Sexuality and the City: Queer LA
LGBT Studies/Women's Studies M116
Spring 2004
Professor James A. Schultz

Ellen Broidy 
Bibliographer for U.S. and British History, Women's Studies and LGBT STudies
A1540E YRL
825-1324


This guide is designed as an introduction to print ("real") and online ("virtual") resources critical for accessing materials on the social, political and cultural history of "Queer Los Angeles" located at the UCLA Library and beyond. It is extremely selective, both in terms of the sources cited and the research strategies recommended (or implied). All reference and "finding" sources listed are available at UCLA; however, some may point to materials located at libraries, both real and virtual, beyond the campus borders.

The guide covers the following areas:

1. Basic Research Strategies and Tips
2. UCLA Library Homepage
3. Finding Books / Monographic Materials
4. Finding Articles
5. Finding Book Reviews
6. Full-Text Journals on the Web
7. Selected Primary Sources on the Web
8. Selected Primary Sources - Print and Microform


1. Basic Research Strategies and Tips

1.1. Search tips ~Systems and Serendipity: Successful research is often a combination of systematic approaches and, when appropriate, serendipity.

1.1.1. Topic Identification and Description:  Identify a topic of interest and describe it as narrowly/focused as possible.  Consider subtopics, perspective you wish to take, geographical and/or chronological focus.  Ask: What? Who? When? Where?

1.1.2.Search Vocabulary:  Make a list of search terms (keywords) that describe your topic.  Include synonyms, relevant proper names, etc.  Avoid very common words if possible, but also include some general (e.g., Los Angeles, California) as well as precise descriptors.

1.1.3. Truncation:  Use truncation symbols (?, *, or #) building on the root of a word or within a term to expand your retrieval. Specific symbol depends on the system you're using (ORION or MELVYL®).

    Examples:
             wom#n    =    woman or women
             lesbian?   =    lesbians, lesbianism
             homo*     =    homosexual, homosexuals, homosexuality, homosocial, homoerotic

1.1.4. Call Numbers:  Call numbers are determined by the first/primary subject heading of the publication.  Thus, most (but not always necessarily all) books on the Gay Liberation Movement, for instance, will be classed and shelved together.  Once you find a promising call number(s) for your topic, browse the shelves in this area for serendipitous discoveries of other items that might be of interest/use.

1.1.5. Search Documentation: Keep careful track of your research process: sources consulted, date ranges covered, search terms used, as well as promising citations.  Use a notebook, index cards, and/or email messages to yourself, etc.

1.2. Considerations in assessing the quality and usefulness of an item (for print and electronic resources):
 

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2. UCLA Library Homepage

This is the front door to a wide variety of print and electronic resources in LGBT Studies, including links to ORION2 (UCLA's online catalog); MELVYL, the union catalog for the University of California libraries; the California Digital Library; and subject-related webpages developed at UCLA.

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3.  Finding Books / Monographic Publications: ORION2 and MELVYL® Catalogs

Identifying and locating books on your topic is most conveniently done through a keyword or subject (heading) search using UCLA's ORION2 Catalog or the UC systemwide MELVYL® Catalog. Keyword searching (when available) is the most flexible, usually producing the largest retrieval (often including "false drops"), while subject searching can often be more precise since it relies on authorized Library of Congress Subject Headings.

4.1. Library of Congress Subject Headings

Although the advent of online catalogs with keyword search capabilities has sounded the death knell for rigidly structured subject heading/classification schemes, it is still worth considering how language is used to organize materials in a research library. For example, it is possible (and frequently extremely beneficial) to do a subject search in ORION2 or MELVYL® using Library of Congress subject headings.

A subject heading is a word or term that describes, often quite broadly, the contents of a book, journal article, videotape, dataset, etc. All nonfiction books and media are assigned one or more subject headings, allowing for multiple points of access to the same item. "Authorized" headings are found listed in Library of Congress Subject Headings, a four-volume set with a bright red cover located in YRL Reference (Z695.Z8 L524a   ).

One of the best and most efficient ways to identify subject headings for your topic is to do a keyword or title search in ORION2 or MELVYL and then display result(s) in long or full format. Note subject headings for the most promising items, click on subject heading to execute a search on that subject.

Just to get you started, here are some possible headings you might find useful:

Gay liberation movement
Gay activists
Lesbian communities
Gays - United States
Mattachine Society

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3.2. ORION

ORION2, the UCLA's online catalog, provides quick and efficient access to the holdings of the UCLA Library. ORION2 should be your first stop for books, periodicals, media and other monographic materials.

ORION2 is directly accessible from the UCLA Library homepage;  click on the ORION 2 button on the left side of the page (in the blue area, under Quick Links).

ORION2 offers the following unique features:

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3. 3. UC MELVYL® CATALOG

If your ORION2 search does not produce the desired results, you may want to search the holdings of other libraries, particularly other UC libraries. The UC MELVYL® Catalog opens doors to worlds beyond UCLA (yes, rumor has it that there is intelligent life out there!). In addition to providing bibliographic access to the holdings of other UC libraries through the MELVYL®Catalog, the California Digital Library (CDL) contains a large number of indexes to periodical literature, some with abstracts or full-text of articles available online (see section III below).

To use the MELVYL® Catalog, click on MELVYL Catalog (Web) in the left-hand Quick Links section of the UCLA Library Homepage.  To research a topic, you may use either the default Basic Search screen or click on Advanced in the gold bar at the top of the page.  Subject searches require word(s) from authorized LC subject headings but word order does not matter.  If you are unsure of a subject heading, try a Keyword search instead.


