Tuesday, January 24, 2012

"Gay Freedom League"

Your archivist was looking for an article in the 1975 Stylus for a patron, and happened to run across an article titled "Gay Freedom League: What it's about," from the March 6, 1975 Stylus. The article describes how that spring the Gay Freedom League had "...finally gotten it together." Apparently they had a weekly radio show on WBSU, and they were planning a dance for the following Saturday. The group was getting good attendance, averaging fifteen people per weekly meeting; the meetings were described as social, not political, "...a time for gays to get together with other gays." They also had an office, in Lathrop, open 2-4 Tuesday-Friday.

This is the earliest mention of such a group the archivist has seen. If any reader who participated in this group wished to share any memories of the time that would be wonderful, or if anyone thought they might like to try research LGBT history at Brockport, please contact Charlie Cowling, ccowling@brockport.edu.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Alfred Thompson

Was principal of the Normal School from  1910-1936. A popular and effective administrator by all accounts, today's Thompson Hall is named after him. From a student tribute to him at his death we may: 

picture him striding up the campus walk, his black derby square on his head and his eyes intently considering the next turn of the weather or facing the Assembly, shoulders erect,  and his hands now toying with his glasses, now clasped tight behind his back as he advises, scolds, teases or entertains

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Quonset hut, other Brockport memories?

Happy New Year to all our alumni! Your archivist would like to make a suggestion: if you have memories of something from your Brockport years, for example attending classes in the old Quonset huts that were used as temporary classrooms on the north side of Hartwell in the '50s, or any one of a hundred other things, please share them! Not only would your reminiscences be welcome,  but photographs, scrapbooks and other memorabilia would be welcome as well. The archives can keep these items for posterity, or if you'd like we can scan things like photographs and return the original to you. You can contact the archivist, Charlie Cowling, by posting a comment here, emailing him at ccowling@brockport.edu, or phoning him at 585-395-5667. The mail address is: College Archives, Drake Memorial Library, 350 New Campus Drive, Brockport NY 14420.