LGBTQIA2S+ Research Guide

Bradley Angle House was established in 1975 as the one of the first emergency shelters for women in the country. It now helps underserved survivors of all genders escape domestic violence and rebuild prosperous lives. Records include contract ordinances and subject files kept by Commissioner Charles Jordan and Richard Bogle.  

Founded in 1983, Cascade Aids Project (CAP) is the oldest and largest community-based provider of HIV services, housing, education, and advocacy in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Records include correspondence and policy files from Mayor Katz’s and Sam Adams’ office, as well as ordinances establishing contracts between the City of Portland and CAP to support various HIV/AIDS initiatives and programming. 

In June of 1982, Neil Hutchins began Cascade Voice to serve the contemporary needs of Portland’s gay and lesbian community. The monthly (then bi-weekly) publication ran until December 1984 until it became The Eagle. We have four 1983 issues of the publication in our collections.

Darcelle XV was the stage name of Walter Willard Cole, a white drag queen, entertainer, and cabaret owner in Portland. He purchased a tavern in 1967 that would become Darcelle XV Showplace after owning and operating Caffe Espresso. In 2016, Guinness World Records named Darcelle as the oldest drag queen performer. The City Archives hold photographs of Darcelle’s home, Darcelle XV Showplace, and materials related to the renaming of O’Bryant Square.

Dr. Marie Equi was a white lesbian doctor who lived in Portland and was known for providing services to poor, working-class, and LGBTQIA2S+ members of the community. She lived with her partner Harriet Frances Speckart, and the couple raised a child as an early example of same-sex parenting. She was active in the radical labor movement and was the only known lesbian to be incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison in 1918. City records include labor and suffrage correspondence supporting Equi’s public assistance work, and correspondence supporting the exoneration of Theodore Jordan Chase.

The Equity Foundation was founded in 1989 in Portland by a group of LGBTQ+ Oregonians. The group advocates for equality as a response to the many institutional practices and legal statutes in place that make it socially permissible or legal to discriminate against sexual minorities. Records include promotional materials in collaboration with the Metropolitan Human Rights Center (MHRC), charitable campaign correspondence, City grant materials, and correspondence with Commissioner Sten’s office.

Emma Goldman was a Lithuanian-born anarchist, political activist, and writer. In 1912, Goldman came to Portland to organize a repeal of an Oregon law authorizing the sterilization of "sexual perverts" and "moral degenerates." She returned in 1915 to give a speech defending homosexuality. Records include correspondence from Mayor Albee’s office and the Police Bureau concerning Goldman’s political activities and arrest.

Located at 2006 SE Ankeny St, Juniper House was opened in 1987 as Oregon's first residential care facility specifically for people with HIV/AIDS. It became Our House in the early 1990s and continued to serve as a grassroots community care center. The City Archives has the national register review briefing for the Juniper House building.

Just Out was a queer publication founded in 1983 by Jay Brown and Renee LaChance. It ran semimonthly until 2011 and officially ceased publication in 2013. The Portland Police Intelligence records contain three 1984 issues of the publication.

Thomas Lauderdale is an Asian American musician and pianist largely associated with the politically motivated Portland-based band, Pink Martini. Lauderdale also worked under Mayor Bud Clark in the office of international relations and was active in the fight against Oregon Ballot Measure 9. We have a few photographs of Lauderdale in our Parks & Recreation and Commissioner Fritz records.

Lesbian Community Project was a lesbian community and political activism group founded in Portland in 1985. Records include newspaper clippings and promotional materials.

Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) was founded in 1976 by Pastor Rev. A. Austin Amerine to service the spiritual needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans communities. Our historical collections contain photographs of the church along with project files of its 2010 expansion. The City Archives also contains MCC brochures and newspaper clippings. 

Northwest Gay Review was a publication operating from 1974-1982 (circa). It was started by Lanny Swerdlow and covered gay issues in Oregon and Washington. The only current documentation in the City Archives are photographs of the publication for sale at newsstands (APF/19161).

