GALA, Gay and Lesbian Alumni, Inc., Records Guide to the William and Mary Gay and Lesbian Alumni/ae (GALA), Inc. Records UA 42

Guide to the William and Mary Gay and Lesbian Alumni/ae (GALA), Inc. Records UA 42


[logo]

Special Collections Research Center

William & Mary Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
400 Landrum Dr
Williamsburg, Virginia
Business Number: 757-221-3090
spcoll@wm.edu
URL: https://libraries.wm.edu/libraries-spaces/special-collections

Special Collections Staff.

Repository
Special Collections Research Center
Identification
UA 42
Title
William and Mary Gay and Lesbian Alumni/ae (GALA), Inc. Records 1981-2015 1986-2015
Quantity
12.40 Linear Feet
Creator
William and Mary GALA (Gay and Lesbian Alumni/ae), Inc.
Creator
Curtis, Wayne
Creator
Greenia, George D.
Creator
Murden, Steven
Creator
Snell, Stephen Holmes
Language
English

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use:

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Conditions Governing Access:

The collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Custodial History:

Accession 1987.3 includes material created and collected by George Greenia. Accession 1987.3 was assigned to the initial gift of Prof. George Greenia in January 1987 (1 box) plus two later additions from Prof. Greenia in October 1987 (1 box) and 1997 (scrapbook and 2 boxes). Accession 2002.071 was assigned to the material received from GALA in 2002-2003. This material was collected by former GALA board member Steven Murden from other GALA members before being transferred to the Special Collections Research Center. Murden did not arrange the collection before its transfer to the SCRC, but did review the material for any confidential material.

Preferred Citation:

William and Mary GALA Records, Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Acquisition Information:

Materials in this collection were donated by GALA and individual members. Accession 1987.3 was donated by Prof. George Greenia in January 1987 with additions added to this accession number in October 1987 and 1997. Acc. 2002.071 was donated by GALA in 2002-2003 (including 12/18/2003) via GALA Archivist Steve Murden. Acc. 2008.112 was received from GALA President Wayne Curtis on 10/25/2008. Acquisition information for material received after 7/13/2009 is available by consulting a Special Collections Research Center staff member.

Processing Information:

A portion of the collection was processed by an unidentified SCRC student staff member prior to 2007. Zach Hilpert, SCRC Staff, processed much of the collection then in the SCRC and authored the finding aid in March-May 2007. Additional material was arranged and described by Michael Lusby, SCRC Staff, in March-May 2010 and Patricia Sanabria, SCRC Staff, in September 2010-March 2011. Acc. 2012.159 accessioned and minimally described by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist, in May 2012.

Accruals:

Further accruals are expected.


Historical Note:

The College of William and Mary Gay and Lesbian Alumni/ae was organized in 1986 by College alumnus Steve Snell '66, the organization's first president. The group has worked with and offered financial and leadership support to campus student organizations such as the Lambda Alliance (formerly Lesbian and Gay Student Union), the Gay Student Support Group and Alternatives. In 1990 GALA successfully campaigned to have "sexual orientation" added to the College's non-discrimination policy, and in 1991 joined the fight to have anti-homosexual language removed from the Virginia Alcoholic Beverages Control Board's liquor license code. The mission of GALA is to advocate for and provide education to straight, gay and lesbian students and alumni through, according to their mission statement, "fundraising and direct participation support for alumni/ae through networking, social community and Homecoming events." Further information about this organization is available in the Special Collections Research Center Knowledgebase: William & Mary GALA

Scope and Contents

This collection encompasses the records of the organization William and Mary Gay and Lesbian Alumni/ae (GALA) founded in 1986. Materials in the collection date from before the organization's founding to the present, with the majority of the material covering the years 1986 through 1992. The earliest records were maintained and created by Stephen Snell and George Greenia. The major issues covered include the founding of the organization, initial battles for recognition by the William and Mary Alumni Association, the fight to have sexual orientation added to the university's non-discrimination policy, and the suit to have anti-homosexual language removed from the state of Virginia's policies on liquor licensing. The records were collected by William and Mary GALA founder and first president Stephen Snell, Professor George Greenia, presidents Steve Murden, Wayne Curtis, Frank Edwards, and others. Included in the collection are fliers, correspondence, education materials, news clippings, and organizational papers. Due to the multiple creators associated with the collection, the same documents can be found in multiple series and folders within the collection. For instance, notices about events and correspondence may be found in a general chronological folder as well as a folder about a specific event or topic.

