Ellen and Carolyn Dishman Papers

Ellen and Carolyn Dishman Papers, 1998-2014

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Dishman, Ellen, 1979-
Title: Ellen and Carolyn Dishman Papers
Dates: 1998-2014 (inclusive)
19982014

1998-2004 (bulk)
19982004
Quantity: 1001 negatives, 9 contact sheets, 364 prints; 1 file, 488 MB, (1.00 document case letter)
Collection Number: MSS Dishman
Summary: The Ellen and Carolyn Dishman Papers are the collected materials and photography by the Dishmans documenting their involvement at Oregon State University in the late 1990s to early 2000s. As OSU students, they were involved in prominent LGBTQ+ groups on campus and served as primary advocates for the establishment of the Queer Resource Center (QRC) in 2001; the QRC is now called the Pride Center.
Repository: Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu
Access Restrictions: This collection is open for research.
Languages: English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Ellen and Carolyn Dishman were students at Oregon State University from 1998-2001. In their time at OSU, they not only met each other, they also led prominent LGBTQ+ groups on campus such as the Rainbow Continuum (RC), of which Carolyn was co-president, and Ellen served as the Director of the ASOSU Queer Affairs Task Force. Both were primary advocates for and were instrumental in the establishment of the Queer Resource Center (QRC). In addition to being founders of the QRC, they were also involved in the Oxford House Women’s Co-Op for which Carolyn served as the historian during the 1999-2000 academic year, the OSU Marching Band, and worked at many Outdoor School camps.

Increased advocacy for the establishment of the QRC began in the late 1990s, and by the year 2000, students and the Student Involvement Office identified and proposed a budget to create a temporary space within the Women’s Center on campus to house the QRC. In 2001, The Student Fees Committee and the president of the university unanimously approved the proposal after a community hearing. By 2004 the QRC had outgrown the temporary space and moved to a larger location on campus with the current title of the Pride Center to be more inclusive and mindful of community member’s identities.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Ellen and Carolyn Dishman Papers document the lives of Ellen and Carolyn Dishman while they attended OSU from the late 1990s to early 2000s. They were involved in prominent LGBTQ+ communities on campus including being instrumental in the 2001 establishment of the Queer Resource Center, now called the Pride Center.

The collection includes a set of newspaper accounts documenting LGBTQ+ progress in Oregon and on campus, as well as photographs taken by the Dishmans documenting their lives at the time. The materials in the collection include several issues of the Oregonian and Daily Barometer reporting on same-sex marriage and the creation of the Queer Resource Center as well as a video documenting a public hearing held at OSU before the QRC's creation. There is also an invitation and informational packet on the establishment of the Pride Center building in 2004. The Dishmans’ photography includes images taken for assignments through The Daily Barometer and university Craft Center in addition to their personal photography. Their personal photography documents their lives, especially their involvement on campus. During their time at OSU they were involved in communities and events such as LGBTQ+ organizations, the Oxford House Women’s Co-Op, the OSU Marching Band, the Special Olympics, and Outdoor School camps.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Copyright for the materials in the Ellen and Carolyn Dishman Papers (MSS Dishman) reside with the OSU Libraries Special Collections and Archives Research Center. Please contact SCARC for more information regarding use and reproductions.

Preferred Citation

Ellen and Carolyn Dishman Papers (MSS Dishman), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into two series: Series 1: Queer Resource Center History and General LGBTQ+ History in Oregon, 2001-2014 and Series 2: Photographs, 1998-2004.

Acquisition Information

These materials were donated to the Special Collections and Archives Research Center's OSU Queer Archives by Ellen and Carolyn Dishman in 2021.

Related Materials

This collection is a part of the OSU Queer Archives (OSQA); see the Collection and Records tab of the website for all OSQA collections. For collections specifically related to the OSU Queer Resource Center / Pride Center's history see the Pride Center Records (RG236) and the Thomas Kraemer Papers, as well as the OSU Queer Archives Oral History Collection. Other collections with information related to the Pride Center include the Diversity Development Office Records (RG 228), the Associated Students of Oregon State University (ASOSU) Records (RG 011), the Office of Multicultural Affairs Records (RG 225), the Student Club and Organization Records (RG 276), and the Queer History Research Collection, as well as the Queer Studies Program Records (RG 278).