Oregon Fair Share was a grassroots citizen action organization that would host meetings at Wilde Oscar’s gay bar. Materials include memos, political correspondence, and grant materials.

Phoenix Rising was a gay and lesbian counseling center in operation from 1979-1999. It was founded in part by Peggy Hanley-Hackenbruck and later merged with Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare. City records include constituent correspondence with Commissioner Mike Lindberg’s office and grant project files within the Metro Arts Commission records.   

Co-chaired by Kathleen Saadat and Jan Mihara, Portland Rainbow Coalition helped organize against Ballot Measure 9. Flyers and clippings are archived within the Police Investigative Files.

Portland Gay Men’s Chorus was established in 1980 with just 20 singers and was one of the first gay men’s choruses in the country. It continues to thrive as an organization with over 125 singers. Records include newspaper clippings, marketing material, contracts, and grant project files. 

The Portland Lesbian Choir was founded in 1986 with a mission to build community through performance and “elevate LGBTQ+ voices, emphasize equity, and encourage collaboration, growth and service.” Records include a photograph, grant project files, and clippings. 

Portland Town Council (PTC) began as a loose organization coordinating efforts of gay bars. In 1975, Larry Copeland led the organization with a more focused goal of promoting gay equality. PTC published a newsletter, Oregon Gay Rights Review, while raising money through drag show performances in Portland's gay bars. Records include promotional material, clippings, and correspondence with Commissioner Mike Lindberg’s office.

Radical Women is a socialist feminist multi-issue organization comprising of women of color, workers, unionists, organizers, activists, and lesbians. Records include organizing materials against Oregon Citizens Alliance and Ballot Measure Nine, promotional material, and newspaper clippings.

Kathleen Saadat is a Black lesbian community organizer who co-created the first Gay Civil Rights march in 1976. She was active in organizations and political arenas across the city and state, including Lesbian Community Project, Freedom Socialist Party, Las Mujeres de Colores de Oregon, Portland’s African American Alliance, Cascade AIDS Project, African Americans Voting No on Nine, and was Director of Affirmative Action for the State of Oregon. Records include correspondence with Commissioner Miller-Kafoury’s and Lindberg’s offices and photographs.

Located at 918 SW Yamhill, The Pythian Building was the site of the first Gay and Lesbian Pride celebration in 1971. The event featured dancing and rock 'n' roll music, with nearly two hundred people in attendance. It also served as the second location of The Second Foundation, Portland's first LGBTQIA2S+ Community Center. Records include clippings, Metropolitan Human Rights Commission (MHRC) meeting minutes, and photographs of the Pythian Building.

Lanny Swerdlow is a white club owner who opened the first all-ages, queer-friendly night clubs in Portland. He opened Mildred's Place in 1977, followed by Metropolis and The City Nightclub (later known as The Rage). Records include constituent correspondence between Swerdlow, the Police Bureau, and Mayor’s office about activity at the City Nightclub. 

Founded in 1980, United Feminists Against the Right was an alliance “committed to the full rights of women, gays, people of color, workers, radicals, the young, the elderly, disabled, and all the disenfranchised.” They organized events like the 1981 forum, “Pride in Politics: Lesbians and Gays Fighting for our Freedom Together.” Records include clippings, promotional material, and memos. 

Founded in 1965, William Temple House is a community organization offering counseling, food, clothing, and more to Portland individuals and families. Their services are extended to members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and would hold counseling sessions at Wilde Oscar’s bar. Records include project grant materials, correspondence, clippings, and historic preservation files.

Sam Adams, a white man, was the first openly gay mayor of a large U.S. city, serving in Portland from 2009-2012. He also served as chief of staff to former Mayor Vera Katz. Records include constituent correspondence, communication materials, financial records, and special project files.

H. Russell Albee, a white man, served as mayor of Portland from 1913-1917. Related records include correspondence connected to the suppression of vice within the city, the World’s Purity Federation, Dr. Marie Equi, sex hygiene, social, civic, and moral reform.

