View XML QR Code

Roger Troen collection, 1970-1979

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Troen, Roger
Title
Roger Troen collection
Dates
1970-1979 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.5 cubic feet, (4 document boxes)
Collection Number
Mss 2988-2
Summary
Papers of a gay activist of Portland, Oregon. Includes: national magazines containing articles about homosexuality or gay civil rights; a variety of local publications from Oregon and Washington; clippings from local newspapers about gay rights issues; correspondence; and miscellaneous political information from the 1970s.
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

The collection is open to the public.

Languages
English.
Return to Top

Biographical Note

Roger Troen was an early out-of-the-closet gay activist in Portland and Multnomah County. He ran unsuccessfully for the Oregon House of Representatives in 1972 as the first openly gay candidate for a state office Oregon.

Return to Top

Content Description

The collection includes national magazines containing articles about homosexuality or gay civil rights; a variety of local publications from Oregon (primarily Portland) and Washington; clippings from local newspapers about gay rights issues; files on gay organizations, including the Oregon Gay Alliance; correspondence; and miscellaneous political information from the 1970s.

Return to Top

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library prior to any use of reproductions. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use of reproductions may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright holders.

Preferred Citation

Roger Troen collection, Mss 2988-2, Oregon Historical Society Research Library

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in the following series:

  • Series A: Correspondence
  • Series B: Organizations
  • Series C: Publications
  • Series D: General files

Custodial History

The collection was acquired from Roger Troen by the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest (GLAPN) and later donated to the Oregon Historical Society.

Acquisition Information

Acquired from the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

  • Series A: Correspondence, 1972-1979

    Letters to Roger Troen and various gay organizations he was associated with

  • Series B: Organizations, 1972-1979

  • Series C: Publications, 1970-1978

    • Description: Advocate (with article "Portland OKs gay rights")
      Dates: 1975 January 15
      Container: Box/Folder 1/18
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Breakdown

      Includes May 29-June 4, 1973 and July 24, 1973.

      Dates: 1973 May - July
      Container: Box/Folder 1/19
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Canadian newspapers

      Miscellaneous papers from Vancouver, British Columbia.

      Dates: 1972-1973
      Container: Box/Folder 1/20
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Capitol Forum (Salem)

      Includes August and September 1978 and letter of July 25, 1978.

      Dates: 1978
      Container: Box/Folder 1/21
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Changing Men(Portland)

      Includes issues of March 1974, April 1974, October 1974, December 1974, June 1976, June 1977, and July 1977.

      Dates: 1974 March - 1977 July
      Container: Box/Folder 1/22
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Clarion Defender

      Includes an article urging Blacks to oppose Gay rights. Black-oriented newspaper.

      Dates: 1977 March 9
      Container: Box/Folder 1/23
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Clinton Street Quarterly

      Winter 1979 issue.

      Dates: 1979
      Container: Box/Folder 1/24
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: The Fountain(Portland)

      Includes May 1971, February 1972, January 1973, and April 1974.

      Dates: 1971 - April 1974
      Container: Box/Folder 2/1-2
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Lifemagazine

      Includes "Homosexuals in Revolt"

      Dates: 1971 December 31
      Container: Box/Folder 2/3
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Northwest Gay Review (Portland)

      Includes issues of October 1974, November 1974, November 1975, July 1976, March 1977, and January/February 1978.

      Dates: 1974 October - 1978 January/February
      Container: Box/Folder 2/4
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Old Portland Today
      Dates: 1974 March
      Container: Box/Folder 2/5
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Oregon Liberator newsletter
      Dates: 1972-1978
      Container: Box/Folder 2/6
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Oregonian, Oregon Journal, Northwest Magazine

      Includes miscellaneous articles on Gay issues.

      Dates: 1972-1979
      Container: Box/Folder 2/7
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Parents' Magazine

      Includes "Homosexuality Today: What parents Want to Know"

      Dates: 1974 March
      Container: Box/Folder 2/8
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: PDC Ideal Magazine

      Includes "Anita Bryant: The Woman Behind the Controversy"

      Dates: 1978 October
      Container: Box/Folder 2/9
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Portland Scribe

      Includes issue of August 10-23, 1974; December 21, 1974-January 3, 1975; June 23-29, 1977. Bi-weekly publication, later a weekly.

      Dates: 1974 August - 1977 June
      Container: Box/Folder 2/10
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Miscellaneous Portland newsletters

      Includes newsletters and clippings.

      Dates: circa 1972-1978
      Container: Box/Folder 2/11
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Psychology Today

      Includes "The Healthy Homosexual"

      Dates: 1975 March
      Container: Box/Folder 2/12
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Seattle materials

      Flyers and newspapers from various Seattle groups.

      Dates: 1971-1978
      Container: Box/Folder 2/13
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Stonewall Reports(Seattle)
      Dates: 1975 September
      Container: Box/Folder 2/14
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Thrust

      Seattle newspaper: May/June 1973 to February 1974.

      Dates: 1973-1974
      Container: Box/Folder 3/2
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Time

      Includes solitary article, "The Mind of the Mass Murderer." Concerns Texas mass murderer Dean Corll and the sex ring he operated.

      Dates: 1973 August 27
      Container: Box/Folder 3/3
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Timemagazine

      Includes "I am a Homosexual: The Gay Drive for Acceptance" (feature about Air Force Sergeant Leonard Matlovich)

      Dates: 1975 September 8
      Container: Box/Folder 3/4
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Vanguard(Portland State University publication)

      Includes gay poetry and response in the form of letters to the editor in the April 23, 1974 issue.

      Dates: 1974 April 2
      Container: Box/Folder 3/5
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Willamette Bridge

      Note that the year is not contained in the newspaper, but reference in article to "Friday, November 20" gives year via perpetual calendar.