4.  Finding Articles: Periodical Indexes and Abstracting Services

The most convenient direct access to periodical indexes and abstracts is through the UCLA Libray Homepage. Click on Find Online Materials or go directly to http://eresources.library.ucla.edu/. If you know a particular title, you can search for it here or else use the drop-down menu to search by subject area, including Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Studies.

Recommended resources for LGBT Studies:

Expanded Academic Index
Both an index and abstracting database as well as a source for full-text on the web. You can limit retrieval to full-text.

America: History & Life  (AHL)
The most authoritative listing of periodical literature, book and media reviews, and dissertations in United States and Canadian history.  Covers over 1,700 journals published worldwide.
Search Hints:
            Use Keyword Search to begin, then if desired
            Indicate Time Period: For example, 20c 1960D, 1970D etc.  Click on magnifying glass icon to right of time                   period to browse options.

GLBT Life
A resource for literature regarding gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues. Contains indexing and abstracts for more than 120 GLBT-specific core periodicals. Also contains data mined from over 40 priority periodicals as well as data mined from over 1400 select titles.






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5.  Finding Book Reviews

6.1. On the Web:

Generally best to use the book title as your search term.

1.  America: History and Life.  1964- .

Search Hint: On search page, under Document Type, limit to Book Review.
2.  Periodicals Archive Online (formerly PCI Full Text).  Indexes thousands of periodicals in the social sciences and humanities from 1770-1995, and currently offers full text of articles for 200 complete journal runs.
Search Hint: On search page under Scope: Limit to Books Reviews Only
3. Expanded Academic Index

                Although there is no separate limit for book reviews, citations to reviews are clearly marked in the record.

6.2. . Print Resources: Available in the YRL Reference area 1st floor or in the YRL stacks, by call number.

1. Book Review Index. 1965- . YRL Ref. Z1035 A1 B6

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6. Full-Text Journals on the Web

Access from either the UCLA Homepage E-Resources site (use dropdown menu; click on United States History and then on either Electronic Journal Collections or Electronic Journals) or search by title in the Find Online Materials portion of the homepage or in ORION2.

Expanded Academic Index

Includes many full-text journals; click on pdf file for full-text online or UC-elinks to connect either to electronic version held by UC or to find out whether UC/UCLA subscribes to the journal in which the article appears.
Project Muse
Full text of over 200 scholarly journals in humanities and social sciences.  Full text coverage varies by journal title but ranges from 1993 to the present. Project Muse includes fulltext of GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies and Journal of the History of Sexuality
Nation Digital Archive

Full-text of articles from the Nation beginning in 1865.

Los Angeles Times - 1881-1993

Los Angeles Times, 1985-

As the "hometown" newspaper, the LA Times is an excellent resource for current and historical data on queer LA. Not the most progressive voice for much of its history, the paper's editorial policies have shifted markedly in the past twenty years and issues of interest and importance to the LGBT community are now handled with far greater sensitivity and respect.

New York Times

America's "newspaper of record," this site provides searchable access to the full-text of the New York Times from 1851 to 1999.
 

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7. Selected Sources on the Web

International Association of Gay Square Dance Clubs

Tinsel Town Squares

Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center

People with a History: An Online Guide to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans* History

Queer Resources Directory

InfoSurf: Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Studies


8. Primary Sources in Print and Microform

Christopher Street (New York City). Lib. has v. 159-231 (1991-1995).
YRL Stacks HQ75 .C48

G'vanimL Newsletter of Beth Chayim Chadashim (Los Angeles).
YRL Stacks BM729 .H65 G83 - Current issues in YRL Periodicals

Gay Community News (Boston). Lib. has vol. 3-16 (1975-1989) - microform.
SRLF

The Gay Rights Movement: Gay Activists Alliance (New York City)
YRL M&MS HQ75.12 .G39 1970 - Guide; film at SRLF

The Gay Rights Movement: Mattachine Society of New York
YRL M&MS HQ75.12 .M38 1951 - Guide; film at SRLF

Gay Sunshine (Berkeley, CA). Lib. has v. 7-15, 31-35 and 16-30.
YRL Stacks HQ76 .G25; SRLF (holdings split)

Evelyn Hooker Papers
Collection #543 - Request from YRL Special Collections
Finding aid: http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf8h4nb5fp

Morris Kight Papers
Collection #354 - Request from YRL Special Collections
Finding aid: http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf9k4009gs

LA Pride (Los Angeles). Lib. has v. 1-2, 1992/3-1994.
SRLF

Los Angeles Advocate (Los Angeles). Lib. has v.1-4 (1967-1970).
YRL M&MS HQ76.8 .U5 A24

Ladder (Daughters of Bilitis). Lib. has v.14-16 (1969-1972).
SRLF

Lesbian News (Los Anggeles). Lib. has v. 1- Aug. 1975-
YRL Stacks HQ1101 .L563 - Current issues in YRL Periodicals

Lesbian Tide (Los Angeles). Lib. has broken run for 1972-1974.
YRL Stacks HQ73 .A1 L563

Paul Monette Papers
Collection #1707 - Request from YRL Special Collections
Finding aid: http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf1870042q

Michael Nava Papers
Collection #1714 - Request from YRL Special Collections
Finding aid: http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf5f59p0p0

We are a Separate People: Harry Hay Oral History Transcript
YRL Special Collections Rare - 300/275

 
 

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