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Fred Parris collection on Virginia gay and lesbian rights organizations

 Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: Coll2014-102

Scope and Contents

The collection contains the contents of a ring binder compiled by Fred Parris of materials from the Virginia Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights, 1977-1980, and the Virginia Gay Alliance, 1983. The documents include fliers, meeting information, and minutes of the Virginia Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights. The collection also contains clippings, correspondence concerning gay and lesbian rights, and a packet of materials from the Virginia Gay Alliance conference, October 15-16, 1983.

Dates

  • Creation: 1977-1983

Creator

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.

Conditions Governing Use

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

Biographical Note

Frederick Walter Parris was born November 12, 1948 in Manhattan, Kansas. In 1970 he graduated from Kansas University with a degree in journalism. While writing for the University Daily Kansan he received the William Allen White Award for excellence in feature writing. After earning his master's degree from Kansas’s Emporia University in library science, he was employed by the Memphis Public Library system. While in Memphis he was the news editor for a local gay and lesbian newspaper, Gaiety. In 1976 Parris relocated to suburban Washington, D.C. and became active in the gay and lesbian rights movement, and a number of other progressive causes. He was a freelance writer for the Washington Blade through the 1980s. Parris' articles during the mid-1980s on gay teen suicide have been credited with bringing attention to the crisis. In 1989, he took a position with the Houston Public Library, where he served in a number of capacities until his retirement in 2008. He died of congestive heart failure in March 2011.

Chibbaro, Lou, Jr. "Obituary: Fred Parris, 62." Washington Blade, April 07, 2011. http://www.washingtonblade.com/2011/04/07/obituary-fred-parris-62/#sthash.mIgNGy2c.dpuf (retrieved October 23, 2014).

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection contains materials from the Virginia Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights, 1977-1980, and the Virginia Gay Alliance, 1983. The documents include fliers, meeting information, and minutes of the Virginia Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights. The collection also contains clippings, Parris' correspondence concerning gay and lesbian rights, and a packet of materials from the Virginia Gay Alliance conference, October 15-16, 1983. Fred Parris was a freelance writer for the Washington Blade and may be best known for his articles written during the mid-1980s calling attention to gay teen suicide.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Letter from Lloyd Ostby in lieu of deed of gift, dated January 04, 2014.

Related Materials

Unprocessed Fred Parris papers - 4 archvies cartons

Separated Materials

Removed to ONE periodical collection:

Our Own: May 1978, September 1983, October 1983.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Michael C. Oliveira, October 2014.

Title
Finding Aid to the Fred Parris Collection on Virginia Gay and Lesbian Rights Organizations
Status
Completed
Author
Michael C. Oliveira
Date
(c) 2014
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
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:
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