      Dates: 1970 December 4-9
      Container: Box/Folder 3/6
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: Unidentified local Gay newspaper

      Includes portion of paper dating to late 1978 or early 1979, since it refers to the defeat of the Briggs Initiative in California and the Seattle anti-Gay measure, both on the November 1978 ballot.

      Dates: circa 1978
      Container: Box/Folder 3/7
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978
    • Description: General press clippings

      Includes clippings from mainstream newspapers concerning Gay issues.

      Dates: 1970-1977
      Container: Box/Folder 3/8
      Location: Series C: Publications, 1970-1978

  • Series D: General files, 1971-1979

    • Description: Badges

      Includes an unidentified button including a pink triangle logo, and one for Gay Pride Week in 1975.

      Dates: 1975, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3/9
      Location: Series D: General files, 1971-1979
    • Description: Singer vs. Hara, Brief of Respondent

      Includes brief of respondent (Hara) in Washington court suit brought by two Gay men attempting to marry.

      Dates: circa 1973-1974
      Container: Box/Folder 3/10
      Location: Series D: General files, 1971-1979
    • Description: Burton, Peggy

      Includes newspaper article and letter concerning the case of Lesbian teacher Peggy Burton. The letter is one of thanks to Burton for her appearance on a local television program and is signed by Arlene Schnitzer.

      Dates: 1973-1974
      Container: Box/Folder 3/11
      Location: Series D: General files, 1971-1979
    • Description: Business/Service flyers

      Miscellaneous flyers and brochures dealing with business or services for the Gay/Lesbian community.

      Dates: circa 1972
      Container: Box/Folder 3/12
      Location: Series D: General files, 1971-1979
    • Description: Campaign for state representative

      Includes miscellaneous information on Roger Troen's 1978 run for Oregon House of Representatives.

      Dates: 1978
      Container: Box/Folder 3/13
      Location: Series D: General files, 1971-1979
    • Description: Campaign literature

      Campaign brochures for Emily Ashworth's race for Governor of Oregon in 1978 and Vern Cope's for Portland City Council, undated.

      Dates: 1978; undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3/14
      Location: Series D: General files, 1971-1979
    • Description: Civil Rights, General

      Includes flyers and newspaper articles regarding miscellaneous aspects of civil rights on the basis of sexual orientation.

      Dates: 1973-1977
      Container: Box/Folder 3/15
      Location: Series D: General files, 1971-1979
    • Description: Eugene referendum

      Includes newspaper articles, flyers, and miscellaneous information on 1977 Eugene sexual orientation anti-discrimination ordinance and the 1978 referendum thereon.

      Dates: 1977, 1978
      Container: Box/Folder 3/16
      Location: Series D: General files, 1971-1979
    • Description: "Free Blue Turner" (Men Against Sexism)

      Flyer regarding prisoner Blue Turner and his involvement with Men Against Sexism.

      Dates: circa 1977-1980
      Container: Box/Folder 3/17
      Location: Series D: General files, 1971-1979
    • Description: Gay graphics

      Unidentified stencils of text and graphics.

      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3/18
      Location: Series D: General files, 1971-1979
    • Description: General materials

      Includes flyers, programs, and other material from Portland, not easily identifiable in many cases.

      Dates: circa 1974-1979
      Container: Box/Folder 3/19
      Location: Series D: General files, 1971-1979
    • Description: Governor's Task Force

      Meeting minutes of the Governor's Task Force on Sexual Preference and related material.

      Dates: 1976-1977
      Container: Box/Folder 3/20
      Location: Series D: General files, 1971-1979
    • Description: House Bill 2930, 1973 Session

      Includes a bill that would have outlawed housing, employment, and public accommodations discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The bill was voted on by the Oregon House in 1973 and lost. This was the first sexual orientation anti-discrimination bill ever to be voted on by a state legislative body in U.S. history.

      Dates: 1973
      Container: Box/Folder 3/21
      Location: Series D: General files, 1971-1979
    • Description: Katz, Jonathan--Letter

      Includes letter requesting assistance in researching the life of Alberta Lucille Hart for his upcoming book Gay and Lesbian Almanac, dated February 26, 1978.

      Dates: 1978
      Container: Box/Folder 4/1
      Location: Series D: General files, 1971-1979
    • Description: National Gay Pride Week

      Includes "One Share Gay Pride, 1971" and flyer for Summer Climax '71, Labor Day Weekend Campout.

      Dates: 1971
      Container: Box/Folder 4/2
      Location: Series D: General files, 1971-1979
    • Description: Photos (unlabled) and a Portland V.D. Clinic card
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 4/3
      Location: Series D: General files, 1971-1979
    • Description: Political events

      Miscellaneous information on political events.

      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 4/4
      Location: Series D: General files, 1971-1979
    • Description: Resource guides

      Includes lists of Gay organizations and other resources.

      Dates: 1972-1976
      Container: Box/Folder 4/5
      Location: Series D: General files, 1971-1979
    • Description: Social events

      Miscellaneous flyers for Gay/Lesbian social events.

      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 4/6
      Location: Series D: General files, 1971-1979
    • Description: Troen, Roger--campaign

      Campaign flyer for Oregon House of Representatives, 1972, and correspondence, 1978

      Dates: 1972, 1978
      Container: Box/Folder 4/7
      Location: Series D: General files, 1971-1979
    • Description: Washington (State) information

      Includes informational sheets from Seattle, Tacoma, and Bellingham.

      Dates: circa 1972-1976
      Container: Box/Folder 4/8
      Location: Series D: General files, 1971-1979

Finding aid prepared by Diane Couture
2009

CC0

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West