Newsletter of the Canadian Gay Archives No. 2, May 1978
In this issue:
On December 31, 1977 five members of the Metropolitan Toronto and Ontario Provincial Police Forces raided the offices of The Body Politic and the Canadian Gay Archives. They came armed with a warrant concerning an investigation of the newspaper. During their search it was pointed out to them that the Archives was separate and independent of the newspaper. This seemed not to matter. In addition to removing certain files related to The Body Politic, they systematically searched the entire Archives, most of whose holdings have no relation to the paper whatever.
This is a very serious matter, and poses certain questions for other archives. Can the police, holding a warrant in regard to a particular investigation, make any material in that archives available to themselves? If they can, then what assurance can archivists give to donors as regards restricted access to their records?
A letter to Attorney-General Roy McMurtry protesting the action of the police and enquiring whether such conduct will be approved in the future has not been acknowledged. The validity of the search warrant was challenged in court and upheld. A further appeal made to the Ontario Court of Appeal on April 14 was lost.
"RB", Morrocan born photographer and poet presently living in Toronto, has made an important donation of his work to the CGA. In 1974 he completed a photographic study of female impersonators performing at Toronto's Club Manatee. Some of these photographs were exhibited at the Café Labarge Gallery, Toronto and on CBC-TV. Accompanied by taped interviews of the people photographed they are a valuable record of this aspect of gay life in Canada.
The Body Politic has a large and varied collection of photographs. In addition to those appearing in the newspaper over the past six years, numerous other unused photographs exist. Gerald Hannon, photographer for the paper, has covered many gay events such as national conferences, demonstrations, etc. and it is hoped this valuable collection of prints and negatives will one day be housed in the CGA.
(photo) This fine photograph is one of the many now on deposit at the Archives from the collection of "RB".
Individual items have been received as well. We are seeking anything to do with demonstrations, meetings, movement people, social events, etc.
Newspaper clippings continue to pour in from various parts of the country. They require a great deal of work but are proving valuable to researchers. The index is not yet complete and time consuming searches for particular items are putting more pressure on us to continue with that work. As of May, 1977 there were 4000 clippings on file. We have since received another 2000 which bring the total number of Canadian newspapers represented to more than 150. We have found three ring binders unsatisfactory and now arrange the clippings chronologically within file folders which are placed in acid free archival storage boxes. Clippings from Toronto papers in the 1950's have been donated by Elgin Blair. A friend in British Columbia located a subject index to clippings in the Legislative Library in Victoria. This has been very helpful. Interested people might want to check out the existence of such indexes in their respective areas.
The periodical collection continues to grow rapidly. More than thirty new titles have been added this past year and gaps in other titles are being filled. Among the most exciting acquisitions are several copies of ASK Newsletter (Vancouver), Phalia (Toronto), and Carousel Capers (Calgary). One curious item is the periodical Sunbathing in Canada for Health (Toronto) published in the 1940's and 1950's. Ads of particular interest to gays were carried which may indicate that the magazine was also intended to serve, in a small way, the gay community.
With acquisitions on the increase we have been accumulating a large number of broken runs in many titles. Neil Richards of Saskatoon, who with some friends hopes to begin a 'gay collection' at one of the libraries there, has contacted us. It is their intention to collect any printed material relating to gays. The Archives is excited about contributing to this gay library in Western Canada. We will send material on a regular basis.
The 5th National Gay Conference was held in Saskatoon from June 29 to July 3, 1977. James Fraser represented the Archives Collective at the Conference. Important personal contacts were made with people who create and/or care for records. About twenty delegates from a variety of gay organizations attended a workshop sponsored by the Archives. The history and work of the Archives was outlined and examples of the kinds of items being collected were displayed. The two main concerns expressed during the workshop had to do with controlled access, and the fate of the records should the Archives cease to exist as such. In response to the first it was pointed out that it is the accepted practise of archives in general to receive records with access restrictions determined by the depositors. In the event of the Archives Collective being unable to provide a home for the Archives the collection would be deposited with an established archives which would hold to the same restrictions. As the Archives continues to grow its future is assured. Meanwhile the Collective is determined that the Archives remain in the hands of gay people.
In June, 1977 Dignity Toronto deposited their records with the Archives. Access is by permission of the group. In September McMaster Homophile Association donated their records. Recently Wayne Hagan has given his papers relating to the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto. Copies of correspondence, etc. have been received from Gays for Equality (Winnipeg), Council on Homosexuality and Religion (Winnipeg), Gay Info (Montreal), and Gay Alliance for Equality (Halifax). Elgin Blair, Patrick Ferris, John Harnick, Michael Lynch, Neil Richards, James Thomas, Charlie Thompson, Stan Wild, Ian Young and others have made contributions as well.
