Correspondence received, 1979: regarding endorsements of Philadelphia judicial, city council, controller candidates; opinion piece by David R. Fair on opposition to the March on Washington; concern by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends Committee on the Civil Rights of Homosexuals over content of a travel club enclosure accompanying a WWDC mailing; concerns from multiple individuals about Jeff Britton's and Mark Segal's public disagreements; attempts to include a gay rights plank on the Democratic National Convention platform; responses to WWDC questionnaire to Philadelphia City Council candidates
Scope and Contents
The collection is divided into three series: I. Business records; II. Subject files; and III. Printed materials. The business records are comprised of correspondence sent and received from 1976 to 1983. There are very few materials from 1980. In addition to covering local and state elections and ballot initiatives, topics include civil rights concerns for gays and lesbians, adding a gay rights plank to the Democratic National Committee platform, potential violations at local gay bars for fire code and serving minors, police brutality and entrapment of homosexuals by the National Park Services, outreach to other political organizations, Club fundraising activities, and controversies surrounding Jeff Britton and Philadelphia Gay News. Also in this series are Club newsletters, press releases and other materials distributed to members, as well as stationary and member mailing lists.
The subject files series includes materials on organizations affiliated with the Walt Whitman Democratic Club or of interest to Jeff Britton specifically. These include the Center City South Neighborhood Association, the Gay Rights National Lobby, the National Association of Gay and Lesbian Democratic Clubs, the National Conference on Gay and Lesbian Concerns, the Pennsylvania Gay Conference, the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee, and the Philadelphia Convention for a March on Washington. Also, here are filed materials on abortion rights, Britton's campaign for State Representative, civil rights court cases filed in Pennsylvania, petitions and miscellaneous materials concerning gay rights in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, Rep. Samuel Rappaport's attendance record, and the establishment of a prison rape support group.
The final series of printed materials includes newspaper clippings, magazine and journal articles, and full issues of newspapers, on topics of interest to the Club. Also found here are a range of pamphlets which were periodically distributed by the Club in its mailings, as well as political brochures of candidates supported by the Club.
Dates
- 1975 - 1984
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research use.
Extent
From the Collection: 1.2 Linear Feet (3 boxes)
Language of Materials
From the Series: English
Creator
- From the Collection: Britton, Jeffrey H., 1947-2012 (Person)
- From the Collection: Walt Whitman Democratic Club. (Organization)
Repository Details
Part of the John J. Wilcox, Jr. LGBT Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center Repository