Collections : [UCF Special Collections]

The Allene Baus collection, 1989-1995, is comprised of materials taken from two of Baus' albums. It includes documents related to the Orlando chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), which Baus established in 1988. It also contains captioned and uncaptioned photographs, newspapers, programs, and a ribbon related to PFLAG activities. Allene Baus was born on August 10, 1934. She was an activist in the Central Florida region who established the first Florida chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) in Orlando. According to the LGBTQ History Museum of Central Florida, Baus was inspired to start the Orlando chapter of PFLAG after attending the 1987 March on Washington. Baus returned and wrote to Adele Starr of the national PFLAG chapter, who sent Baus information on starting a chapter. After writing articles for gay and lesbian publications to advertise, Baus was able to begin holding meetings in her home in starting in April 1988. After starting the chapter, Baus continued her activism by attending LGBT rights events. Allene Baus passed away on February 10, 2022.

Contains records and ledgers on services provided at the Carey Hand Funeral Home. Materials include memoranda regarding the death and burial of deceased individuals, registers of the death, burial and payment information, plots in the Greenwood and Palm cemeteries, financial records, cremation records, ambulance service records, vault storage records, and Central Florida Veterans and Orlando Airbase Servicemen's death, burial, and military information. The records are particularly useful in historical and genealogical research on the Orlando and Central Florida area from 1891 to 1955.

The Ken Kazmerski collection, 1987-2010, contains forms, photos, shirts, banners, newspaper articles, and memorabilia relating to the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Student Union at the University of Central Florida and other LGBTQ+ topics and organizations in Central Florida. Kenneth "Ken" Kazmerski moved to Orlando, Florida in 1980, joining the University of Central Florida (UCF) as an associate professor of Sociology. In 1983, he was named chair of the Department of Social Work. In 1994, he became the faculty advisor for the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Student Union (GLBSU) at UCF. Kazmerski was a staunch supporter, marching alongside GLBSU students and advocating for funding and increased recognition for the group. Kazmerski retired from UCF in 2003. In 2005, he served on the GLBT History Project committee, a group charged with creating a one-day exhibit for the first Come Out With Pride event in Orlando. Later, the GLBT History Project became an independent organization known as the GLBT History Museum. Kazmerski was a founding member and served as president of the GLBT Museum.

This collection comprises of eleven posters gifted by the LGBTQ History Museum of Central Florida. The posters consist of campaign signs for Patty Sheehan, John Ruffier, Jeff Horn, and Billy Manes, a poster of Joel Strack, two posters of drag performers, two protest signs, and a poster made in appreciation of supporters for the GLBT History exhibit. The LGBTQ History Museum of Central Florida began as the GLBT History Project, a group charged with creating a one-day exhibit for the first Come Out With Pride celebration at the Orange County History Center in 2005. With the help of local organizations such as the UCF Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Student Union (GLBSU) and the Metropolitan Business Association (MBA), the GLBT History Project planning team produced an exhibit comprised of personal materials and artifacts from community members. In 2010, the exhibit became an online virtual museum and mobile museum. By 2013, the museum accrued over 10,000 images, artifacts, newspapers, and newsletters. The museum continues to conduct its mission of collecting, preserving, and exhibiting the history of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community in Central Florida.

This collection consists of a quilt made by the Orlando Modern Quilt Guild in 2016. The quilt is a product of the Quilts for Pulse project, an initiative led by the Orlando Modern Quilt Guild in response to the shooting at Pulse Nightclub on June 12, 2016, in Orlando, Florida. The Orlando Modern Quilt Guild launched a charity drive with the goal of making and collecting 102 quilts for the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting and their families. The response on social media was overwhelming and over 1,800 quilts were collected. The quilts incorporated rainbow hearts in their designs as a reference to the PRIDE Flag and to show love and support for those affected by the tragic event. Quilts were numbered to track them through the process of creating them and were distributed to those impacted by the shooting such as survivors, family members, healthcare workers, and emergency response workers.

Patty Sheehan is an Orlando-based LGBTQ+ activist and politician. She is the first out lesbian to be appointed to the Orlando City Commission and the longest-serving Orlando City Council member. The Patty Sheehan collection is primarily comprised of documents, memorabilia, and photographs related to Sheehan's 2000 Orlando City Commissioner electoral campaign and her participation in Pride Parades, marches, and rallies.

The Spectrum Awards Records, 1994-2012, contains information relating to the Spectrum Awards, an LGBT+ community service award created by the Gay and Lesbian Community Services of Central Florida, Inc. in 1994. The collection is comprised of event programs, tickets, scripts, documentation of nominees and finalists, and other information relating to planning, as well as memorabilia and photographs.