Greater Gotham Business Council Records
Provenance
The 5.5 feet or records, audio tapes and photographs were left behind at The Center after the Greater Gotham Business Council, Inc. folded.
Scope and Content
The approximately 5 1/2 feet of Greater Gotham Business Council records (paper, audio cassettes and photographs) spans the years 1976 to 1991, with the bulk of the records being from 1978 to 1983, and are housed in 6 boxes. The strength of the collection lies in the almost complete minutes of the Board of Directors, the extensive membership records and records relating to The Gay Market. This collection provides an interesting and in-depth view on how an organization like GGBC contributed to the economic and political base of the gay and lesbian community in NYC during the late 70’s and the mid 80’s. It also shows the kind of interaction between the different gay and lesbian organizations from the local to the national level. The records can be divided in three groups: records relating to GGBC; records relating to other gay and lesbian organizations; and records related to The Gay Market. The audio cassettes are primarily discussions about GGBC itself. The cassettes have been copied to the server as wav and mp3 files.
History or Bio
Greater Gotham Business Council was a not-for-profit, volunteer, membership organization that was incorporated in 1976. The main concern of GGBC was to provide its members (lesbians and gay men in business and the professions) a place for informal networking and organized activities that helped in the development of their businesses and their profesional skills. Through GGBC, members were able to create an organized voice for the gay business and professional community in NYC. GGBC held meetings on the third Tuesday of every month, published a monthly newsletter, did promotional mailings, offered professional development programs and organized “The Gay Market”, a two-day trade show and celebration of gay business. GGBC was also involved in efforts to support the Gay Right Bill and in fostering mutual cooperation and support within the gay and lesbian community. On November 5, 1991, the Board of Directors voted to disband GGBC. The reasons given for this decision were, among others, that membership was declining, finances were shaky, members had expressed strong opinions in support of disbanding and the fact that GGBC had fulfilled its original goal of fostering community vitality.
The monthly meetings included a social hour for professional and personal networking and a special program. Programs included discussions with city officials, gay authors, successful gay professionals, and experts in business, health and gay relationships. The professional development programs offered experts in various aspects of business, such as taxes, insurance, accounting and law. Unique problems faced by single men and women, such as estate planning, real estate investments, annuities, and insurance, were also addressed.
Folder List
Box 1
1. Activities Committee [1981].
2. Advertising Campaign for the Gay Community [1979].
3. Agreements and Contracts [1983-1984].
4. American Civil Liberties Union [1978].
5. Annual Awards Banquet [June 14, 1983, June 19, 1984].
6. Annual Board of Directors Dinner [1978-1984].
7. Annual Budgets [1979-1986].
8. Annual Reports [1979-1984].
9. Association of Suburban People/Detroit, MI [1979-1980].
10. Assorted Material Re: Sexual Minorities (1976-1979).
11. Balloting 1983.
12. [Bank Check Record Books-From 8/16/76 to 3/7/78: checks #101-#250 and From 3/16/78 to 2/14/79: checks #251-#395]. 1/2″
13. [Bank Check Record Books-From 2/18/79 to 11/1/79: checks #401-#550 and From 11/1/79 to 4/23/80: checks #551-#700]. 1/2″
14. [Bank Check Record Books-From 4/23/80 to 12/31/80: checks #701-#850 and From 12/31/80 to 12/15/81: checks #851-#1000]. 1/2″
15. Banking Resolutions [1976-1984].
16. Benefit Concert Proposal 1979.
17. The Big Apple Corps [1985].
18. Blood Bank Project (1979).
19. Board of Directors Handbook [1981-1984].
20. Minutes Book (General & Board) 2/24/76 through 1/17/78. 1/2″
21. Board of Directors Minutes 1977.
22. Board of Directors Minutes 1978. 1/2″
23. Board of Directors Minutes 1979. 1″
Box 2
24. Board of Directors Minutes 1980. 1″
25. Board of Directors Minutes 1981. 1″
26. Board of Directors Minutes 1982. 1/2″
27. Board of Directors Minutes 1983. 1/2″
28. Board of Directors Minutes 1984. 1/2″
29. Board of Directors Minutes 1985.
30. Board of Directors Minutes 1986.
31. Board of Directors Minutes 1987.
32. Board of Trustees Minutes 1988.
33. [Book of Cash Receipts and Raffle Tickets].