Caption for the cartoon in issue Number I should have read: "Out of the closet into the archives. "
The tape collection has just recently begun to receive some attention. To date we have both reels and cassettes. It is our intention to transfer everything on to 1200 foot (1.5 mil) reels using one track only.
Several important acquisitions have been made during the last few months. The Body Politic interviewed Quentin Crisp, author of The Naked Civil Servant, during a visit to Toronto in 1977. Gordon Montador of Glad Day Books was interviewed on CJRT Radio, Toronto in October, 1977 in regard to the Globe and Mail's refusal to carry book advertisements. "RB" donated taped interviews of female impersonators dated 1974, and an interview of the street crowd on Yonge Street on Hallowe'en 1969. Wayne Hagan has made available to the Archives several tapes relating to the Metropolitan Community Church, Toronto. They include edited parts of various services dating from 1973 when the Church began; the complete chartering service; etc. Paul LeRoux of Montreal, one of three panelists, at a workshop concerning gay teachers at the National Conference of Teachers of English held in New York in 1978, sent a tape of that workshop. An effort to tape most of the 5th National Gay Conference in Saskatoon was only partially successful due to inexperience and lack of preparation.
In addition, we have made contact with several other individuals and groups who have tapes and we will make efforts to get copies of these. Most of the 1st Atlantic Gay Conference hosted by Gay Alliance for Equality (Halifax), for instance, has been recorded. The 6th National Conference will be held there over the July 1st weekend and preparations are being made to record these proceedings.
It has been our belief that much early gay history is yet to be uncovered. The following information helps to confirm this. Jacques Briand, a student of Quebec history, has recently brought to our attention a volume by Robert-Lionel Séquin entitled La vie libertine en Nouvelle-France au XVII siècle (Montreal, Lemdac, 1972) which contains several items of interest.
One incident was recorded in the journals of the Jesuits in 1648. It concerns a young drummer sentenced to death by the Governor of Montreal for a "crime against nature". The Jesuits protested and a second trial resulted in a sentence of life in the galleys. The young man avoided this fate by accepting the position of official executioner.
A second case dates from 1691. A lieutenant in a company of marines and two soldiers were accused of sodomy. They appealed their case to the Supreme Council. The lieutenant was found guilty, fined and exiled. The others receive reprimands.
A third case involves one of the passengers sailing out of France with Jacques Cartier in 1541. He was banished by King Francis I after having been accused of sodomy sometime earlier and forced to fight a duel which he won.
We rely on people doing research across the country to watch for any references to gay people no matter how slight. These will often be very obscure. We will be grateful if they are brought to our attention.
Edward Jackson, a member of the Archives Collective, visited two important collections of gay material in California in August, 1977. The Western Gay Archives in Hollywood is the result of many years work by James Kepner. This very large and valuable group of records includes important Canadian material such as copies of the rare ASK Newsletter (Vancouver), correspondence with organizers of early gay groups, etc. One Institute, also located in Hollywood, is one of the earliest gay organizations in the United States. Their Institute of Homophile Studies under the direction of Dorr Legg has a valuable collection of gay material. Both organizations have donated material to the CGA and we have reciprocated.
(photo) Rick Bebout, Archives member, preparing index to newspaper clippings.
If you want to help preserve an important part of Canada's history then we want to hear from you! You can help by monitoring newspapers in your area, by donating books, early gay periodicals, etc., by letting us know about gay history you might discover through research, and of course by contributing money.
The Canada Council issued a press release on January 20, announcing the formation of a Consultative Group on Archives in Canada. This body has called upon the archival community to present briefs by the middle of June. The CGA has taken advantage of this opportunity. Our brief outlines the work of the Archives, talks about our relation to the larger community, indicates some of the problems faced by smaller archives, explains the specific difficulties faced by the CGA, and makes several recommendations.
We feel very strongly that The Canada Council, which has done so much to build and preserve this country's cultural heritage, should assist the archival community in doing that very thing.
Gay Archivist
Published by the Canadian Gay Archives Collective, an autonomous body operating
within Pink Triangle Press.
Joan Anderson, Rick Bebout, Frank Coulson, James Fraser, Edward Jackson, George McAlister, David Watkinson, Robert Trow
Canadian Gay Archives, 24 Duncan Street, Toronto, Ontario
mailing address: Box 639 Station A Toronto, Ontario M5W 1G2
telephone: (416) 863-6320