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Joel Strack papers, 1989-2019

 

Summary

Creator:
Strack, Joel, 1960-2019
Abstract:
The Joel Strack papers document Strack's involvement in the Central Florida LGBTQ+ community from the late 1980s to 2019. The collection contains programs and promotional material from the Orlando Gay Chorus, photos, newspaper clippings, planning documents, and other materials pertaining to LGBTQ+ activism in the Central Florida area, and personal items from Strack such as a jean jacket and letters. Joel Strack was born in Sycamore, Illinois on February 29, 1960. In 1982, he moved to Orlando to start at the Disney College program at Magic Kingdom. Strack worked in several areas at the Walt Disney World parks as an entertainer and a training and development specialists. His career at Disney World spanned about three decades. In 1990, Strack joined the Orlando Gay Chorus as a founding member. The following year, Strack helped to organize GayDays® at Disney World, an event where participants wear red shirts to theme parks to be visible amongst the crowds. Joel also held the role of Vice President for Gay Community Services (GCS), later known as Gay and Lesbian Community Services (GLCS). He later resigned from the role to focus attention into other projects to better serve the Gay and Lesbian Community. Joel played a role in founding of We the People, The Gay and Lesbian Coalition for Human Rights for All People. Joel passed from a longtime illness on July 15, 2019. In September 2021, Joel Strack was posthumously awarded the Orange County Regional History Center's John Young History Maker Past Award.
Extent:
7.13 Linear Feet 10 boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Joel Strack papers, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Background

Scope and content:

The Joel Strack papers document Strack's involvement in the Central Florida LGBTQ+ community from the late 1980s to 2019.

Series I: Chorus, 1990-2019 contains programs, promotional material, music sheets, and rehearsal schedules from the Orlando Gay Chorus.

Series II: Activism, 1987-2017 contains photos of events and other materials pertaining to Joel Strack's activism in the Central Florida area.

Series III: Personal, 1969-2019 contains personal documents and materials belonging to Joel Strack such as letters and a jean jacket.

Biographical / historical:

Joel Strack was born in Sycamore, Illinois on February 29, 1960. In 1982, he moved to Orlando to start at the Disney College program at Magic Kingdom. Strack worked in several areas at the Walt Disney World parks as an entertainer and a training and development specialists. His career at Disney World spanned about three decades. In 1990, Strack joined the Orlando Gay Chorus as a founding member. The following year, Strack helped to organize GayDays® at Disney World, an event where participants wear red shirts to theme parks to be visible amongst the crowds. Joel also held the role of Vice President for Gay Community Services (GCS), later known as Gay and Lesbian Community Services (GLCS). He later resigned from the role to focus attention into other projects to better serve the Gay and Lesbian Community. Joel played a role in founding of We the People, The Gay and Lesbian Coalition for Human Rights for All People. Joel passed from a longtime illness on July 15, 2019. In September 2021, Joel Strack was posthumously awarded the Orange County Regional History Center's John Young History Maker Past Award.

Acquisition information:
Gifted by Joel Strack to the LGBTQ+ History Museum of Central Florida in 2017. Gifted by the LGBTQ+ History Museum of Central Florida to University of Central Florida Libraries, Special Collections University Archives in 2021 (Accession no. CFM2021_22).
Processing information:

Collection processed by Lily Russell and Elisabeth Jimenez in 2022. Finding aid prepared by Elisabeth Jimenez in 2022. Staples and paper clips were removed from documents and replaced with plastic clips. All materials were placed into acid free folders and in an acid free box. At least three versions of publications were kept, and all additional copies were recycled. Clothes within the collection are properly wrapped in acid-free paper and stored in an acid-free box.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in three series.

  • I. Chorus, 1990-2019
  • II. Activism, 1987-2017
  • III. Personal, 1969-2019

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The entire collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Preferred citation:

Joel Strack papers, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Location of this collection:
John C. Hitt Library
12701 Pegasus Drive, Building 2
Orlando
FL
32816-8030
USA