Chuck Schoen Papers and Veterans CARE Redwood Empire collection
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Scope and Contents
The collection contains a combination of personal papers, military records, documents related to Schoen's work in veterans activism, and subject files. The personal papers consist of personal records, photographs, correspondence, and ephemera.
The military records include official records and documentation of Schoen's career in the United States Navy, as well as letters, articles, and documents about the United States military and Department of Defense.
The veterans activism and organizations series contain records, meeting minutes, correspondence, photographs, and ephemera, particularly from Veterans CARE Redwood Empire.
The collection also holds a series subject files containing correspondence, newspaper clippings, documents, and ephemera.
Dates
- Creation: 1879-2014
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.
Biographical / Historical
Charles "Chuck" Schoen was a US Navy veteran and activist for the rights of LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans.
Schoen was born June 7, 1925 in Boston, Massachusetts and grew up in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. In 1942, at the age of 17, Schoen enlisted in the United States Navy. He served in the Navy for 19 years, serving as an electrician and nuclear specialist on multiple tours in both World War II and the Korean War. In 1962, Schoen was outed as a gay man, and in 1963, he was forced to resign with an "other than honorable discharge" or face a court martial. In 1980, Schoen was able to have his discharge status upgraded to Honorable, but was still denied many of the benefits awarded to most veterans. These events led Schoen to his lifelong campaign for the rights of LGBTQ+ servicemen and veterans.
In 1984, Schoen, along with several other veterans, founded Veterans CARE Redwood Empire. The group participated in the 1987 and 1993 Marches on Washington and was active in local circles and at the national level. In 1987, Veterans CARE became part of the GLBVA (Gay Lesbian Bisexual Veterans of America), later AVER (American Veterans for Equal Rights).
Schoen testified on the issue of gays and lesbians in the military before the United States House Subcommittee on Oversight and Veterans Affairs. He campaigned tirelessly for the lift of the ban that prevented LGBTQ+ people from serving in the military and against the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that replaced it. He did multiple interviews openly speaking about his experiences as a gay man in the Navy.
In 1952, Schoen met Army serviceman Jack Bicknell. The two carried on a decade-long relationship that lasted after Schoen's discharge from the Navy. They remained friends until Bicknell's passing in 1994.
In 1966, Schoen met the man who would become his lifelong partner, Jack Harris. Harris was also a former Navy man and a lifetime member of Veterans CARE, GLBVA, and AVER. Schoen and Harris were together for 48 years before Schoen passed away at the age of 88 on February 27, 2014.
References: https://aver.us/2014/03
Extent
13.75 Linear Feet (12 boxes, 3 oversize items)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Charles "Chuck" F. Schoen was a US Navy veteran and activist for the rights of LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans. Schoen was active in a number of LGBTQ+ veterans groups, most notably Veterans CARE (Council for American Rights and Equality) Redwood Empire and AVER (American Veterans for Equal Rights). His collection contains personal papers and photographs; naval records and realia; letters, articles, and documents about the United States military and Department of Defense; records, correspondence, photographs, and ephemera related to Schoen's work with veterans organizations; and other correspondence, articles, clippings, documents, and ephemera.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into six series. Series 1: Personal Records; Series 2: Naval Career; Series 3: United States Military; Series 4: Veterans Activism and Organizations; Series 5: Veterans CARE Redwood Empire; Series 6: Subject Files.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Jack A. Harris, May 2014.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Beth McDonald, 2024.
- Title
- Finding aid to the Chuck Schoen Papers and Veterans CARE Redwood Empire collection, 1879-2014.
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Beth McDonald
- Date
- © 2024
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the ONE Archives at the USC Libraries, University of Southern California Repository
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles California 90007 United States
(213) 821-2771
askone@usc.edu