The following short pieces offer some highlights on the Archives' holdings of sound recordings as they grew over time. They are from Gay Archivist -- from Number 11 called Lesbian and Gay Archivist.
Tape Collection
Number 2, May 1978
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 [see Issue 38, Nov 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. Also donated in 1974 were taped interviews of female impersonators, 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.
Most of the 1st Atlantic Gay Conference [Oct 8 - 10, 1977], hosted by Gay Alliance Toward Equality (Halifax), has been recorded. The 6th National Conference will be held there over the July 1st weekend [1978] and preparations are being made to record those proceedings.
We are growing!
Number 7, June 1989
What went from 60 to 660 in ten minutes? Our holdings of records. Such explosive growth is not common in an archives, but all it takes is one good donation, and that is what we received last December. There are Canadian, British, American, and even a few West German and Japanese pressings of the works of over sixty recording artists and groups.
Included are albums by Boy George, Bronski Beat, Communards, Patrick Cowley, Dead or Alive, Divine, Erasure, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Man 2 Man, The Nylons, Paul Parker, Queen, Tom Robinson, Craig Russell, Peter Shelley, Fred Small, Sylvester, and Village People.
New Acquisitions
Number 8, April 1990
The fifty records and sixty-five compact disks donated during the year increase our holdings of sound recordings to over 900 discs. Among the new artists and titles added were Brother Lon and Derek Van Eaton, Complot Bronswick (France), Freddie Mercury, the New York Dolls, Bobbie Short, "The Straight and Gay" (1979), "Gay Name Game" (1979), and "The Homosexuals' Record" (1979).
Archival Treasures
Number 11, February 1995
Among eight items noted: Lesbian Concentrate -- A Lesbianthology (100% undiluted), Olivia Records, 1977. Songs and poems compiled in response to Anita Bryant, including: "For Straight Folks Who Don't Mind Gays But Wish They Weren't So Blatant", "Don't Pray For Me", and "Ode to a Gym Teacher."