African American Lesbian and Gay Print Culture Collection
Scope and Content Note
The African American Lesbian and Gay Print Culture Collection, 1989-2010, documents African American lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender cultural and social formations in the United States through a variety of print forms and media, including advertisements, articles, broadsides, catalogs, ephemera, guides, invitations, journals, leaflets, letters, magazines, newsletters, newspapers, and programs. Scattered issues of magazines and newsletters, bulking 1989-2010, comprise the largest portion of the collection, which is local and national in scope, encompassing communities, personalities, and events in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
Of particular note, the early issues of Venus document a variety of Atlanta-based social groups and organizations among them the African American Lesbian Gay Alliance (AALGA), Black Lesbian and Gay Pride, Inc. (BLGP Inc.), Black and White Men Together, Brothers Back-2-Back, Inc., Hospitality Atlanta, Second Sunday Discussion Group, Sisters of 30 Something Special, Sister Love Inc., and ZAMI. Also included is information about popular gathering places, including Pearl Garden, Marquette Lounge, Loretta’s, and Traxx. Among the magazine’s features are announcements, calendars of local and national events, fiction, and articles about Black Gay Pride, health, HIV/AIDS, racial and sexual discrimination, relationships and spirituality. These subjects also are addressed across the other print forms and media.
Dates
- 1989-2010
Restrictions on Use
There are no restrictions on research use of this collection.
Historical Sketch
The African American Lesbian and Gay Print Culture Collection is an intentionally assembled collection of print forms and media about African American lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender cultural and social formations in the United States. The collection began in 1998 with a donation from Charlene Cothran, who founded Venus magazine, first published in 1995 (Atlanta, Georgia). At the time, Venus magazine was by, for, and about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of African descent, with a focus on African American lesbians and Atlanta. In 2006, after a public and controversial evangelical religious conversion, Cothran changed editorial direction of the magazine. However, the Auburn Avenue Research Library will enhance and strengthen the collection as it was initially conceived
Extent
5.6 Linear feet
Language
English
Series
Series are arranged alphabetically by format. Materials are arranged within series chronologically.
- Series I: Advertisements (1997)
- Series II: Articles (1997-2009)
- Series III: Broadsides (1995-1998)
- Series IV: Calendars (1996-2005)
- Series V: Catalogs (1998, undated)
- Series VI: Directories (1990-1996)
- Series VII: Ephemera (1995-1996)
- Series VIII: Guides (1996-2005)
- Series IX: Invitations (1998)
- Series X: Journals (1996-1998)
- Series XI: Leaflets (circa 1996)
- Series XII: Letters (1998)
- Series XIII: Magazines (1989-2010)
- Series XIV: Newsletters (1997-1998)
- Series XV: Newspapers (1993-2009)
- Series XVI: Programs (1993-2006)
Provenance
The collection began in 1998 through a donation from Charlene Cothran. Additional issues of BLK Magazine were donated in 2018.
Processing Information
Processed by Chenault, Wesley. Year Finding Completed 2009. Revised 2010, 2011, 2019.
- Title
- Inventory of the African American Lesbian and Gay Print Culture Collection aarl98-008 aarl98-008
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Finding aid prepared by Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History
- Date
- 2009 March 12
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History Repository