The Pittsburgh Queer history project Preserving a Working-Class Queer History The Pittsburgh Queer history project Harrison Apple and Tim Haggerty Co-Directors, Pittsburgh Queer History Project PA Statewide Conference on Heritage 15 June, 2017 Cumberland County Historical Society - Carlisle, PA

Project History & collecting Mission Excavation of social club (6119 Penn Avenue) and research into historical use as drinking clubs as well as underground economies, including gay and lesbian night clubs in 1980s. Begin collecting oral histories from former patrons, employees, and managers in 2012, recognize demonstrated need to provide preservation for home collections. 2014 Exhibited early collections in exhibition Lucky After Dark In 2017, we have collected 40 audio interviews, 20 linear feet of physical material, and 12,000 digitized slides.

Robert “Lucky” Johns Collection “The Pope of Gay Pittsburgh” 40 DVDs containing 12,197 slides and over 100 hours of video recordings from three consecutively managed social clubs (1967-1989). 4 Recorded Interviews 1 linear foot personal papers

Lucky’s legacy & membership 200 attendees to “celebration of life” held at Donny’s Place (1226 Herron Avenue). Left – Donald Thinnes, owner of Donny’s Place Right – Crowd packed into the bar

You know what I want? Jimmy Kaplan, Mr. Travelers 1985. Robert Lucky Johns DVD Collection F.6

Iterations of on the Social Club in Pittsburgh 19th c. Immigrant Laborer Communities in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area of Southwestern PA. 1920s Prohibition-era Speakeasies 1940-Present Licensed Social Club bars running after-hours.

Civic record of membership Charter’s were brought to the county courthouse for incorporation. Included a statement of purpose, location of club-rooms, as well as names and addresses of founding officers and active members. Statements of purpose for club charters frequently used vague language like “brotherly feeling,” “social activity,” and “membership” to describe the organization’s activity.

Social record of membership

Pqhp & Archival value How is archival value and informational authenticity determined for materials that with poor provenance and various forms of digital and physical decay? What does the label “LGBTQ History” do to collection management? How might these present and incomplete forms of records offer insights to the relationship between Heritage Studies and Gender and Sexuality Studies?