34. Bylaws [1978-1984].
35. GGBC Certificates of Merit [1982].
36. [Certificates of Merit to Ed Nicholas from HOP-Lesbian/Gay Pride Day 1986 and CSLDC ’84/Gay Lesbian Pride Day 1984].
37. Channel 13 Interview/1978.
38. Christopher Street Liberation Day Committee [1979].
39. Coalition for Lesbian & Gay Rights [1979].
40. Committee of the Future [1979-1980].
41. Community Center [1983].
42. Community Chest Project 1978.
Box 3
43. Committee Preference Form [1983].
44. Community Council on Lesbian and Gay Organizations [c.1982].
45. Compass/Gay Drug Addiction Center [1978].
46. Contact Lists [1977-1983]. 1/2″
47. COPA I-1979 [and] COPA II-1980 [Evening at the Copacabana].
48. Corporate Giving Program [1985-1986].
49. Cover Letter to New Members.
50. Credit Union Task Force.
51. “Cruising” Controversy (1979).
52. Decals [for members].
53. Denver Gay Community Center [1977-1978].
54. [List of Deposits including members’ names, 1978-1979].
55. Dues Renewal-Notices, Cover Letter, Etc. [1979-1983].
56. Election[s], [1976-1983]. 1/2″
57. [Elections 1986].
58. Elections Procedure [1984-1986].
59. GGBC Event Promotion [1984-1986].
60. GGBC-Events Committee [1979-1987].
61. Executive Committee [1981].
62. Finance Committee [1979].
63. Financial Reports [1979, 1980, 1982].
64. First Anniversary Dinner. May 3, 1977.
65. Fund-Raiser. November 17, 1977.
66. Fund-Raising Committee [1979].
67. Gay & Lesbian Blind (GALB) / Rainbow Alliance for Deaf [1979].
68. Gay and Lesbian Community Services (GLCS) [1979].
69. Gay and Young [1978-1980].
70. GBA/Gay Business Association (Boston) [1977-1979].
71. Gay Pride Day 6/27 [1982].
72. Gay Pride Weekend [1978, 1979, 1983, 1984].
73. Gay Rights Bills [1978-1986].
74. Gay Switchboard of N.Y. [1977-1979].
75. GEARS-Employment Project [1983].
76. General Meeting Minutes [1977-1978].
77. General Meeting Presentations [1980].
78. General Membership Meeting-October 17, 1978 [An evening with Herman Badillo, Carter Burden, Jane Trichter and Ruth Messenger].
79. General Membership Meeting-10/20/81 Borough Pres. Candidates.
80. General Meeting-Mayor Koch May 5, 1981.
81. General Staff 1980-1981.
Box 4
82. Goals & Objectives [1976, 1978-1981].
83. Goals & Objectives 1981 (Working Weekend I).
84. Goals & Objectives 1983 (Working Weekend II).
85. Golden Gate Business Association [1979].
86. Goldin Speech to GGBC [9/18/79].
87. Greater Gotham Business Council [1978-1982]. 3/4″
88. Group Health Insurance [1979].
89. Guest Books [1976-1985]. 1″
90. IBM Purchase Contract and Instructions [11/5/83].
91. Identity House [1979].
92. Informational Brochure [1978-1979].
93. Intergroup Networking [1984-1986].
94. Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund [1979-1980].
95. Ledgers and Balance Sheets [1976, 1977, 1987].
96. Lend-A-Hand Controversy (1979).
97. Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center [1983-1984].
98. Lesbian Organizations List [April 1978].
99. List for Marvin Perton – Press
100. GGBC-List of out-of-state Gay Business Councils [1978-1980].
101. Mailing Fees/Schedules/Policy.
102. March on Washington/1979.
103. Mariposa Foundation.
104. GGBC/Me Against Disease-MAD.
105. Membership Application Forms.
106. Membership Cards [1978].
107. Membership Committee [1976-1981].
Box 5
108. GGBC-Membership Committee [1983-1986].
109. Membership Committee Information Packets [1978-1983].
110. Membership-Gay v. Non-Gay 1977.
111. Membership Records [1976-1983:A to C]. 1″
112. Membership Records [1976-1983:D to G]. 1″
113. Membership Records [1976-1983:H to K]. 1″
114. Membership Records [1976-1983:L to N]. 3/4″
115. Membership Records [1976-1983:O to R]. 3/4″
116. Membership Records [1976-1983:S to T]. 1″
117. Membership Records [1976-1983:U to Z]. 1/2″
Box 6
118. [Membership Records 1984-A to R]. 1″
119. [Membership Records 1984-S to Z].