The Office of the Auditor’s historical records include subject files on various topics related to Portland City government. This includes newspaper clippings on Dr. Marie Equi, women’s softball, and business advertisements. The collection also contains copies of the queer publication Cascade Voice, various gay rights organizational pamphlets and newsletters, event flyers, and other publications addressing the HIV/AIDS crisis, LGBTQ+ civil rights, and the Burnside Triangle Advisory Group’s LGBTQ history project. The Office of the Auditor also documented hate crimes and other instances of discrimination within the queer and trans community. 

Dick Bogle was an American journalist and politician. He was the first Black television news reporter in Oregon and served two terms as a Portland City Commissioner from 1985-1992. Records include constituent correspondence regarding civil rights and LGBTQ rights, and the passage of Ballot Measure 9.

The Burnside Triangle Advisory Group was active from April 2002 - 2003 and comprised of members of the LGBTQ+ community. Sponsored by the Human Rights Center, the group helped recognize, commemorate, and advocate for the special community character bounded by SW Alder, SW 14th Ave, West Burnside, and SW Broadway streets in downtown Portland. Work completed included the development of a Burnside Triangle Walking Tour and a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Trans Community Survey. Records include project planning records, walking tour files, meeting minutes, reports, photographs, and correspondence with City Council. 

John E. “Bud” Clark served as Portland's mayor from 1985-1992. He was a white man and known supporter of the LGBTQIA2s+ community and celebrated his campaign win at the gay bar, Dirty Duck. His collection contains materials related to the HIV/AIDS crisis, as well as correspondence and City records related to Portland Gay Men’s Chorus Day, anti-discriminatory City personnel policy, and gay/lesbian rights ordinances.   

Neil Goldschmidt was a white Jewish politician and businessman who served as a Portland City Commissioner (1971-1973), Portland Mayor (1973-1979), and later Oregon Governor (1987-1991). In 2004, it was revealed that he began years of sexual abuse of a minor girl during his first term as Portland Mayor. His mayoral records include subject files and constituent correspondence related to gay rights, Portland Pride, and a City proclamation declaring Gay Pride Day. 

Francis Ivancie was a white businessman and politician who served as a Portland City Commissioner (1967-1980) as well as Portland Mayor (1980-1985). Within Ivancie’s records, one can find general correspondence on topics such as LGBTQ+ rights as well as instances of discrimination based on sexual orientation. 

Charles Jordan was the first African American City Commissioner to serve the City of Portland (1974-1984). He later served as the Director of Portland’s Parks & Recreation Bureau from 1989-2003. Commissioner records include constituent correspondence, police complaints, and newspaper clippings related to Resolution 31510, gay rights, LGBTQ+ discrimination and violence. During his tenure as Commissioner, Jordan had the Portland Police Bureau as a part of his portfolio. As a result, records also include police officer reports as well as complaints from the public connected to LGBTQ+ discrimination and violence. 

Vera Katz was a white Jewish Democratic politician who served as Portland Mayor from 1993 to 2005. Records created under her administration include policies, historical subject files, and media publicity connected to LGBTQ+ issues, hate crimes, Cascade AIDS Project, and other HIV/AIDS initiatives and policies. 

Robert “Bob” Koch was a white former Portland Police Bureau employee who also served one term as a Portland City Commissioner from 1987 to 1990. Records include constituent correspondence on the City’s anti-discrimination ordinance. Koch also kept subject files on controversial police investigations including the police raid on The City Nightclub.  

Dorothy McCullough Lee served as the first female City of Portland Mayor from 1949-1953. She was a white woman who collaborated closely with the Portland Police Bureau to crack down on vice and “clean up the city.” Lee closed many burlesque houses, brothels, and gay clubs during her tenure as mayor. Materials include clippings, subject files, correspondence, and promotional political material.

