Stewart Butler papers

The Stewart Butler papers contain letters, notes, minutes, ephemera, and other materials from his career as a political activist. The collection has been divided into the following series:

Series 1: LAGPAC: Butler's papers from his work with LAGPAC and NORCO/LAGPAC are arranged into two subseries. They are then arranged chronologically by document type. General files contain press releases, inter-organizational correspondence, flyers, and other materials related to the day to day work of LAGPAC are arranged chronologically. Organizational documents are arranged chronologically by document type (i.e. minutes, bylaws, internal elections, etc.). The documents of the Anti-discrimination Ordinance Committee are arranged chronologically, followed by election questionnaire and endorsements and membership information.

Series 2: Celebration - Louisiana State Gay Conference: This series consists of Butler's work as an organizer for and participant in the Louisiana State Gay Conference, also known as Celebration. Butler worked with the conference from 1982-1990, and attended the conference throughout the 1990s. The contents have been arranged chronologically and contain conference packets, programs, ephemera, registration information, correspondence, materials pertaining to various workshops, and various contracts with performers and vendors.

Series 3: Southeastern Conference for Lesbians and Gay Men (SECLGM): Butler also worked with the Southeastern Conference for Lesbians and Gay Men as an organizer and secretary. Materials in the series relate to individual conferences in various locations across the Southeast. As part of his responsibilities, Butler also compiled a directory of gay businesses and organizations in the Southeast by state. Conference materials have been arranged chronologically in one subseries. In the other subseries, publications, newsletters, flyers, and advertisements sent to Butler to be included in the directory have been arranged alphabetically by state.

Series 4: Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG): Butler also volunteered with the local New Orleans chapter of Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbian and Gays (PFLAG). He helped organize the local PFLAG convention, served on the board, planned workshops, and helped select scholarship recipients. This series contains convention materials, post-convention surveys, newsletters, press releases, meeting minutes, scholarship information, and workshop materials pertaining to homophobia in schools.

Series 5: National March on Washington for Lesbians and Gay Rights: Butler participated in the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1987 and the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation in 1993. Both events are commonly referred to as the March on Washington. He acted as an organizer and fundraiser for the New Orleans Committee for the National March on Washington on both occasions. Materials in this series include national and local correspondence, photographs, and ephemera.

Series 6: Organizations, events, and fundraisers: This series is arranged alphabetically by organization name. This series includes materials from political and social organizations both local, statewide, and national. The materials include newsletters, programs, correspondence, ephemera, and church bulletins. Local and regional organizations include the New Orleans Gay Men’s Chorus, the Louisiana AIDS Community Network, NO/AIDS, and the Metropolitan Community churches of Acadiana and Baton Rouge, among others.

Series 7: Personal Correspondence: This series mostly comprises Butler’s correspondence with friends and family, as well as some informal correspondence with activists, politicians, and organization members. It also contains a single box with research materials about the Upstairs Lounge fire, including a manuscript commented on by Butler.

Series 8: Photographs: The photographs included in the collection span from the 1936 until 2010. Early photographs include those of Butler’s immediate family, military service, college years in Alaska, and early years living in New Orleans. This series also includes multiple photographs of parties held at the Faerie Playhouse, the home Butler shared with his partner Alfred Doolittle, for Mardi Gras, Southern Decadence, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and other occasions. Also included are photographs of various protests, including some sponsored by LAGPAC, NO/AIDS, and other local political organizations, as well as photographs from LGBTQ social and recreational organizations.