The University of Kansas

Inside Spencer: The KSRL Blog

Books on a shelf

Welcome to the Kenneth Spencer Research Library blog! As the special collections and archives library at the University of Kansas, Spencer is home to remarkable and diverse collections of rare and unique items. Explore the blog to learn about the work we do and the materials we collect.

«
»

That’s Distinctive!: Kansas Pride

Check the blog each Friday for a new “That’s Distinctive!” post. I created the series because I genuinely believe there is something in our collections for everyone, whether you’re writing a paper or just want to have a look. “That’s Distinctive!” will provide a more lighthearted glimpse into the diverse and unique materials at Spencer – including items that many people may not realize the library holds. If you have suggested topics for a future item feature or questions about the collections, feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page.

This week in honor of Pride Month we share the Pride Guide from the 1990 Kansas Pride celebrations in Wichita. The guide is a part of the Bruce McKinney papers here at the library. Bruce McKinney began his journey as an LGBT activist during the 1960s. The collection reflects his involvement in the community as an activist and an archivist. He began collecting items related to the LGBT community in his youth and continued through the 1980s. Donated in 2008, the collection holds 142 boxes, 147 oversize boxes, 21 card files, and 13 oversize folders. For those who have never been to the library, that is a massive collection!

After the 1969 Stonewall riots, the first Pride march was held in New York City in 1970. As explained on a Library of Congress webpage about the history of Pride Month, “since 1970 the LGBTQIA+ community has continued to gather together in June to march with Pride and demonstrate for equal rights.” Former President Bill Clinton declared June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in the United States in 1999. See the Wikipedia article on Pride Month for more information.

Horizontal document with the title "Pride Guide 1990: Look to the Future." Wording and background in purple and green.
|
Ten days of events listed with times, locations, costs, and other details. Events include a parade and rally, awards ceremony, and picnic, plus movie showings and barbecues.
|
Fold-out map with lists of keynote speakers and local LGBT organizations, plus advertisements for a Pride Picnic and Gay and Lesbian Awards.
Selected pages from the 1990 Wichita, Kansas, Pride Guide: the cover, an event schedule, and a parade map. Papers of Bruce McKinney. Call Number: RH MS 1164, Box 28, Folder 41. Click images to enlarge.

Tiffany McIntosh
Public Services

Tags: , , , , , , ,

This entry was posted on Friday, June 23rd, 2023 at 8:08 am and is filed under Kansas Collection, That's Distinctive. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.