South Street Renaissance

Back Stage and Key West were two Philadelphia queer establishments that anchored the brunch and cabaret performance scenes from 1974-1997 and 1982-2008, respectively. The collection contains advertisements, ephemera, photographs, and press from both businesses. The bulk of the collection comprises material from Back Stage, and paints a picture of the enduring necessity of nightlife and queer spaces as anchors in the community for building joy, power, and connection.