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The Center collection, 1979-2008

 

Summary

Creator:
LGBT+ Center Orlando
Abstract:
The Center is a nonprofit organization that has been a staple of Orlando since its creation in 1978. The Center's mission is to promote and empower the LGBT+ community and its allies through advocacy, education, information, and support. This collection contains materials such as correspondence, legal and financial records, membership applications, employee time records, related to The Center as an organization.
Extent:
15.22 Linear Feet 27 boxes, 1 flat file
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

The Center collection, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Background

Scope and content:

The Center collection, 1979-2008, is comprised of organizational records, such as board documents, financial records, and legal evidence gathered for LGBT+ court cases. Also featured in this collection is The Triangle, The Center's publication. The collection also contains member applications, correspondence, outgoing mail from The Center, local and national-level publications collected by The Center, news clippings, scrapbooks, moving documents such as lease agreements and sale processes, Triangle newspaper copies and ads, and photographs.

Biographical / historical:

The Center is an Orlando-based LGBT+ organization that offers support and orchestrates events to improve the lives of the local LGBT+ community.

"[The Center's] history begins on November 27, 1978, when the non-profit organization Gay Community Services (GCS) for safe space meetups was created. Later that year, Gay Men's Hotline was formed. The number was 407-THE-GAYS and was staffed by volunteers. Gay men could call for referrals, mental health counseling, and up-to-date information on GCS meetups. In 1980, women joined GCS, and the organization was renamed Gay & Lesbian Community Services (GLCS). In 1984, the focus of GLCS and the Gay Men's Hotline shifted to health and HIV/AIDS care. Our services to the community keep expanding. The organization moved to 1036 N. Mills Avenue in 1987. By 1990, GLCS reincorporated as the Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Community Center of Central Florida (GLBCC-The Center), so the organization continues to grow, both in terms of human platform and infrastructure. In 1999, The Center purchased 942 and 946 N. Mills Avenue. In 2007, the organization changed its name to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of Central Florida, Inc. (GLBTCC). In 2014, the organization ventured to offer services with mobile units. In 2016, The Pulse Tragedy occurred in Orlando. President Obama called the Center "Ground Zero for community healing." Eleven years later, after its latest name change, in 2018, the organization changed its name to LGBT+ Center Orlando, Inc. (The Center Orlando) and opened The Center Kissimmee. Subsequently, in 2020, the Center partnered with AHF to provide testing at Out of the Closet (AHF). By 2021, the Center had been chosen to oversee Orlando United Assistance Center (now OURS), expand health services, and open its second downtown location on Hillcrest Street."

Source: "About Us." The Center Orlando. Accessed July 26, 2023. https://thecenterorlando.org/about-us//.

Acquisition information:
Gifted by the LGBT+ Center Orlando to the LGBTQ+ History Museum of Central Florida in 2010. 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.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in thirteen series and is arranged by like-item and subject.

  • I. Board Documents, 1978-2008
  • II. Financial Documents, 1979-1999
  • III. Legal, 1995-2007
  • IV. Moving, 1999-2007
  • V. Membership, 1979-2008
  • VI. Incoming Correspondence, 1979-1991
  • VII. Outgoing Correspondence, 1979-1990
  • VIII. Community, 1979-2007
  • IX. National, 1981-1999
  • X. Local Publications, 1979-2005
  • XI. The Triangle, 1984-2004
  • XII. Scrapbooks, 1979-1995
  • XIII. Miscellaneous, 1987-2004

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Terms of access:

This entire collection is open for research, but must be screened by an archivist for personally identifiable information before being used by researchers.

Copyright is still owned and controlled by the LGBT+ Center Orlando.

Preferred citation:

The Center 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