Mike Lindberg was an American white politician who served as Portland City Commissioner from 1979-1996. Records include constituent correspondence, constituent listings, and subject files on the activities of Portland Town Council, work completed with Keeston Lowery, MHRC, minority job recruitment, AIDS/HIV, and parental leave for same-sex couples. There is also documentation of hate crimes within the LGBTQ+ community such as the 1988 Couch Park Incident, where gay man Eugene Allen Doney was murdered in Couch Park.  

Keeston Lowery was an active white advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in the Portland community. He became one of the founders of the Right to Privacy PAC (predecessor to Basic Rights Oregon) and was an openly gay aide to Portland City Commissioner Mike Lindberg. He worked with Kathleen Saadat to create the first civil rights ordinance banning discrimination based on race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation and was a strong advocate for spaces for queer youth. Records include photographs, correspondence, meeting minutes, financial materials, policy documentation, and clippings.

Constance “Connie” McCready was a white American journalist and politician who served as Portland City Commissioner (1970-1979) and Portland Mayor (1979-1980). Within her City records one can find speeches on the topic of LGBTQ+ rights. 

The Portland Metropolitan Arts Commission (MAC) was established to promote and encourage public programs to further the development, public awareness of, planning for, and interest in, literary, performing, and visual arts. The commission regularly worked with creatives as a part of their grants program, which included members and organizations a part of the LGBTQ+ community. This included Thomas Lauderdale, Phoenix Rising, Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, and the Portland Lesbian Choir. 

The Metropolitan Human Relations Commission (MHRC), later called the Metropolitan Human Rights Commission, was established in 1969 as a joint City/County agency replacing the Portland Human Relations Commission. Its predecessor, the Portland Intergroup Relations Commission, was established in 1950 during Mayor Dorothy McCullough Lee’s administration. The general focus of this agency was to create understanding and respect between economic, religious, ethnic, and social groups; arbitrate intergroup conflicts; and conduct programs aimed at improving intergroup understanding. Specific topics included desegregation, equal employment, aging, and affirmative action. MHRC organized around issues related to LGBTQ+ human rights, queer and trans youth, AIDS, and nondiscrimination in City hiring as it relates to sexual orientation.

Gretchen Miller-Kafoury was a white American politician who served as a Portland City Commissioner from 1991 to 1998. Records include subject files concerning LGBTQ+ civil rights and social issues, HIV/AIDS workshops, and Portland’s transgender community. Miller-Kafoury’s records also include a fact-finding report centered on discrimination against the transgender community in Portland and constituent correspondence regarding Election Measure 47, an initiative that prohibits public school instruction encouraging, promoting, and sanctioning homosexual and bisexual behavior. 

A 1992 citizens' initiative spearheaded by the Oregon Citizens Alliance (OCA), Oregon Ballot Measure 9 aimed to amend the Oregon constitution to prohibit anti-discrimination laws regarding sexual orientation and to declare homosexuality to be "abnormal, wrong, unnatural and perverse." Records are primarily constituent correspondence to Mayor Mike Lindberg and Commissioner Richard W. Bogle.

A conservative Christian political activist organization, Oregon Citizens Alliance (OCA) was founded by Lon Mabon in 1986. They sponsored Ballot Measure 8, which successfully repealed Governor Neil Goldschmidt’s executive order banning discrimination based on sexual orientation. They also proposed Ballot Measure 9, which would have amended the Oregon Constitution to prevent specials provisions for the LGBTQ+ community. Records include clippings, correspondence, petitions, and press releases opposing OCA and Ballot Measure 9.

Records generated by the Portland Parks & Recreation Bureau include policy information on AIDS in the workplace, Project Action (HIV/AIDS prevention project for high-risk youth), and includes recreation sites such as Erv Lind Field in Normandale Park. Erv Lind Field was constructed in 1948 and served as the home base for the Erv Lind Florists fastpitch softball field. Known as a safe space for LGBTQ+ women, Erv Lind Field is recognized in the National Register of Historic Place as part of the LGBTQ+ Historic Sites project. 