Oral history interviews conducted for the Stephens Project are available in the University Archives Oral History Collection. Memorabilia such as t-shirts, buttons, etc. are available in the University Archives Artifacts Collection. Current information about GALA, including some documents from 2001 to the present are available at GALA's website: http://wmgala.wordpress.com/.

Arrangement of Materials:

This collection is organized into eight series: Series 1: Correspondence, Series 2: News Clippings, Series 3: Cornish Fund, Series 4: GALA Event Materials, Series 5: GALA Publications, Series 6: Public Education Materials, Series 7: GLBT Student Groups, Series 8: GALA Organizational Materials.

Related Material

University Archives Oral History Collection; Lesbian and Gay Union Records (UA 7.010); Gay Student Support Group Records (UA 7.090); Students Organizations Collection; records of the Office of the President (various administrations); University Archives Subject File Collection; University Archives Photograph Collection; University Archives Artifact Collection; William & Mary Alumni Association.

Separated Material

A 20th anniversary champagne glass was removed from this collection and added to the University Archives Artifact Collection.

Two baseball caps (2011.603.01 and 2011.603.02) were transferred to Series 1: Textiles, Subseries 4: Hats of the University Archives Artifacts Collection upon accessioning.


Subjects and Indexing Terms


Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

Back to Top

Container List

id50
Series 1: Correspondence
1984-2014, undated
Scope and Contents

This series includes both internal and external William & Mary GALA organizational correspondence organized by date. Within this series is much of the conversation that took place internally regarding major early issues facing GALA, from the College's non-discrimination policy to the fight for recognition among alumni groups. Correspondence ranges from form letters sent to association members to letters between board members and faculty liaison, George Greenia.

Back to Top
id53
Series 2: News Clippings
1982-2006, undated
Scope and Contents

The news clippings primarily document GALA, GLBT issues, and the College of William and Mary.

Back to Top
id54
Series 3: Richard Cornish Fund
1992-2011, undated
Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents This series includes correspondence and other materials related to the Richard Cornish Fund established by W&M GALA in 1992. The Cornish Fund was established to support the acquisition of books and other resources about gay and lesbian issues for the Earl Gregg Swem Library at the College of William and Mary.

Back to Top
id55
Series 4: GALA Event Materials
1986-2015
Scope and Contents

This series consists of pamphlets, packets, letters, announcements, and memorabilia related to events organized by GALA. These events have primarily been held during the College's homecoming weekend.

Back to Top
id57
Series 5: Public Education Materials
1988-2006, undated
Scope and Contents

These materials were produced by GALA and other groups to educate the public on issues relevant to the LGBT community.

Back to Top
id56
Series 6: GALA Publications
1986-2007, undated
Scope and Contents

Informational and advertising materials are the primary items found in this series.

Back to Top
id58
Series 7: LGBTQ Student Groups
1984-2007
Scope and Contents

The material in this series relates to College of William and Mary student and alumni groups as well as LGBTQ student groups on other university campuses. Researchers should note that some material, such as fliers, may be filed with multiple groups when an event or program was co-sponsored. Additional information about William and Mary student groups is often available in other collections in the Special Collections Research Center in Swem Library.

Back to Top
id59
Series 8: GALA Administrative Records
1986-2013, undated
Scope and Contents

This series include internal paperwork and organizational packets, GALA's by-laws and constitution, a scrapbook of GALA's early work, financial records, membership records, recognition awards presented by the group, and other similar records.

Back to Top
id117595
Series 9: Audiovisual Material
2007
Scope and Contents

This series contains audiovisual material documenting the William and Mary Gay and Lesbian Alumni/ae, Inc. of the College of William and Mary.

Back to Top
id256666
Series 10: GALA Associated Material
1993-2008
Back to Top
id308205
Series 11: Artifacts
2006
Back to Top