Subfonds GB 0097 HCA/Tatchell papers - TATCHELL, Peter, b 1952, gay and HIV/AIDS activist, social worker, journalist and author

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0097 HCA/Tatchell papers

Title

TATCHELL, Peter, b 1952, gay and HIV/AIDS activist, social worker, journalist and author

Date(s)

  • 1966-2007 (Creation)

Level of description

Subfonds

Extent and medium

46 boxes and 1 oversize tube

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1952, Peter Tatchell emigrated to Britain in 1971 to avoid being drafted to the Vietnam War, which he had actively opposed. He worked freelance in design and display whilst studying for a BSc in Sociology at the Polytechnic of North London, 1974-1977. During this period, Tatchell attended meetings of the Gay Liberation Front and soon became actively involved in gay politics. He acted as the GLF delegate to the World Youth Festival in East Berlin in 1973. Following his graduation in 1977, Tatchell became a social worker with the North Lambeth housing agency in Waterloo. In 1978 he joined the Labour Party, standing as an unsuccessful candidate for the Bermondsey by-election in 1983. In 1987 Tatchell founded the UK Aids Vigil Organisation, the first group to campaign for the civil liberties of those with AIDS. This was followed in 1989 by his creation of the London Act Up (AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power). May 1990 saw the foundation of OutRage!, a direct action group, primarily focussed on the Church of England. In the year 2000, Peter Tatchell stood unsuccessfully as an Independent candidate for the new Greater London Assembly. Publications: We don't want to march straight: masculinity, queers and the military (Cassell, London, 1995); Safer sexy: the guide to gay sex safely (Freedom Editions, London, 1994); Europe in the pink (The Gay Men's Press, London, 1991); AIDS - a guide to survival (The Gay Men's Press, London, 1986); The battle for Bermondsey (Heretic, London, 1983).

Archival history

Donated by Peter Tatchell on an annual basis since 1992.
GB 0097 HCA/Tatchell papers 1966-2007 subfonds 46 boxes and 1 oversize tube Tatchell , Peter , b 1952 , gay and HIV/AIDS activist, social worker, journalist and author

Born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1952, Peter Tatchell emigrated to Britain in 1971 to avoid being drafted to the Vietnam War, which he had actively opposed. He worked freelance in design and display whilst studying for a BSc in Sociology at the Polytechnic of North London, 1974-1977. During this period, Tatchell attended meetings of the Gay Liberation Front and soon became actively involved in gay politics. He acted as the GLF delegate to the World Youth Festival in East Berlin in 1973. Following his graduation in 1977, Tatchell became a social worker with the North Lambeth housing agency in Waterloo. In 1978 he joined the Labour Party, standing as an unsuccessful candidate for the Bermondsey by-election in 1983. In 1987 Tatchell founded the UK Aids Vigil Organisation, the first group to campaign for the civil liberties of those with AIDS. This was followed in 1989 by his creation of the London Act Up (AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power). May 1990 saw the foundation of OutRage!, a direct action group, primarily focussed on the Church of England. In the year 2000, Peter Tatchell stood unsuccessfully as an Independent candidate for the new Greater London Assembly. Publications: We don't want to march straight: masculinity, queers and the military (Cassell, London, 1995); Safer sexy: the guide to gay sex safely (Freedom Editions, London, 1994); Europe in the pink (The Gay Men's Press, London, 1991); AIDS - a guide to survival (The Gay Men's Press, London, 1986); The battle for Bermondsey (Heretic, London, 1983).

Donated by Peter Tatchell on an annual basis since 1992.

Papers of Peter Tatchell, 1966-2007, including press cuttings, articles [by Tatchell] and letters to the press, 1984-[2000], on subjects including government policy on AIDS, lesbian and gay equality, ethnic minorities, green socialism, European strategies for socialism, South Africa, the Church of England, Clause 28, relations between the police and the gay community, and papers relating to Stonewall, OutRage! and Act Up; material relating to campaigns and protests, 1983-[2000], notably the Bermondsey by-election of 1983, AIDS research, lesbian and gay rights in Europe and South Africa, gays and the military, the homosexual age of consent, psychiatric treatment of lesbians, gays and bisexuals, gay marriage, Clause 28, Labour Party policy on gay rights, homophobic violence, and Tatchell's trial at Canterbury Magistrates Court following OutRage!'s Easter Sunday protest in 1998; writings, interviews, press cuttings, texts of speeches and correspondence relating to Tatchell's activism, 1971-2007, especially relating to his work for gay rights.

Expected.

The papers are arranged by annual deposit of material

Open.

Copyright remains with donor.
English

Online catalogue available

The Hall-Carpenter Archives at the British Library of Political and Economic Science also contain material relating to Act Up and OutRage! in the ephemera collection. There are papers relating to Tatchell's candidature for the Bermondsey by-election in the BLPES archives (Ref: Coll Misc 0882/822/4).

Sources: British Library of Political and Economic Science Archives catalogue. Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. Updated Apr 2008. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. Nov 2000; updated Apr 2008 Act Up , AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power Bermondsey Bisexuality Canterbury Magistrates Court Church of England Civil and political rights England Europe Groups Homosexuality Human rights Labour Party Lesbian, gay and bisexual campaigning groups Lesbian, gay and bisexual rights Lesbianism London OutRage! Political science Politics Religion Sexuality South Africa Southern Africa Stonewall Tatchell , Peter , b 1952 , gay and HIV/AIDS activist, social worker, journalist and author UK Western Europe Southwark

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of Peter Tatchell, 1966-2007, including press cuttings, articles [by Tatchell] and letters to the press, 1984-[2000], on subjects including government policy on AIDS, lesbian and gay equality, ethnic minorities, green socialism, European strategies for socialism, South Africa, the Church of England, Clause 28, relations between the police and the gay community, and papers relating to Stonewall, OutRage! and Act Up; material relating to campaigns and protests, 1983-[2000], notably the Bermondsey by-election of 1983, AIDS research, lesbian and gay rights in Europe and South Africa, gays and the military, the homosexual age of consent, psychiatric treatment of lesbians, gays and bisexuals, gay marriage, Clause 28, Labour Party policy on gay rights, homophobic violence, and Tatchell's trial at Canterbury Magistrates Court following OutRage!'s Easter Sunday protest in 1998; writings, interviews, press cuttings, texts of speeches and correspondence relating to Tatchell's activism, 1971-2007, especially relating to his work for gay rights.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

Expected.

System of arrangement

The papers are arranged by annual deposit of material

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright remains with donor.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

The Hall-Carpenter Archives at the British Library of Political and Economic Science also contain material relating to Act Up and OutRage! in the ephemera collection. There are papers relating to Tatchell's candidature for the Bermondsey by-election in the BLPES archives (Ref: Coll Misc 0882/822/4).

Finding aids

Online catalogue available

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

British Library of Political and Economic Science

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area