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Swarthmore Gay and Lesbian Alumni Network records
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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
In January 1987, Kate Wilson '84 wrote to Diane Wilder '83, Swarthmore College's assistant director of alumni relations, suggesting the formation of a network of gay and lesbian alumni. (The question of whether to include bisexual alumni would later emerge, causing controversy within the group.) The April 1987 issue of the Alumni Bulletin solicited submissions, and that autumn saw the publication of the first issue of Out Together: Swarthmore Lesbian and Gay Alumni Network. Coordinated by Wilson and Wilder and edited by Lori Kenschaft '87, the newsletter featured class notes, cartoons, personal essays, political perspectives, project lists, histories, and mailing addresses. It lasted only a few issues.
This collection includes material relating to the preparation and production of "Out Together" newsletters, including correspondence between Lori Kenschaft '87 and individual alumni (often featuring memoirs of gay life at Swarthmore), address lists, and communications with the Alumni Office. There is a special file on Richard Sager '74 and the fund he created to support LGBTQ life at Swarthmore, and another special file on Michael Dukakis '55 with a letter to Dukakis from the Swarthmore Gay and Lesbian Alumni Network and a platform paper with his stance on LGBTQ political issues (but no personal letters from Dukakis himself).
Gift of Lori Kenschaft, 2017.
A few items from the donor's years as a Swarthmore student were included in this donation. These documents (workshop script, letter to Equal Opportunity Office re: homophobic graffiti, Student Council all-campus memo re: gay/lesbian concerns letter; 1983-1987) were removed and added to the Swarthmore Queer Union (SQU) records, which form part of the Intercultural Center collection (Series 2, RG6/Q030).
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- Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
- Access Restrictions
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Researchers wishing to view the "Alumni letters" file must agree to anonymize personal identifying information of that source for 70 years from the date any particular document was created. No additional restrictions beyond FHL standard regulations and policies apply to the other materials in the collection, or to the "Alumni letters" file after 70 years.
- Use Restrictions
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Copyright has not been assigned to Friends Historical Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in to the Director. Permission for publication is given on behalf Friends Historical Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by reader.