Investigative Files 

The Portland Police Investigative Files spanning from 1930s-1980s were gathered by the Portland Police Bureau. The collection contains information on communist, civil rights, and labor groups in Portland. The LGBTQ+ community was not exempt from this kind of police surveillance. Police would compile queer newspaper clippings, flyers, pamphlets, and other ephemera related to LGBTQ+ people, events, and organizing efforts. Documented organizations included:  

• Capitol Forum News
• Cascade Voice
• Community Law Project
• Guardian Angels
• International Labor Defense
• National Lawyers Guild
• Portland Gay People’s Alliance
• Portland Town Council
• Radical Women 

Mug Books 

Police Bureau records include mug shots and mug books for those arrested within the City of Portland. One 1954 mug book, titled Prostitutes, queers, pimps, buncos (B/13146), catalogs folks arrested for sex work, homosexuality, and conducting scams. 

Women’s Protective Division 

The Women’s Auxiliary to the Police Department for the Protection of Girls was formed in 1908, later known as the Women’s Protective Division. The division was headed by one of the first women hired by an American municipality to carry out regular enforcement duties, Lola Baldwin. Another female police officer, Sybil Plumlee, worked for the Women’s Protective Division from 1947-1967. Her work included assisting in undercover investigations to aid Mayor Dorothy McCullough Lee’s anti-homosexual campaign.

Tom Potter, a white man, served as Mayor of Portland from 2005 to 2009 after serving as chief of the Portland Police Bureau from 1987 to 1990. His daughter, Katie Potter, is an openly lesbian retired Portland police officer. Tom Potter was the first Portland Police Chief to march in Portland’s Pride Parade while in uniform and worked to strengthen community policing programs. Records include programs, photographs, clippings, political and constituent correspondence, and subject files related to community policing other initiatives coordinated with Mayor Bud Clark. 

Terry Schrunk was a white man who served as Portland Mayor from 1957-1972. In 1964, he launched the Committee of Decent Literature and Film, which sought to eliminate “immoral publications” from the City, including queer magazines and newspapers. Schrunk also worked with City Council and committee members to shut down gay and lesbian bars through pressuring the Oregon Liquor Control Commission to revoke their liquor licenses. Records include correspondence about obscene literature and language and other activities conducted by the Committee of Decent Literature and Film.  

Mildred Schwab was a white Jewish politician and attorney who served as a Portland City Commissioner from 1973 to 1986. Records include information and correspondence surrounding compliance with the equal opportunity employment ordinance, Portland Town Council and their Legislative Guide to Gay Rights.

Erik Sten is a white American politician who served as a Portland City Commissioner from 1997-2008. Records include LGBTQ+ news items, Cascade AIDS Project, transgender equality, and constituent correspondence concerning the legalization of same sex marriage.  

Margaret Strachan was a white American politician who served on the Portland City Council from 1981-1986. Records include subject files and correspondence on LGBTQ+ rights.

City Ordinance 23939 provided for the appointment of a committee to investigate instances of vice in its various forms within the Portland city limits on August 23, 1911.  The commission consisted of 15 persons known as the Vice Commission. Vice was defined as “all practices which are debasing and degrading and which affect the moral and physical welfare of inhabitants of the city.” The Commission targeted homosexuality in its activities, with early Vice Commission reports documenting hotels, apartment buildings, and other small businesses connected to “illicit sexual activity.” 

The West End Vision Plan was published in July 1999 and identified actions that would reinvest in West End businesses, properties, and public agencies. The plan was developed by the West End Working Group & Steering Committee and included representation from the Burnside Triangle community. Records include project planning records, studies, and ordinances related to the plan.

City Council Minutes

Ordinance 159639

Ordinance 164709

Ordinance 169968

Ordinance 176302 HR Rules 2.5 Domestic Partners

Resolution 31510

Resolution 34495

Resolution 34849

Resolution 34858

Resolution 35061

Resolution 37029

Browsing Community Historical Records on Efiles