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Jon W. Davidson Papers

 Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: Coll2013-022

Scope and Contents

The collection comprises correspondence, notes, intake logs, flyers and other material, 1985-1995, from Jon W. Davidson, former senior staff counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California. The bulk of the material consists of intake logs and requests for assistance submitted to the ACLU chapter in the early 1990s.

Dates

  • Creation: 1985 - 1995

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Biography

Jon W. Davidson is a graduate of Stanford University and Yale Law School. In the early years of his law career, Davidson served as a law clerk, and went on to become associate then partner in private practice in Los Angeles, where he specialized in litigation in the media and entertainment industry. In 1988, he joined the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, where he served as staff counsel and became head of the Lesbian and Gay Rights Project in that chapter. As head of the Lesbian and Gay Rights Project, Davidson was instrumental in numerous ACLU legal actions on behalf of gay and lesbian civil rights. Following his time at the ACLU of Southern California, Davidson moved on to work as counsel for Lambda Legal in 1995.

As Legal Director at Lambda Legal, "Davidson has been counsel in cases that have won lesbians and gay men the freedom to marry; protect domestic partner benefits against attack; championed the rights of LGBT students; secured asylum for LGBT people persecuted in their home countries; and put an end to HIV-related discrimination in employment, insurance and public accommodations. Davidson also has helped reform antigay practices of the Los Angeles Police Department and was the co-drafter of AB 205, California's Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act."

Source:

"Staff: Jon W. Davidson," Lambda Legal, http://www.lambdalegal.org/about-us/staff/jon-w-davidson (last accessed February 27, 2013).

Extent

0.6 Linear Feet (1 archive carton.)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Correspondence, notes, intake logs, flyers and other material, 1985-1995, of Jon W. Davidson, former senior staff counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California. As former head of the Lesbian and Gay Rights Project of the ACLU of Southern California, Davidson was instrumental in numerous ACLU legal actions on behalf of gay and lesbian civil rights. The bulk of the material consists of requests for assistance submitted to the ACLU chapter in the early 1990s.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged alphabetically.

Acquisition

Donor and date of acquisition unknown.

Related Materials

American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California Lesbian & Gay Rights Chapter records, Coll2007-013, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California.

Susan McGreivy Papers, Coll2012-138, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Loni Shibuyama, February 2013.

Title
Finding aid to the Jon W. Davidson papers, 1985-1995
Status
Completed
Author
Loni Shibuyama
Date
(c) 2013
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English.
Sponsor
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Repository Details

Part of the ONE Archives at the USC Libraries, University of Southern California Repository

Contact:
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles California 90007 United States
(213) 821-2771