Ginny Knuth

Ginny Knuth (1934-1997) volunteered at Education TV Channel (ETVC), now known as TransGender SF. Her husband Don’s alter-ego was Nancy Ann Martine, and Knuth wrote a long-running column in the ETVC Newsletter, “Ginny’s Tales from the Other Side.” Knuth was so dedicated that TransGender SF renamed their annual volunteer award after her. The Ginny Knuth papers (1999-46) include oral histories; awards Knuth and Nancy Ann received; and photographs.

a young Ginny, from a scrapbook from her youth, circa late 1930s-1950s

Knuth “was the first friendly soul that thousands of us encountered on our journeys out of the closet” and “was always available for wives and girlfriends who were puzzled, upset or curious about their gender-variant husbands”

Nurse, Cosmetologist, Uncle, Lover, Friend, Part 1

Enrique Hermosillo (1952-1997) was a nurse and cosmetologist who lived in San Francisco off and on from the mid-1970s until his death. He was a close friend and one-time lover of one of the Historical Society’s founder’s, Willie Walker. His papers (1998-10) document his personal and professional life and include some great illustrated correspondence from his nieces and nephews, journals and wonderful photographs of family and friends, including the one of two women and one car we shared in our first post. Here are more glimpses into Hermosillo’s life. We look forward to publishing more photos from Hermosillo’s collection in the coming months.

Hermosillo is in the back row, in the center

He’s baaack….

“my favorite uncle in the world”

favorite uncle, part 2

Disco Mania

In celebration of the holiday season, the archivists at the GLBT Historical Society wish you a far out holiday season! Boogie Oogie Oogie.

The Marty Blecman papers (1998-16) contain the contents of a deconstructed scrapbook kept by the award-winning disk jockey. Blecman was also a record producer and co-founder of Megatone Records. He dj’d at the City Disco and Alfies and worked with Sylvester and Patrick Cowley.  Blecman died of AIDS-related illnesses in 1991.

Marty Blecman, DJ, circa 1977-1978

Marty Blecman enjoying his day off, circa late 1970s

Marty [and dad], circa late 1970s

“A Far-Out Congratulations,” 1978

Disco Dancers Local #32 (AFL-CIO), 1978

Maria Sanchez, DJ

The Maria Sanchez papers (2006-19) contain materials related to her career as a DJ in San Francisco. Sanchez was born in Cuba on November 14,1953 and raised in New York City. She was a popular San Francisco DJ, who spun records at many venues, including the Sutro Bath Hose and the Fair Oaks Hotel. She also wrote a monthly disco gossip column in “Baseline: Bay Area Disco Report.”  Her collection includes reel-to-reel tapes of her music mixes from 1978-1979.

Christmas, circa 1960

[Sanchez, circa 1960]

[Sanchez, late 1970s]

“Portrait of a Complex: The Depressionists”

The Adrienne Fuzee papers (2003-27) document the professional life of one of the few openly lesbian African-American curators working in the U.S. in the late 20th Century. Fuzee (1950-2003) was a visionary artist, writer and cultural historian who helped develop and promote the work of artists throughout California. Among other accomplishments, she taught at the San Francisco Art Institute, co-founded Lesbians in the Visual Arts and was a founding board member of the Queer Cultural Center. The collection includes Fuzee’s professional and artists’ files, her writings and notebooks and personal photographs.

This flyer, which dates from the mid-1970s, introduced the art world to “The Depressionist Cast of Characters.” It offers insight into Fuzee (aka ALF) and her friends’ artistic sensibilities, their thoughts about the art world, their critique of contemporary culture and their keen sense of humor.

The Depressionist Cast of Characters

AIDS Awareness Trading Cards

In commemoration of World AIDS Day, today’s blog is about the AIDS Awareness Trading Cards we found in the Linda Alband (#2003-09) collection.

These trading cards come from papers collected by journalist Randy Shilts’ business manager, Linda Alband. The cards were published by Eclipse Enterprises, Forestville, California, circa 1993. Instead of gum, each pack included a condom. The same company tackled controversial political subjects and produced the True Crime, Real War Stories, Drug Wars, Iran-Contra Scandal and Friendly Dictator series of trading cards (among others). The cards creators include William Livingstone (text) and Gary Louden (art) and Charles Hiscock (art).

People with AIDS (PWAs) (front), circa 1993

People with AIDS (PWAs) (back), circa 1993

Questions about HIV/AIDS (front), circa 1993

Questions about HIV/AIDS (back), circa 1993

Wide Open Town

Historian Nan Alamilla Boyd’s history of queer San Francisco to 1965, Wide Open Town, contained some great images. The Wide Open Town History collection (2003-05) contains the photos she used and some she wasn’t able to include in her book.

Chuck Arnett mural, Tool Box Bar ruins, 1975

Mona’s 440 Club, circa 1945

Phoenix Ramblers L-R: Dottie Wilkinson, Jennie, Mickie Sullivan, Virginia Dobson, Jessie Glasscock, Kim

lesbian house party, circa 1968, with Thelma Davis

Chuck Arnett painted his mural in 1963, and it was featured in the 1964 Life magazine article, “Homosexuality in America.” This photograph was attributed to Henri Leleu but it might actually have been taken by Mike Kelley. If anyone knows for sure, please let us know!

A cropped version of the photo of Mona’s 440 Club appears in the book.

The Phoenix Ramblers were an amateur softball team; all the women pictured here played on the team (except Jennie).

The photograph of the lesbian house party appears in the book, but it was in black and white, not color.

If you have any additional information about the photos above please email us at glbthsarchivesblog@glbthistory.org

Hidden from History: Accessing the GLBT Past

Hidden from History: Accessing the GLBT Past is a survey and processing project at the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society in San Francisco. The project started in October 2011 and was funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). The goals of the project include completing an electronic survey of all the Historical Society’s manuscript collections and processing half of the collections in its backlog. Ultimately, this project will give the Historical Society better physical and intellectual control over their manuscript collections and vastly improve access to them. Marjorie Bryer, the project  archivist, and Rebekah Kim, the managing archivist, will share their discoveries through this blog. The blog is currently under construction. Stay tuned to see the words and images from our collections that move us, inspire us and make us laugh.

from the Enrique Hermosillo papers, 1998-10 (1970)