Wilma Weissman Photographs
Provenance
This collection was a gift of Wilma Weissman in 2007.
Scope and Content
This collection consists of photos and video from Wil (Wilma) Weissman and her partner Benay Phillips mostly taken in Cherry Grove, Fire Island, NY. Much of the material documents the many annual events of Cherry Grove’s drag queen community, such as the Miss Fire Island Pageant, The Pines Invasion and performances at local venues like the Ice Palace and Cherry’s with local personalities such as Candy Stevens, Teri Warren, Lulu, Bella, Dorian Corey, Paris Dupree, Johnny Savoy, Panzi, Miss Saleen. Gay Pride Parades and The Gay Games in New York City are documented along with The Miss NYC (drag) Pageant at the LGBT Center. It should be noted that the folders are labeled according to the labeling on the albums of the collection, but the contents do not always correspond to the event on the label and/or include multiple events not identified.
History or Bio
Wil (Wilma) Weissman and her partner Benay Phillips owned a co-op at Grove manor in Cherry Grove, Fire Island, NY for 18 years. Beginning in 1986 with Wil doing still photography and Benay taking video they covered all the many events during the summer at Cherry Grove. Wil and Benay were involved in the lives of the Grove’s drag performers. They also considered the staff of the Ice Palace, Cherry’s and the Grove’s other bars and restaurants part of their “family.” While most of the photography was for their own enjoyment, Wil and Benay did become the official videographers for many of the events as CCC Productions. They both worked as healthcare professionals and were together for 34 years until Benay’s death in 2006 of scleroderma.
Folder List
Box 1
1. Miss Fire Island 1989
2. Miss Fire Island 1994
3. 1994 [Fire Island]
4. Fire Island-1994
5. Pride Parade-NYC-1994
6. Benay Phillips – Heritage of Pride 1994
7. Gay Games – NYC – 1994
8. Fire Island 1995
9. 1995 Album 1
10. 1995 Album #2
11. 1996
12. 1996 [Folder 1]
13. 1996 [Folder 2]
14. 1996 Album #3
15. 1996 (#4) 1 of 2
16. 1996 (#4) 2 of 2
Box 2
17. Miss Fire Island 1996 (1 of 2)
18. Miss Fire Island 1996 (2 of 2)
19. Miss Fire Island 1996 (5)
20. Miss Fire Island 1997
21. Fire Island 1997
22. Heritage of Pride/Fire Island 1997 (#2)
23. 1997 Album #3 [folder 1]
24. 1997 Album #3 [folder 2]
25. Fire Island 1997 #4
26. 1997 [folder 1]
27. 1997 [folder 2]
28. MNYC #1-6 [Miss New York City Pageant 1998]
29. Miss Fire Island 1998
30. Fire Island 1998 (1)
31. 1998 Album #2
32. [1999 Mrs. and Miss Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pageants/Packs 1, 2, 3]
33. [1999 Mrs. and Miss Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pageants/Packs 3, 5, 6]
34. Miss Fire Island 1 Album 3 [1999 folder 1]
Box 3
35. Miss Fire Island 1 Album 3 [1999 folder 2]
36. Fire Island 1999 (1)
37. Miss Fire Island 2 1999 Album #4
38. 1999 [folder 1]
39. 1999 [folder 2]
40. Pines Invasion – 6/30 – 7/1 2001 (rolls 1-5)
41. Pines Invasion – 6/30 – 7/1 2001 (rolls 6-9)
42. [Miss Fire Island 2001 – folder 1]
43. [Miss Fire Island 2001 – folder 2]
44. [Miss Fire Island 2001 – folder 3]
45. 2000-2001
46. 2000 Book #2 [1 of 2]
47. 2000 Book #2 [2 of 2]
48. [Fire Island – undated]
49. [Fire Island – undated]
50. The Grove, P. I. ,MFI
VIDEO TAPE LIST
1. 1992 Pines Invasion
2. 1991 Miss Fire Island
3. Gary Dee as Dolly Pardin ’86
4. 1-31-88 George Sardi at Oh Johnny’s
5. 1992 Miss New York City Pageant
6. Judy Sexton At Oh Johnny’s 10-24-87
7. A.P.C.G. Ball Golden Age of TV 09-23-89
8. Carol Douglas 23 Aug 1987
9. Arian West , Ice Place 198711