Gail Shibley collection, 1990-2007

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Shibley, Gail R.
Title
Gail Shibley collection
Dates
1990-2007 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.9 cubic feet, (2 document cases)
Collection Number
Coll 285
Summary
Collection of photographs, clippings, ephemera, and related materials documenting the career of Gail Shibley, who worked in local, state, and federal government, and was the first openly LGBTQ person to serve in the Oregon State Legislature.
Repository
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

A native of Oregon, Gail Shibley was educated at the University of Oregon, Harvard University, and the Lewis and Clark Law School, where she received her law degree in 2009. She served on the staff of U.S. Representative Jim Weaver of Oregon from 1980-1986, was the program manager of the city of Portland's Bureau of Traffic Management from 1990-1996, and was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1991, where she served until 1997 -- the first openly LGBTQ person to serve in the state Legislature. After an unsuccessful campaign for Portland City Council in 1996, she served as the development director of LINK CDC in Portland from 1997-1998, the director of external communications at the Federal Highway Administration from 1998-2000, was the senior advisor to the secretary of labor from 2000-2001, international liaison for the Saxony Parliament in Germany from 2001-2002, and was the political director of John Kulongoski's campaign for Oregon governor in 2001-2002. Shen then served as the administrator of Environmental Public Health for the state of Oregon, and in 2013 became chief of staff for Portland Mayor Charlie Hales. She returned to state government in 2015, serving as assistant director for business services at the Oregon Youth Authority, and retired in 2017.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains photographs, clippings, ephemera, and related materials documenting Gail Shibley's public career through 2007. Most of the collection relates to her election campaigns and her years in the Oregon State Legislature. Included are photographs of Shibley with Oregon Governor Barbara Roberts.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

Gail Shibley collection, Coll 285, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Restrictions on Use

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in two series: Series 1, Papers; Series 2, Photographs.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Gail R. Shibley, September 2011 (Lib. Acc. 27437).

Processing Note

Collection guide was revised in December 2023 to conform to current standard and to update biographical information about Gail Shibley.

Separated Materials

Video recordings received with this collection were separated to moving image collections at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1:  Papers, 1990-2007Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1
Biographical--resume of Gail Shibley
circa 2004
1 2-3
Campaign clippings
1991-1996
1 4
Campaign ephemera--flyers, advertisements, etc.
circa 1992-1995
1 5
"Campaign Plan"
1992 March 5
1 6
"Child care, health care"--clippings
1992-1993
1 7
Christopher Street magazine interview with Shibley
1992 July 21
1 8
"Conference of local health officials--public health emergency preparedness leadership team"
2007 March 21
1 9
"Gay and lesbian issues"--clippings
1991-1994
1 10
General clippings
1991-1996
1 11
House of Representatives appointment--clippings
1990-1992
1 12
"Legislative process"--clippings
1991-1993
1 13
"Measure 9 and OCA [Oregon Citizens Alliance]"--clippings
1991-1993
1 14
"Taxes and state budget"--clippings
1992-1993
1 15
"Transportation"--clippings and news release
1992-1993

Series 2:  Photographs, 1990-2000Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
2 1
Announcement to run for office
1991 October
2 2
At desk in legislative offices
undated
2 3
Bicycle
undated
2 4
Campaign appearance, Portland--contact sheets and negatives
undated
2 5
Campaign--contact sheets
1991
2 6
Campaign--negatives
1991
2 7
"Constituent involvement"
circa 1990-1994
2 8
Contact sheets, general
undated
2 9
Election victory--photos by Linda Clark
1992 November
2 10
Full-posed portraits of Shibley
undated
2 11
Giving speeches
circa 1990-1994
2 12
Head shots
undated
2 13
In the legislative chamber
circa 1991-1997
2 14
Interview on unidentified talk show
undated
2 15
Linda Kliewer photographs
undated
2 16
Miscellaneous photographs of Shibley
undated
2 17
Portland scenes by Anne Weaver
undated
2 18
Portraits of Shibley by Lisa Currier--contact sheets
1996
2 19
Town hall meetings
Includes images of Shibley with Portland mayor Vera Katz.
undated
2 20
White House group portrait, with President Bill Clinton
2000
2 21
With Oregon Governor Barbara Roberts
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Gay legislators--Oregon
  • Gay legislators--Oregon--Photographs
  • Gay rights--Oregon
  • Legislators--Oregon
  • Legislators--Oregon--Photographs
  • Lesbians--Oregon
  • Political campaigns--Oregon

Personal Names

  • Roberts, Barbara, 1936---Photographs
  • Shibley, Gail R.--Photographs

Corporate Names

  • Oregon. Legislative Assembly. House of Representatives

Geographical Names

  • Oregon--Politics and government--1951-

Form or Genre Terms

  • clippings (information artifacts)
  • photographs
  • printed ephemera