FLVC logo

Bruce Ground collection, 1966-2013, bulk 1980-2000

 

Summary

Creator:
Ground, Bruce, 1962-
Abstract:
Materials collected by Bruce Ground documenting his life, business, and activism, 1966-2013. Included are documents, memorabilia, photographs, and other items donated by Bruce Ground. These items pertain to his business, personal life, projects, and general accomplishments and achievements. Born in 1962, Bruce Ground spent the first part of his life in Kentucky, living on his family farm. In 1985, Ground moved to Florida and became involved in the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), a local gay-friendly church in Tampa. It was there he met Marty Pelham, who helped Ground to open his first bookstore, Tomes & Treasures, with him 1987. Pelham left the store in 1990, leaving Ground to own and operate the store as the sole owner and manager. In 1992, Bruce Ground and Gary Bailey, Ground's partner, opened Out & About Books, Orlando's first gay and lesbian bookstore. After his partner's death, Ground continued to operate Out & About Books for another four years before its eventual closing on January 31st, 2001. As of 2023, Bruce Ground resides in Orlando, Florida.
Extent:
18.55 Linear Feet 30 boxes, 1 rolled sign
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Bruce Ground collection, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains a variety of material related to Bruce Ground and his life as an activist and LGBTQ+ business owner. Series I, Business, contains financial records, operational records, merchanside, revenue, customer correspondence, and other materials related to Bruce Ground's businesses, Out & About Books and Tomes & Treasures. Series II, Personal, contains documents such as calendars, post cards, playbills, engagement books, as well as memorabilia such as jewelery, pins, and stamps related to Bruce Ground's personal life and his collections. Series III, Projects, contains documents from Bruce Ground's History Project, interview release forms, and other memorabilia about and related to the various projects that Bruce Ground has participated in or organized.

Biographical / historical:

Born in 1962, Bruce Ground spent the first part of his life in Kentucky, living on his family farm. In 1985, Ground moved to Florida and became involved in the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), a local gay-friendly church in Tampa. It was there he met Marty Pelham, who helped Ground to open his first bookstore, Tomes & Treasures, with him 1987. Ground also met Gary Bailey at the MCC, who would later become Ground's partner of ten years. Pelham left the store in 1990, leaving Ground to own and operate the store as the sole owner and manager. After Gary Bailey was transferred to Orlando, Ground sold Tomes & Treasures and followed him. The next year, on May 20th, 1992, Bruce Ground and Gary Bailey opened Out & About Books, Orlando's first gay and lesbian bookstore. It served as a shop, theatre, fundraising venue, and general safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. In 1995, Gary Bailey was diagnosed with CMV and began to decline.On October 2nd, 1997, he passed away after being diagnosed with toxoplasmosis. After his partner's death, Ground continued to operate Out & About Books for another four years before its eventual closing on January 31st, 2001. As of 2023, Bruce Ground resides in Orlando, Florida.

Acquisition information:
Gifted by Bruce Ground to the LGBTQ+ History Museum of Central Florida in 2016 and 2019. 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 and finding aid prepared by Arlie Cruz in 2023. All materials were placed into acid free folders and in an acid free box. Posters were placed into flat folders. Photographs of the scrapbook were taken before the pages were removed from the scrapbook cover.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in three series.

  • I. Business, 1966-2010
  • II. Personal, 1989-2013
  • III. Projects, 1999-2010

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The entire collection is open for research except for the following materials:

  • Boxes 15-19: Financial records closed to research until April 18, 2029.
  • Folders 1-4 of Box 20: Financial records closed to research until April 18, 2029.

Terms of access:

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

Preferred citation:

Bruce Ground collection, 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