Society for Individual Rights (SIR) Records, 1964-1977

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Summary

Creators:
Society for Individual Rights
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.
Extent:
1.6 linear foot. 1 archive carton + 1 flat archive box.
Language:
Preferred citation:

Society for Individual Rights (SIR) Records, Coll2011-075, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California

Background

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.

Biographical / historical:

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).

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.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Contact ONE archivist regarding access restrictions.

Terms of access:

Contact ONE archivist regarding publication and use restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Society for Individual Rights (SIR) Records, Coll2011-075, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California

Location of this collection:
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90007, US
Contact:
(213) 821-2771
askone@usc.edu
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