Susan David collection on gay and women's culture in Rochester (N. Y.)

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: 2019-006

Staff Only

Content Description

Programs, audio recordings and ephemera, mostly related to the Rochester Freedom Singers and the Rochester Women's Community Chorus.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of event programs, photographs and papers related to gay and women's cultural groups and events around Rochester, N. Y. between 1983 and 1997. The Rochester Freedom Singers and Rochester Women's Community Chorus are particularly well respresented in this collection. Susan David was a leader for multiple cultural groups, including the Black Rose Productions theater group, whose records are also held by the Rochester Public Library.

Dates

Creation: 1983-1998
Creation: Majority of material found within 1992-1997

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use in any current or future manifestations must be obtained in writing from the Rochester Public Library Local History and Genealogy Division.

Administrative History

The Rochester Freedom Singers was a chorus active between at least 1992 and 1997. Founded by Jodi Cohen as a diverse group that cut across "boundaries of race, sexual orientation and musical tastes," the group performed music of all types under the baton of conductor Ted Ashizawa. Many of the concerts were performed served as fundraisers for community organizations. The group did release one CD album, "Many Voices, Many Visions," in 1997, but information on the group after that release has proved elusive.

The Rochester Women's Community Chorus (originally Rochester Womyn's Community Chorus) was founded in 1977 as a professional women's chorus dedicated to providing a vehicle for feminist women's community through music. Only performing works by female composers and led by professional conductors, the group would briefly disband in 1984. In 1985, it was revived by Deborah Wachspress, and was reorganized as a group to perform music of all types, as long as the lyrics were not oppressive in nature. In 1997, it became a 501(c)3 non-profit group with a board of directors. In 2011, Kristy Houston took over as musical director.

Michael Lee was an HIV-positive African-American gay man with a deep interest in the performing arts. Besides being involved in the Rochester Freedom Singers, he decided to start his own performance group in 1994, Baige Productions. He chose the name "Baige Productions" for the group to reflect his own experience as the sole African-American in his high school in Avon, N. Y., yet being called "too white" after he moved to Rochester. The group lasted as long as he could maintain it while his health slowly declined.

Susan David is a gay and women's rights activist with a long involvement in Rochester's cultural scene. Beyond here involvement with the groups covered in this collection, she was a founder of Black Rose Productions, a Rochester-area gay-theater troup, in 1987, and has been active with the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley for decades. Collections related to these organizations are also held by the Rochester Public Library.

Extent

0.2 Cubic Feet (One box.) ; 12 x 10 x 5 inches

.25 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection consists of event programs, photographs and papers related to gay and women's cultural groups, especially choirs, collected by Susan David of Rochester, N. Y., between 1983 and 1998.

Arrangement

This collection consists of 1 box arranged as a single series.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated to the Rochester Public Library by the Out Alliance, January 2019. Donated to the Out Alliance by Susan David, 2017.

Bibliography

Cohen, Jodi. "Haters Might Just See Their Own Reflection." Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, March 6, 1994, page 11.

Cohen, Jodi. "The 'Step Into Life' Benefit Concert by Michael Lee and Friends Scheduled for Dec. 30 at Strong Museum." The Empty Closet, December/January, 1995/1996, page 33.

Low, Stuart. "Rochester Soloists Will Harmonize to Help HIV-Positive Kids." Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, December 27, 1994, page 1C.

"Our History." http://www.therwcc.org/RWCC/about.html; accessed January 16, 2019.

Condition Description

Good to excellent, materials clean and well maintained.

Processing Information

Materials were received sorted by type. Archvist further sorted them by date. Photographs and other materials contained in a self-adhesive album were removed, sleeved and placed in original order in a folder. One page contained newspaper clippings that could not be removed. This page was scanned and reprinted on archival paper.