interim Committee files, "LMF" art poster
Physical Description1 folder
Project loan agreements
Physical Description1 folder
Support/pledge letters, record of checks received
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Papers on AFSC v. Thornburgh on immigration policy, "AFSC Personnel Manual"
Physical Description1 folder
Letters from England, Bonnie's letter planning a trip to England 4/20/1992, "The History of Friends Homosexual Fellowship 1973-1987" by Ben Pink Dandelion
Physical Description1 folder
A campaign opposing Measure 9, which if had been passed would have forced all governments in Oregon including the public education system to uphold the view that homosexual, pedophilic, sadistic, and masochistic behaviors are abnormal and wrong; includes materials from People of Faith Against Bigotry
Physical Description1 folder
Regarding gay marriage activism, Mayor Vera Katz, Oregon Speak Out Project
Physical Description1 folder
Duplicate issues of April 1993, November 1990, August 1991 were removed; these issues can be found in the reading room of the Friends Historical Library
Physical Description1 folder
Talk Radio program and periodicals
Physical Description1 folder
Correspondence and interview of Bonnie Tinker
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
"Dost Thou Mind the Pink Triangle?
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
"A False Focus on My Family" by Jeff Lutes, news clippings
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Non Violent Dialogue Training information, guide on the LARA method, LMF mailing list sign-up
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Includes brochures, workshop proposals, workshop evaluations
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Includes "Informational Materials about a Proposed Anti-Gay Amendment to Michigan's Constitution"
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
"Using Verbal Nonviolence to Confront Religious Discrimination" hosted with Soulforce Equality Riders
Physical Description1 folder
Programs, letters, directory, evaluations, conference schedules
Physical Description1 folder
FGC Traveling MInistries Program, report from Bonnie Tinker's Support Committee 2006-2007
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Correspondence with Multnomah Monthly Meeting
Physical Description1 folder
Guide to be used by a same-sex couple, Religious Society of Friends minutes
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes "Lightning Rod of Quaker Conflicts"
Physical Description1 folder
Packet of notes, Multnomah Monthly Meeting, Handbook for Worship Groups
Physical Description1 folder
Drafts of a letter, notes from workshop (What is the function of marriage in society?)
Physical Description1 folder
Includes "This is How it Starts: Women Maquila Workers in Mexico" by Rachael Kamel
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Registration, conference programs, P.N.W. Gathering of Lesbian and Gay Friends
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes correspondence with starshine, drafts of "Marriage and Committed Relationships"
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes photographs from 1999 conference
June 1996 issue of Friends Bulletin removed from collection; available on reference in Friends Historical Library
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes William Kreidler's obituary
Physical Description1 folder
Includes diskette "NPYM 2002"
Physical Description1 folder
Includes 1 diskette and young Friends' testimonials about the meeting
Physical Description1 folder
Includes 4 diskettes
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Workshop materials for conference hosted by AFSC
Physical Description1 folder
Includes FLGBTQC Newsletter (Fall 2005)
Physical Description1 folder
Quaker Women's Theology Conference
Physical Description1 folder
Includes three "Northern Light and Spirit" CDs
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes worship resources
Jan/Feb 2009 issue of Western Friend with the article "A Journey to Understanding Equality"
Physical Description1 folder
Workshop desciption and comments by attendees
Physical Description1 folder
Love Makes a Family, Inc. co-sponsored the conference "Faith calls for Justice, on the Same Terms"
See April 2009 issue of Western Friend with the article "Friends of Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgendered and Queer Concerns,"
Physical Description1 folder