William and Mary Gay and Lesbian Alumni/ae (GALA), Inc. Records

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Restrictions:

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.

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:

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

Summary

Extent:
12.40 Linear Feet
Creator:
William and Mary GALA (Gay and Lesbian Alumni/ae), Inc., Curtis, Wayne, Greenia, George D., Murden, Steven, and Snell, Stephen Holmes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

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

Background

Scope and content:

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/.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

A t-shirt is available in the University Archives Artifact Collection.

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

One DVD sending congratulations and best wishes to Stephen Snell, founder of GALA, from a reception celebrating the opening of the "Out at Swem Library" exhibit. Includes interviews with members of GALA and Swem Library Staff. The DVD is approximately 6 minutes and 4 seconds long. E134

One glass champagne flute used to celebrate twenty years of the William and Mary Gay and Lesbian Alumni group. The front of the flute has "William & Mary" inscribed in gold block print. Below that is a thin golden triangle. "Gala" is inscribed in gold block print and underlined in gold under "William & Mary" with the "l" in "gala" going through the "&" in "William & Mary." Below "gala" is inscribed "Celebrating Twenty Years" in gold cursive script. Beneath that is "1986-2006" inscribed in gold. The flute measures approximately 8.375in. (height). Gift of Steve Murden. UA 2013.219

Scope and Contents One glass champagne flute used to celebrate twenty years of the William and Mary Gay and Lesbian Alumni group. The front of the flute has "william & mary" inscribed in gold block print. Below that is a thin golden triangle. "gala" is inscribed in gold block print and underlined in gold under "william & mary" with the "l" in "gala" going through the "&" in "william & mary." Below "gala" is inscribed "Celebrating Twenty Years" in gold cursive script. Beneath that is "1986-2006" inscribed in gold. The flute measures approximately 8.375in. (height). Gift of Steve Murden. UA 2013.219

Biographical / historical:

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

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.
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.

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.

Arrangement:

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.

Accruals:

Further accruals are expected.