120. [Membership Record Update (Fall 1984)]. 3/4″
121. [Membership Records 1986-1988:a]. 1 1/4″
122. [Membership Records 1986-1988:b]. 1″
123. Membership Reports [1979-1982].
124. GGBC Membership Questionnaire [1983].
125. Miscellaneous Activities [1983-1984]
Box 7
126. Miscellaneous Correspondence [1976-1979]. 3/4″
127. Miscellaneous Correspondence [1980, 1981, 1983].
128. Miscellaneous Correspondence [1984-1988].
129. Monthly Calendars [1984].
130. Monthly Meetings [1983-1984].
131. Motor City Business Forum [1979-1980].
132. National Advocate Business Conference (1978).
133. National Association of Business Councils [1980-1984].
134. National Gay Task Force [1978-1979].
135. National March On Washington October 14, 1979.
136. NEWAGE/New Alliance for Gay Equality [1978].
137. Newsletter Committee [1977-1978].
138. Newsletter Subscriptions Forms and Letters [1983].
139. Newsletters [1976-1978].
Box 8
140. Newsletters [1979-1982]. 1/2″
141. Newsletters [1983-1984]. 1/2″
142. [Newsletters 1985-1986].
143. NY Political Action Council [1978-1979].
144. NYSCGO (New York State Coalition of Gay Organizations) [1978 and 1980].
145. Personal Appearance [of George Terzian] Boston, MA August 8, 1978.
146. Petition to the City Council of the City of New York from the Greater Gotham Business Council, Inc.-20 November 1981. 3/4″
147. GGBC Press Clips [1983-1986].
148. Press Coverage-General [1978 and 1983].
149. Press Releases/Advertisements [includes 3 black and white photographs, 1984].
150. Professional Development Committee.
151. Professional Development Seminars [1978-1981].
152. Professional Development Seminars [1984-1987].
153. Program & Social Committee [1978].
Box 9
154. GGBC Promotions-Advertising [1983-1986]. 1/2″
155. Promotion Committee
156. [Examples of Ads about GGBC in Magazines, 1986]. 1 1/2″
157. GGBC Publications Committee [1986].
158. Public Relations Committee Reports [1977-1978].
159. Referral Directories [1976-1980, 1983, 1984, 1986].
160. Referral Directory Committee [1979-1983].
161. Request to Serve on a Committee.
162. The Saint Event 1981.
163. SAGE/Senior Action in a Gay Environment [1978].
164. Small Business Caucus [1978, 1980].
165. SOP’s [1981-1984].
166. Statement of Purpose [9/20/77].
167. Survey of Membership (undated).
168. Survey of Membership 1979 (Committee on the Future).
169. Survey of Membership 1981 (Board of Directors WWI).
170. Survey 1983( Members-Current & Former).
171. GGBC Treasurers Reports [1983-1988].
172. Washington, D.C. Feminist Law Collective [1976].
173. Working Weekend II [6/4/83].
174. World Airways Controversy (1980).
175. [Letters Re: Disbanding of GGBC, 1991].
176. GGBC 1979 Business Fair.
177. Advertising Orders Tear-Sheets [The Gay Market 1982].
Box 10
178. The Gay Market [1979-1981].
179. Budget [The Gay Market 1982].
180. Booth Sales [The Gay Market 1980].
181. Community Liaison [The Gay Market 1982].
182. TGM ’82 Contact List [The Gay Market 1982].
183. [The Gay Market -Photo Contact Sheets].
184. [Contracted Services – The Gay Market 1982].
