The Lesbian Switchboard of New York City, Inc. Records
Provenance
Naomi E. Goodhart, executive director of the Lesbian Switchboard, donated this collection of the Switchboard’s papers and memorabilia to the National History Archive on June 8, 1998.
Use Restrictions
No names may be published unless they are publicly known to be gay, or their permission has been obtained, or they are deceased.
Scope and Content
The collection contains the Lesbian Switchboard’s handbook, by-laws, financial records, calendars, correspondence, meeting agendas and minutes, flyers, training materials, resource and referral literature and detailed call logs from 1972 through 1997.
History or Bio
The Lesbian Switchboard operated from 1972 to 1997 as a telephone service providing peer counseling, factual information and referrals to the general public and the lesbian community. The Switchboard’s goal was to provide information on a broad range of issues of concern to lesbians, and to function as an information clearinghouse about relevant organizations and events. The Switchboard’s service was available during evening hours and staffed by trained volunteers. From 1972 to 1987 the Switchboard was housed at the Women’s Liberation Center at 243 West 20th Street in Manhattan. When that building underwent renovations in October 1987, the Switchboard moved to the Lesbian & Gay Community Services Center (now Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Community Center) where it remained until the Switchboard closed in December 1997.
Folder List
Box 1
1. Handbook [organizational goals, policies and procedures]
2. By-laws
3. [ASTRAEA Foundation grant application including 1990 budget and 1991 projected budget]
4. [Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts model by-laws; draft of Lesbian Switchboard goals and objectives statement; 1986 article about Lesbian Switchboard fundraisers; IRS forms and instructions]
5. [Meeting minutes December 27, 1976 – November 12, 1979]
6. [Meeting minutes December 12, 1979 – October 2, 1984]
7. [Meeting minutes November 7, 1985 – June 26, 1997]
8. [Meeting agendas, with attached notes, flyers etc. 1981 – 1991]
9. Correspondence 1977 to present [1977 – 1997, 1 inch]
10. [Monthly desk calendars, with notes, 1985 – 1995, 1997, 1 inch]
Box 2
11. Phone Lists [of staff]
12. [Training material – evaluation forms; letter from trainee evaluating her training; descriptions of switchboard]
13. [Training material – handbooks, manuals etc. from Gay Switchboard and other organizations, 1 inch]
14. [Fundraising material including letters, flyers, publications, notes, etc.]
15. Publications [various flyers, correspondence, publications, etc.]
16. Comprehensive categorical listings [referrals, primarily organizations arranged by subject]
17. Resource/Referral Lit & Info [1 inch]
18. [Three Mile Island nuclear crisis information]
19. Switchboard writings [primarily staff writing about the Switchboard]
Box 3
20. [Financial papers 1985 – 1995]
21. [Bank statements – savings 1984 – 1988]
22. [Bank statements – checking 1982 – 1995, 1 inch]
23. [Call log July 5, 1972 – November 24, 1972]
24. [Call log November 25, 1972 – March 29, 1973]
25. [Call log March 29, 1973 – August 2, 1973]
26. [Call log August 3, 1973 – February 14, 1974]
27. [Call log February 15, 1974 – July 10, 1974]
28. [Call log April 17, 1977 – August 30, 1977]
29. [Call log August 31, 1977 – January 23, 1978]
Box 4
30. [Call log January 25, 1978 – June 8, 1978]
31. [Call log June 12, 1978 – October 24, 1978]
32. [Call log October 25, 1978 – June 6, 1979]
33. [Call log June 7, 1979 – December 21, 1979]
34. [Call log December 26, 1979 – August 22, 1980]
35. [Call log August 26, 1980 – February 16, 1981]
36. [Call log February 18, 1981 – September 23, 1981]
37. [Call log September 28, 1981 – February 19, 1982]
38. [Call log February 23, 1982 – March 31, 1983]
39. [Call log April 1, 1983 – December 30, 1983]
Box 5
40. [Call log June 5, 1984 – December 27, 1984]
41. [Call log January 3, 1985 – December 26, 1985]
42. [Call log January 2, 1986 – December 30, 1986]
43. [Call log January 4, 1987 – December 30, 1987]
44. [Call log January 5, 1988 – December 26, 1988]
45. [Call log January 5, 1989 – December 29, 1989]
Box 6
46. [Call log January 3, 1990 – December 28, 1990]
47. [Call log January 2, 1991 – December 31, 1991]
48. [Call log January 2, 1992 – December 22, 1992]
49. [Call log January 8, 1993 – November 9, 1993]
50. [Call log January 25, 1994 – December 19, 1994]
51. [Call log January 2, 1995 – December 28, 1995]
52. [Call log January 7, 1996 – December 18, 1996]
53. [Call log January 2, 1997 – September 18, 1997]