Richard "Ric" Weiland (1953-2006) was a software developer, programmer, philanthropist, and active member of the Northwest gay community. Interested in computers from a young age, Weiland built a computer in his basement in eighth grade, and while at Lakeside School formed the Lakeside Programming Group with classmates Bill Gates and Paul Allen. In 1975, Weiland became the first full-time employee hired by Gates and Allen at the newly founded Microsoft company. He retired in 1988 at age 35 and devoted his time to using his wealth to support the LGBTQ+ social justice movement, as well as environmental, health, and education causes. He also worked with large corporations to ban workplace sexual discrimination and traveled across the Northwest to help gay communities in small towns and rural areas. Upon his death, his estate donated $160 million to various charities, including $65 million to the Pride Foundation in Seattle and ten other LGBTQ+ nonprofits, and large sums to Stanford University, and toward environmental protection and scientific research. In many cases, his bequest was the largest donation ever received by these groups.
The bulk of the collection is made up of ephemera related to events in the Seattle gay community, including posters, tickets, programs, mailers, and fliers. Many of the items relate to the three annual events sponsored by the nonprofit Tacky Tourist Clubs of America, founded in Seattle in the early 1980s: The Queen City Cruise, The Prom You Never Went To, and Things That Go Bump in the Night, also known as "The Bump," a Halloween costume party. Other events include theatrical and musical performances, sports events, various parties and celebrations, and a brunch with Mayor Charles Royer, a supporter of the gay community. "The Trail Blazer," a guide to the Pacific Northwest for the gay community, includes maps to destinations in Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver. One studio photo shows Weiland with his partner Mike Schaefer and their dog Kofi; and a holiday card includes a snapshot of Weiland wearing his homemade Pegasus Halloween costume. The collection also includes a few publications and clippings related to the gay community. Weiland's time working for Microsoft is represented by one Microsoft poster and 4 business cards. The collection also includes one video, of a Tacky Tourist Club cruise in 1985.
Arranged in two accessions:
View selections from the collection in digital format
The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
The collection is open to the public by appointment.
Ric Weiland Ephemera Collection, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Donated by Mike Schaefer in 2007 and 2016.
Two computers, costumes, clothing, and accessories were part of the donations, and are housed separately by MOHAI's Collections department.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
Annual "unofficial Seafair" event on Elliott Bay, sponsored by the Seattle Tacky Tourist Club. The 1983 event raised money for Seattle Counseling Service for Sexual Minorities (now known as Seattle Counseling Service or SCS) and for the Northwest AIDS Foundation (now part of Lifelong).
Poster with images of a globe and eleven international flags, and a calendar for 1987.
Annual event sponsored by the Tacky Tourist Club, billed as a "madcap costume party for all lifestyles," which raised funds for a number of causes, including the Chemical Dependency Program, King County Rape Relief, Gay/Lesbian Youth Association, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, and the Seattle Gay Athletic Association.
Also known as "The Bump," this event was a Halloween costume extravaganza. This poster advertises the date as Saturday, November 2, probably in 1985. The event benefitted the Seattle Municipal Elections Committee for Gays & Lesbians (SEAMEC), Blood Sisters - Seattle, Gay Theatre Seattle, and Seattle Men's Chorus.
Booklet produced by Bekins Moving & Storage Co. answering basic questions for newcomers to Seattle.
Booklet produced by Boeing with general information and technical data on the Boeing Model 747.
These two 8.5 x 14" pages appear to be an elaborate invitation to a jungle-themed surprise party.
Strip of three commercially produced wallet-size graduation photos.
Four business cards for Ric Weiland when he was working at Microsoft. Dates are estimated based on the location of Microsoft headquarters listed on the cards.
Invitation to brunch with Mayor Charles Royer, thanking him for his support of gay rights, and gay organizations and events.
Clipping of the first two pages of an article published in The Advocate, May 26, 1983.
Three issues of the National Inqueerier newsletter and newspaper, published by Tacky Tourist Clubs of America, Seattle Chapter. Issues dated June 25, 1983, June 1990, June 1991.
Admission tickets, advertising mailers for various events, including 8 items related to the "Things That Go Bump in the Night" Halloween party; a Tacky Tourist Tour Guide "Summer Vacation '86," program for Lynn Lavner in concert at Broadway Performance Hall; and fold-out poster and 2 tickets for Gay 90s party.
Advertising mailers, brochures, fliers, and tickets for the annual "unofficial Seafair" Queen City Cruise.
Mailers and tickets for The Prom You Never Went To, 1988-1991, plus one announcement for "Cheerleader Tryouts" for the 1984 Prom, and an issue (1990) of "The Poodleer" a humorous mock student body high school newspaper, with information about the Prom and other articles.
Programs for: Seattle Gay Men's Chorus Holiday Concert "Sleighride," 1990; The Holiday Survival Game Show at Alice B. Theatre, 1990; The 8th Annual Gay & Lesbian Theater Festival, at Alice B. Theatre, 1991; `The Gay Deceivers"at Alice B. Theatre, 1990; and Pride and Joy '85, with men's choruses from Los Angeles, Portland, Vancouver, and Seattle, at the Seattle Opera House.
Invitations, mailers, and fliers related to private and public parties held by members of the gay and lesbian community.
Largely ephemera related to the 1982 Gay Olympic Games in San Francisco; also a newsletter "Team Seattle" about the 1990 games; and a 1990 brochure for Team Heidi Ski Week 1991.
Invitation to the 1988 Holiday Benefit event; and a mailer advertising the Pastel Party benefit in 1985.
"Jeff Taylor's Gay Guide to the Pacific Northwest"; includes pull-out map marked with destinations in Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver.
Pegasus costume was created by Weiland.