ClubHouse Oral History Project
Title
ClubHouse Oral History Project
Subject
LGBTQ African American afterhours club in DC that was open from 1975-1990, Oral histories, House music, Disco, Black LGBTQIA Joy, AIDS pandemic in Black Community
Description
A collection of oral histories on the people's experiences related to the ClubHouse. The ClubHouse was a DC after hours club that was open from 1975-1990 catering mostly to a Black queer clientele. It was known internationally for its sound system built by the audio engineer that created Studio 54’s. The ClubHouse had legendary DJ’s and introduced house music to DC. It hosted the Children’s Hour and many political events for the DC democrats including being a regular campaign stop for Marion Barry. The ClubHouse helped fund the Third World Gays and Lesbian Conference and hosted the first AIDS Forum for Black and Third Worlds Gays.
Creator
Delan Ellington
Abstract
This is a collection of audio interviews and hundreds of photos taken within the ClubHouse that will allow researchers stories with some visual references especially when it comes to talking about those who did not survive the AIDS pandemic but who are in the photographs. The dozens of hours of audio interviews offer multiple African American Queer perspectives, stories, and observations made from owners, managers, DJs, employees, frequent guests, and certified members. These interviews will paint a fantastical picture of a Black LGBTQIA institution/space so full of joy, tragedy, love, community, pageantry, and Blackness just being allowed to be Black that the ClubHouse can easily said to be as important to Black LGBTQ history and culture as Ballroom is considered.
Date
1975-1990
Date Available
August 1st, 2020 - July 2022
Date Created
7/22/2020
Contributor
Delan Ellington
Ashley Bamfo
Glenn Reimer
Ashley Bamfo
Glenn Reimer
Rights
All Rights belong to the Rainbow History Project
Format
Digital Recordings and digital photographs
Extent
Various
Medium
Digital Audio
Language
English
Type
Oral History
Coverage
African American LGBTQ Spaces, LGBTQ Bar/Club, 1980's DC, Late 1970's DC
Spatial Coverage
Washington D.C
Temporal Coverage
1970’s – 1990
Audience
Public, Researchers, and all Black LGBTQIA Identified People
Rights Holder
Rainbow History Project
Collection Items
Maggy Lewis ClubHouse Oral History Interview.
LISTEN ONLINE Part 1 of 1 The importance and physical experience of the music at the ClubHouse. Party at the end of the universe. Friday Nights--straight nights. Saturday Nights---gay nights. HIV/AIDS. Inner city AIDS Network/Us Helping US.…
