Society for Individual Rights (SIR) Records

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: Coll2011-075

Staff Only

Scope and Content

Meeting minutes, flyers, correspondence, bylaws, press releases, proposals, policy statements, articles, pamphlets, surveys, financial documents, advertisements, articles of incorporation, clippings, municipal permits, legal documents, event programs, organizational constitution, photographs, manuscripts, and other material documenting activities of the Society for Individual Rights (SIR), 1964-1977. Founded in San Francisco in 1964, SIR's goals included public affirmation of gay and lesbian identity, elimination of victimless crime laws, providing a range of social services (including legal aid) to "gays in difficulties," and promoting a sense of gay and lesbian community.

Dates

Creation: 1964-1977

Creator

Society for Individual Rights (Creator, Corporate Entity)

Access

Contact ONE archivist regarding access restrictions.

Publication Rights

Contact ONE archivist regarding publication and use restrictions.

Historical Note

Founded in San Francisco in 1964, the Society for Individual Rights (SIR)'s goals included public affirmation of gay and lesbian identity, elimination of victimless crime laws, providing a range of social services (including legal aid) to "gays in difficulties," and promoting a sense of a gay and lesbian community. In particular, SIR's "leaders were more assertive and confident [as compared to older homophile organizations] in their gay identity. Taking a cue from the burgeoning civil rights movement, SIR demanded equal rights and decried government-sanctioned discrimination." The organization also departed from older groups in its emphasis on the democratic process. By the late 1970s, however, SIR's influence diminished.

Source: Highleyman, Liz, "What Was the Society for Individual Rights?" http://www.gmax.co.za/think/history/2004/040330-SFriscoRights.html, 2004 (accessed April 4, 2012).

Extent

1.6 Linear Feet (1 archive carton + 1 flat archive box.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Meeting minutes, flyers, correspondence, bylaws, press releases, proposals, policy statements, articles, pamphlets, surveys, financial documents, advertisements, articles of incorporation, clippings, municipal permits, legal documents, event programs, constitution, photographs, manuscripts, and other material documenting activities of the Society for Individual Rights (S.I.R.), 1964-1977. Founded in San Francisco in 1964, SIR's goals included public affirmation of gay and lesbian identity, elimination of victimless crime laws, providing a range of social services (including legal aid) to "gays in difficulties," and promoting a sense of a gay and lesbian community. This collection documents SIR's existance into the late-1970s.

Processing Information

Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

In order to provide access to this collection, minimal processing on this collection was expedited in 2011. Date spans were given wherever possible, but do not reflect the most accurate inclusive dates.