James M. Foster papers

Collection

Identifier: 7439

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COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Records pertain to public health issues especially pertaining to AIDS. Also included are a subject file and an AIDS file kept by Foster, and an extensive sexual audiocassette collection; also, personal correspondence, some personal files, address books, and material pertaining to Foster's business enterprise, the Democratic National Committee, the Human Rights Campaign Fund, and the Alice B. Toklas Memorial Democratic Club. Major correspondents include Dianne Feinstein, Art Agnos, David B. Goodstein, Edward M. Kennedy, Bruce Voeller, and Jerry E. Berg.

Dates

1971-1990.

Creator

Foster, James M. (Person)

Language of Materials

Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

James Foster was born 19 November 1934. While living in San Francisco, he became one of the early leaders of the gay liberation movement in that city; in 1963 he helped found the Society for Individual Rights. Always active in Democratic Party local and national politics, in 1972 Foster founded the Alice B. Toklas Memorial Democratic Club (also known as the Alice B. Toklas Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club), which became particularly influential in local and national politics as the gay and lesbian constituency consolidated its power. In 1972, Foster was the first openly gay delegate to address a national convention. Professionally, Foster was a consultant dealing in fund raising issues; his business enterprise, James M. Foster and Associates, Inc., served primarily gay and human rights clients, including the Human Rights Campaign Fund. In the 1980s, Foster served as the San Francisco City Health Commissioner.

Extent

12.7 cubic feet. (12.7 cubic feet.)

Additional Description

Abstract

Foster's personal files, including correspondence, sexual audiocassettes, and records pertaining to Foster's business enterprise and various gay rights organizations. Other records concern public health issues, most notably AIDS.

COLLECTION ARRANGEMENT

The collection is divided into four series reflecting the basic organization used by Foster, in which the primary level of access is the folder title. His folder headings have been in all cases retained.

SERIES LIST

<ref target="s2ss1">General Subject files</ref>: Box 1, folders 51-63Box 3, folders 1-64Box 4, folders 1-5Box 10, folders 19-119Box 11, folders 1-57
<ref target="s2ss2">AIDS</ref>: Box 5, folders 1-49Box 6, folders 1-59Box 11, folders 58-74Box 12, folders 1-59Box 13, folders 1-12
<ref target="s2ss3">Health</ref>: Box 7, folders 1-17Box 8, folders 1-12Box 13, folders 13-57Box 14, folders 1-54Box 14, folders 1-54Box 15, folders 1-55Boxes 16-17

RELATED MATERIAL

David B. Goodstein papers, #7311

Bruce R. Voeller papers, #7307

One cubic foot of erotica and pornography was transferred to other components of the Human Sexuality Collection.

Physical Description

Correspondence, subject files, reports, photographs, greeting cards, audiocassettes, accounts, and incorporation documents.

General

Contact Information:: Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections 2B Carl A. Kroch Library Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 (607) 255-3530 Fax: (607) 255-9524 rareref@cornell.edu http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
Compiled by:: Phil McCray
Date completed:: March, December 1991
EAD encoding:: Mireille Lee, May 2000