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1: Queer Resource Center and General LGBTQ+ History in Oregon, 2001-2014Return to Top

Series 1 includes an issue of the Oregonian reporting on the legalization of same-sex marriage in the state of Oregon in addition to content related to the creation of the Queer Resource Center (QRC), later called the Pride Center, on OSU's campus. This content includes multiple issues of The Daily Barometer with articles, highlighted by the Dishmans, relating to the establishment of the QRC and the surrounding controversy of its proposed establishment. A video of a 2001 public hearing at OSU, mentioned in the articles, discussing the QRC’s establishment is included as well. There is also an invitation and information packet for the Pride Center building opening in 2004.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1.1	Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage - Oregonian Articles	2014
1.2	Pride Center - Opening Invitation and Information Packet	2004
1.3	Queer Resource Center - Daily Barometer Articles	2001
digital-folder
1	Queer Resource Center - Hearing 01:05:11; 488 MB	2001

Series 2: Photographs, 1998-2004Return to Top

1001 negatives, 9 contact sheets, 364 prints

Series 2 includes two curated albums, photography projects from a course at the OSU Craft Center and assignments from The Daily Barometer, and personal photographs depicting the Dishmans' life including queer community events at the university. More information about the events and people depicted in the photographs can be found in the folder descriptions; all photographic material has been annotated by the Dishmans to add more context to individual images.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1.4	Album - Drag Show and Rainbow Continuum Election 10 prints	2000-2002
1.5	Album - Various Pride Events 25 prints This album includes prints from the Rainbow Continuum Holiday Party (1999), OSU Pride featuring the Rainbow Continuum and Circle of Friends (2000), Student Involvement Office Queer Affairs Task Force (2000-2001), Queer Resource Center speakers (2001-2002), drag shows (2000-2003), and National Coming Out Day (1999-2000).	1999-2003
1.6	Assignments for The Daily Barometer - Carolyn 4 prints	1998
1.7	Assignments for Photography Class - Carolyn 162 negatives, 6 contact sheets, 24 prints	Undated
1.8	Assignments for Photography Class - Ellen 91 negatives, 3 contact sheets, 16 prints	Undated
1.9	Photographs 141 negatives, 43 prints This collection of images includes an OSU Marching Band competition, Oxford House Black Dress Dinner, Oxford House Initiation, Siblings Weekend, Westwind Camp, Arrowhead Girl Scout Camp, Oxford House Farewell Dinner, A Girls Basketball Team Carolyn Coached, and a Varsity House prank on Oxford House.	1998-1999
1.10	Photographs 196 negatives, 54 prints This collection of images includes Sunset High School and OSU Marching Bands, National Coming Out Day, a hike up Iron Mountain, Oxford House Dad’s Weekend, Oxford House Fall Ball, Rainbow Continuum Holiday Party, Oxford House Cleaning Party, Miscellaneous Oxford House Activities such as group dinners and candid pictures of residents.	1999
1.11	Photographs 198 negatives, 71 prints This collection of images includes Oxford House Initiation, an Oxford House Sunriver trip, Oxford House Mom’s Weekend, the OSU International Fair, OSU Pride (performances, straight panel, and drag show), and Native American Night.	2000
1.12	Photographs 90 negatives, 31 prints This collection of images includes Camp West Wind, an OSU Marching Band competition, the Special Olympics, and pictures of Carolyn and Ellen’s Corvallis home and cats.	2000-2001
1.13	Photographs 123 negatives, 83 prints This collection of images includes an OSU Drag Show, OMSI Camp, Love Makes a Family Rally, Virginia Hills Family Life Center SpongeBob Party, Lavender Graduation, and the Pride Center Opening.	2003-2004
1.14	Photographs 3 prints The undated photographs in the collection include a photo of Ellen, a photo of Carolyn's dog Taffy, and a photo of a yard or garden area.	Undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Gay college students--Oregon--Corvallis.
Gay liberation movement
Lesbian activists
Lesbian college students--Oregon--Corvallis.

Form or Genre Terms

Born digital.
Contact sheets.
Photograph albums.

Other Creators

Family Names
- Dishman, Carolyn (creator)

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