185. TGM–Contributors [1979-1982].
186. Coordinating Committee Minutes-Correspondence-Forms [The Gay Market 1980].
187. Correspondence [The Gay Market 1982]. 1/2″
188. [The Gay Market Directory, 1979-1982]. 1/2″
189. GM ’82-Entertainment [The Gay Market 1982].
190. Exhibit Layout [The Gay Market 1980-1982]. 1/2″
191. Exhibitor Questionnaire [and results, The Gay Market 1980].
192. TGM–Exhibit Set-Up [The Gay Market 1982].
193. [The Gay Market-Exhibit Space Requisition Contracts – 1980]. 1″
Box 11
194. Exhibit Space Sales [The Gay Market 1982 – a]. 3/4″
195. Exhibit Space Sales [The Gay Market 1982 – b]. 3/4″
196. Expense Sheets Gay Market ’79.
197. Final Report-Original [The Gay Market 1980].
198. Financial Reports [The Gay Market 1980]. 1/2″
199. Graphics [The Gay Market 1982].
200. Greenspan and Co. [The Gay Market Posters, 1979-1980].
201. Legal Advisor [The Gay Market 1982].
202. Gay Market Letter: GAT [1979].
203. Mailing Info TGM ’82 – Mailing Made by D.L. Robinson [The Gay Market 1982].
Box 12
204. GGBC 1980 Material [The Gay Market 1980 and 1982]. 1″
205. Material Gay Market ’80 [1979-1980].
206. Minutes [The Gay Market 1982].
207. Meeting Notifications [The Gay Market 1982].
208. [Gay Market 1982 Notes – Jim Roman].
209. Press – Gay Market ’80 and ’82.
210. [The Gay Market-Press Kits and Press Releases, 1980-1982]. 3/4″
211. TGM–Program Copy and Ad Sales [The Gay Market 1982, includes photos and slides of James Lister]. 3/4″
212. Prospectus [The Gay Market 2 1980].
213. Prospectus Copy [The Gay Market 1982].
214. TGM ’82/Raffle [The Gay Market 1982]. 3/4″
Box 13
215. Red Parrot 7/21 [Club Benefit for The Gay Market 1982, includes promotional photo of the performing group Menage].
216. [Responses and Results of Survey of Exhibitors at The Gay Market 1979]. 1/2″
217. TGM–To Lister [folder includes James Lister’s The Gay Market 1982 Desk Planner Diary]. 3/4″
Audio Tapes (see below)
218. GGBC – Annual Dinner and Gay Pride ’83 [Speaker at Dinner – Midge Costanza, photos, contact sheets and negatives].
219. GGBC Awards Dinner ’84 [Speaker – Quentin Crisp, photos and contact sheets].
220. GGBC and Bella Abzug – January ’84 [photos, contact sheets and negatives].
221. March ’84 – Ginny Apuzzo [photos and contact sheets].
222. GGBC May ’84 – Rowan/Basile/FAIR-PAC/HRCF [photos and contact sheets].
223. Feb. 85 – Carol Bellamy [photos and contact sheets].
224. Gay Pride Banquet 6/20/85 [Speaker – Liz Friedman, includes photos and contact sheets].
225. Gay Pride Day Parade ’87.
226. [Slides – Sheets #1 to #10: Fashion Show, May 1983; San Francisco, January 1983; Board Dinner, April 1983; The Gay Market, November 1982]. 3/4″
227. [Slides – Sheets #11 to #20: The Gay Market, November 1982]. 3/4″
228. Ted Weiss – July ’86
229. GGBC Headings
230. GGBC Photo File, etc. [photos, contact sheets and negatives]. 3/4″
AUDIO TAPE LIST
1. [George] Terzian – Session I [5/8/81].
2. Terzian – Session I [5/8/81].
3. Terzian – Session I [5/8/81].
4. Terzian – Session II/[Robert] Woodworth, [A. Joaquin] Yordan – Session III [5/9/81].
5. Yordan – Session III/Woodworth – Session IV [5/9/81].
6. Woodworth – Session IV [5/9/81].
7. Woodworth – Session IV and Session V [5/9/81].
8. Woodworth – Session V [5/9-10/81].
9. Session V and Session VI [5/10/81].
10. Session VI [5/10/81].
11. Close of session [5/10/81].
12. WWI-August 25, 1981 [Working Weekend I].
13. WWII 6/23/83 #1 [Working Weekend II].
14. WWII 6/23/83 #2 [Working Weekend II].
15. TGM ’82 #1 [The Gay Market 1982].
16. TGM ’82 #2 [The Gay Market 1982].