Tamara Turner papers, 1931-2014

Tamara Turner was a gay-rights activist and librarian. She was born on March 27, 1940 in Seattle, Washington. Turner earned a BA in History and a master’s degree from the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Washington. Throughout her career, Turner served as a librarian at a variety of places including Rainier School in Buckley, Northwest Biotherapeutics in Bothell, and Pacific N.W. Cancer Foundation in Seattle. Additionally, she was Director of Medical Library Services at Children’s Regional Hospital and Medical Center in Seattle from 1977-1994. Turner was a strong promoter of workers’ rights and was instrumental in negotiating the first Pierce County Library contract in Washington.

Turner made a lifetime commitment to revolutionary feminism when she joined the Freedom Socialist Party and Radical Women in the early 1970s. She led in developing the groups' understanding of LGBTQ liberation and co-authored the book "Gay Resistance: The Hidden History." She was on the initial staff of the Freedom Socialist newspaper, and created its humor spin-off, "The Scrocialist." Additionally, she performed in the play "Hidden History," in which elder LGBTQ recounted their lives before the presence of the gay liberation movement.

Turner died of leukemia on March 22, 2017 in Seattle, Washington.