Lorraine Fontana papers

Collection

Identifier: Q110

Staff Only

Scope and Contents of the Papers

The Lorraine Fontana papers span from her birth certificate in 1947 to her endeavors in Atlanta in 2014, with the bulk of the papers documenting 1968-2010. These papers chronicle Fontana's school and college days in Queens, New York, her interests in spirituality, and her career as a civil rights and LGBT activist.

The papers comprise of articles, artwork, artifacts, agendas, brochures, correspondence, conference and workshop materials, employment documents, guides, minutes, newsletters, notes, pamphlets, photographs, publications, and toolkits as well as t-shirts and buttons. They document Fontana's activities as an activist with organizations such as VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), Atlanta Pride, Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Association, Lambda Legal, Queer Progressive Agenda, National Jury Project, National Lawyers Guild, Anti-Klan Project, Racism Action Project, and many other social justice causes.

Dates

1947-2014
Majority of material found within 1968 - 2010

Creator

Fontana, Lorraine (Person)

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open for research use. Access to some items is restricted for 75 years from the date of creation except in redacted form.

Conditions Governing Use and Reproduction

Georgia State University is the owner of the physical collection and makes reproductions available for research, subject to the copyright law of the United States and item condition. Georgia State University may or may not own the rights to materials in the collection. It is the researcher's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and obtain permission from the copyright holder before publication, reproduction, or display of the materials beyond what is reasonable under copyright law. Researchers may quote selections from the collection under the fair use provision of copyright law.

Biography of Lorraine Fontana

Born in Queens, New York, in 1947, Lorraine Fontana became an anti-war activist and supporter of the Civil Rights movement early in life. After joining VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) in 1968, she came to Atlanta, and together with other feminists, founded the Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance (ALFA - 1972 to 1994), and later DARII (Dykes for the Second American Revolution). She trained at the People's College of Law in Los Angeles (1976-1979) and went on to work with the National Jury Project, Georgia Legal Services, the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) in New York City (October 1999 to January 2004), and Georgia's Lambda Legal Education Defense Fund (2006-2012). She was a member of the short-lived Queer Progressive Agenda (QPA), and is currently a supporter of First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta's Social Justice Guild, the Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition, Charis Books, the Atlanta Grandmothers for Peace, SAGE Atlanta, and Southerners on New Ground.

Extent

53.33 Linear Feet (in 37 boxes; 28 textile boxes and 1 oversized box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract:

Lorraine Fontana is an activist for the LGBTQ community and has fought for social justice since her early college days. Her papers, 1947-2014 (bulk 1968-2010), include correspondence, conference materials, flyers, notes, programs and publications, representing her activities in Atlanta, New York, and elsewhere.

Arrangement

Arranged in 10 series.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Lorraine Fontana in multiple accessions, 2012-2019.

Related Archival Materials

Related Materials in Other Repositories

Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance (ALFA) Archives, circa 1972-1994, RL.00022, Duke University Libraries

Separated Materials

Separated to the Gender and Sexuality Periodicals Collection (Q-GS-Periodicals) see finding aid for access

Aid Atlanta newsletter, (vol. 1; no.3) winter 1984
ALFA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance) newsletter, (nos. 1-4), September 1973-December 1973
AFLA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance) newsletter, (nos. 5-15), January-December, 1974
AFLA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance) newsletter, (nos. 16-18; numbering ends at #18, August 1975 missing) January-December, 1975
AFLA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance) newsletter, January-December 1976
AFLA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance) newsletter, January-December 1977
AFLA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance) newsletter, January-December 1978
AFLA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance) newsletter, January-December 1979
AFLA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance) newsletter, January-December 1980
AFLA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance) newsletter, January-December 1981
AFLA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance) newsletter, December-January 1982
AFLA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance) newsletter, January-December 1983
AFLA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance) newsletter, January-December 1984
AFLA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance) newsletter, January-December 1985
AFLA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance) newsletter, January-December 1986
AFLA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance) newsletter, January-December 1987
AFLA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance) newsletter, January-December 1989
AFLA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance) newsletter, January-December 1989
AFLA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance) newsletter, January-December 1990
AFLA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance) newsletter, January-December 1991
AFLA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance) newsletter, January-December 1992
AFLA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance) newsletter, January-March; May-December 1993
AFLA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance) newsletter, January, March, April, May, 1994
Dr. Christina Northrup's Health Wisdom for Women newsletter, September 1994-December 1995
Dr. Christina Northrup's Health Wisdom for Women newsletter, January-December 1996
Dr. Christine Northrup's Health Wisdom for Women newsletter, January-November 1997
Dr. Christina Northrup's Health Wisdom for Women newsletter, January-December 1998
Dr. Christina Northrup's Health Wisdom for Women newsletter, January-December 1999
Dr. Christina Northrup's Health Wisdom for Women newsletter, January-December 2000
Dr. Christina Northrup's Health Wisdom for Women newsletter, January-December 2001
Dr. Christina Northrup's Health Wisdom for Women newsletter, February-August 2002
Dr. Christina Northrup's Health Wisdom for Women newsletter, May-December 2003
Dr. Christina Northrup's Health Wisdom for Women newsletter, January 2004
GL -- Gay Life: Maryland's LGBT Community Newspaper, January 20-February 2, 2012
Indypendent, (issue 62), December 2, 2004-January 11, 2005
Lake Clare Community Land Trust News, (vol. 16, issue 1) February 2004
Lark Letter: A Women's Guide to Optimal Health and Balance, February-March 2005
Lesbian Connection magazine, (vol. 28, issues 5;6-vol. 29, issues 1;2), 2006
Lesbian Connection magazine, (vol. 33, issues 2), 2010
Lesbian Connection magazine, (vol. 34, issues 6), 2012
Lesbian Connection magazine, (vol. 35, issues 4-6), 2013
Lesbian Connection magazine, (vol. 36, issues 1-4), 2013-2014
Lesbian Connection magazine, (vol. 37, issues 2-3), September-December 2014
Lesbian Connection magazine, (vol. 38, issue 5), March-April 2016
Lesbian Connection magazine, (vol. 39, issues 1-6), July 2016-June 2017
Lesbian Herstory Archives newsletter, March 1999
Ms. Magazine, (vol. 19, no. 1) Fall 2009
Off Our Backs: the Feminist News Journal, (vol. 33, no's 5-8; 11/12), 2003
OUTloud, January 20, 2012; Vol. IX, Iss. 18
Operandi Modus Number three, 3 Steps Back, Early Summer 2005
SFLA (Southern Feminist Library and Archives) July 1985; August 1986

Collection Transfer Note

This collection was previously designated W110, but was assigned collection number Q110 with the formation of the Gender and Sexuality Collection in 2018.

Processing Information

Organized and arranged by Lorraine Fontana, 2014-2015. Folder titles and folder-level descriptions created by Lorraine Fontana. Processing and finding aid completed by Hilary Morrish, 2016.