Frank Kameny’s Precious Legacy

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Take a few minutes to visit a remarkable website, www.kamenypapers.org. Over a period spanning decades, Frank Kameny's courage and conviction probably did more for the cause of gay equality than any other single force in America. The Kameny project, led by Charles Francis and Bob Witeck, is working to safeguard his papers for posterity by archiving them at a major library. And what papers! This treasure trove of civil-rights source material spans 25 boxes of correspondence, legal documents, brochures, photos, memorabilia, even the original signs carried in the landmark Washington and Philadelphia pickets of 1965-68. The Kameny Project offers a taste of the riches online. (Check out the Congressman who writes Frank, "Please do not contaminate my mail with such filthy trash." All too typical.) Frank Kameny is very much alive and well, feisty as ever; let's hope this project to memorialize his legacy prospers.

3 Comments for “Frank Kameny’s Precious Legacy”

  1. posted by ETJB on

    An impressive amount of history that needs to be taken care of.

    I first read about Mr. Kameny in the Hidden From History book. This was a 1990 edition, and I think it has been revised in 2004.

  2. posted by Nick Schulz on

    It is impossible to overstate the power of this archive. It holds the potential to change hearts and minds.

  3. posted by Gene Elder on

    Hi: I am the Archives Director of the HAPPY Foundation, our GayBLT history archives here in San Antonio, Texas and of course I am always impressed by these other archives and greatly enjoy seeing examples of the items kept. Such as the protest posters and the letters.

    Great Job and keep it up.

    Gene Elder

    HAPPY Foundation, 411 Bonham, San Antonio, Texas, 78205, 210 732-3238 elder4tomato@yahoo.com

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