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Guide to the Brad Brafford Papers
MS.R.146
MS.R.146
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Table of contents
Title: Brad Brafford papers
Identifier/Call Number: MS.R.146
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
10.6 linear feet
(27 boxes)
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1978-1998
Date (inclusive): 1971-2008
Abstract: This collection is comprised of files created by gay rights activist G.C. "Brad" Brafford of Orange County, California, primarily
from 1972 until the late 1990s. Included are materials created and distributed by local, regional, and national gay/lesbian
and other political advocacy and social support organizations, such as: newsletters, brochures, pamphlets and other publications;
fundraising mailings; and fliers and other ephemera. Also included are meeting agendas, notes, and minutes; and correspondence.
Creator:
Brafford, Brad
The collection is open for research.
Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and
their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.
Brad Brafford Papers. MS-R146. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California.
Gift of Brad Brafford, 2009-2010.
Processed by Dawn Schmitz, 2011.
G.C. "Brad" Brafford (1929- ) is a gay rights activist and philanthropist in Orange County, California and an active member
of several organizations concerned with gay and lesbian rights, AIDS education and support, political activism, women's rights,
and electoral politics. In 1972 he was one of the founders of the Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center of Orange County
(The Center OC), and he went on to serve on its first board of directors. He also served on the executive committee of Parents
and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) of Orange County. He was very active in Christ Chapel Metropolitan Community Church
in Santa Ana, California, and was involved with several gay social and recreation groups.
Born on May 5, 1929, Brafford was a surveyor by occupation and a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers.
He served in the U.S. Navy until he was discharged in 1951 due to his sexual orientation.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
This collection is comprised of files created by gay rights activist G.C. "Brad" Brafford of Orange County, California, primarily
from 1972 until the late 1990s. Included are materials created and distributed by local, regional, and national gay/lesbian
and other political advocacy and social support organizations: newsletters, brochures, pamphlets and other publications; fundraising
mailings; and fliers and other ephemera. Also included are meeting agendas, notes, and minutes; and correspondence.
Regional organizations represented include The Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center of Orange County (The Center OC),
Parents and Friends of Lesbian and Gays (PFLAG) of Orange County, the Gay and Lesbian Rights Chapter of the American Civil
Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California, and Christ Chapel Metropolitan Community Church (MCC). The many issues represented
include the U.S. military's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy on gay men and lesbians serving in the military; California Proposition
6 (The Briggs Initiative, 1978); and HIV/AIDS activism, education, and support.
This collection is arranged in 2 series:
- Series 1. Subject files, 1973-2006, 0.8 linear feet
- Series 2. Organizations, 1971-2008, 9.8 linear feet
Most of the materials were kept in their original order within files when refoldering, although the order of the files was
changed to bring together the files of a particular organization. For the most part, dates on the folders reflect the dates
the files were compiled, and the folders may contain a small amount of material from years prior to those indicated.
Issues of
Liaison and
The Center Connection, the newsletters of the Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center of Orange County, were removed from this collection. These
newsletters are cataloged separately in Special Collections and Archives. See records in the UC Irvine Libraries catalog ANTPAC.
Related materials can be found in the following collections in the Department of Special Collections and Archives:
- Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center of Orange County Records. MS-R118. California.
- Orange County Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Timeline Research Files. MS-R105.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Brafford, Brad -- Archives.
Activists -- California -- Orange County.
AIDS (disease) -- California -- Orange County -- History -- Sources.
AIDS activists -- California -- Orange County -- Archives
Gay rights -- California -- Orange County -- History -- Sources
Gays -- California -- Orange County -- Archives.