Jeanne Manford papers

id
3149
origination
Manford, Jeanne
date statement
1972-1995
key date
1972
identifier (local_mss)
1857
org unit
Manuscripts and Archives Division
call number
MssCol 1857
b-number
b16102365
total components
31
total series
5
max depth
2
boost queries
(none)
component layout
Default Layout
Extended MARC Fields
false
Extended Navigation
false
created
2013-04-01 15:04:40 UTC
updated
2026-08-15 02:09:14 UTC
status note
(missing)
Display Aeon link
true

Description data TOP

physdesc
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"1 linear foot", "unit"=>"linear feet"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"3 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}], "supress_display"=>true}
unitid
{"value"=>"MssCol 1857", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"1857", "type"=>"local_mss"}
unitdate
{"value"=>"1972-1995", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1972/1995"}
date_inclusive_start
1972
date_inclusive_end
1995
keydate
1972
unittitle
{"value"=>"Jeanne Manford papers"}
repository
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">The New York Public Library. <span class=\"subarea\">Manuscripts and Archives Division</span></span> <div class=\"address\"> <span class=\"addressline\">New York, New York</span></div>"}
abstract
{"value"=>"Jeanne Manford, mother of gay rights activist Morty Manford, is best known as co-founder of the first support group for parents of gay children. Known as Parents of Gays (POG), the group was the predecessor to PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Gays and Lesbians). The collection contains Manford's correspondence, administrative files, photographs, posters, speeches, printed material, and sound and video recordings related to her work on behalf of gay rights."}
prefercite
{"value"=>"<p>Jeanne Manford Papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.</p>"}
origination
{"value"=>"Manford, Jeanne", "type"=>"persname"}
bioghist
{"value"=>"<p>Jeanne Manford, mother of gay rights activist Morty Manford, is best known as co-founder of the first support group for parents of gay children. Know as Parents of Gays (POG), it was the predecessor to PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).</p> <p>Manford had always supported her son, gay activist Morty Manford, but became active on behalf of gay rights after the police failed to intervene while he was kicked and beaten during a Gay Activists Alliance demonstration in April 1972. She wrote a letter to the editor of the New York Post, which was published in the April 29, 1972 issue, expressing her outrage at the incident. In that letter she also stated, \"I have a homosexual son and I love him.\" The statement sparked much public response and drew attention to violence against gays.</p> <p>In June of 1972 Manford joined her son in the Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade (predecessor to NYC Gay Pride Parade), carrying a placard stating, \"Parents of Gays Unite in Support for our Children.\" She assumed the cheers and encouragement heard from the crowd were for Dr. Benjamin Spock, who walked just behind her and her son. It wasn't until parade participants began to approach her and express gratitude for her presence with hugs and tears, asking Jeanne to speak with their own parents to help them understand, that she realized the cheers were for herself and her open support of gay children.</p> <p>The Manfords had been discussing organizing a support group for parents of gay children; these events convinced them such a group was needed. About 20 people attended the first meeting on March 11, 1973. At first the group called itself Parents of Gays or POG. The group sought to give parents a place to ask questions, talk about their issues, and begin to better understand their children. Groups developed across New York and in other major American cities as the gay rights movement as a whole developed, and as Jeanne and husband Dr. Jules Manford spoke out for their cause through television, newspaper, and radio interviews.</p> <p>By the early 1980s, the group formally established itself as a national organization fighting against discrimination against gay people in employment and housing. At about that time the name of the organization was changed to Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). PFLAG is now an international organization of parents, family members and friends working for understanding and support of their gay, lesbian, transgendered and bisexual loved ones. Their mission includes support, education, and advocacy.</p>"}
scopecontent
{"value"=>"<p>The papers of Jeanne Manford document Manford's involvement with POG (Parents of Gays), the predecessor organization of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), a homosexual support and educational group. The collection contains her correspondence and administrative files, photographs, newsletters, press releases, clippings, transcriptions of speeches, drafts of placard slogans, posters, printed material, and sound and video recordings, and mementos from Gay Pride parades.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Jeanne Manford papers are arranged in five series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/1857#c192924'>Series I. Correspondence</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1972-1995</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The correspondence files include memos, notes and letters between Jeanne Manford and other members of the office regarding the various functions of the organization, and the activities of other branch offices (Philadelphia, Boston, Denver, etc). Of particular interest are the letters from parents asking for information or assistance, and from young people questioning their own sexuality or asking if or how they should tell family and friends. The originals of these letters are closed until 2075, but photocopies with personally identifying information removed have been placed in box 1, folder 5.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/1857#c192931'>Series II. POG/PFLAG Files</a></div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/1857#c192949'>Series III. Photographs</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Photographs in the this series include images of gay pride parades, the Manfords walking with placards demonstrating support for gay children, and shots of Morty Manford.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/1857#c192950'>Series IV. Sound Recordings</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1974-1977</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Recordings of public appearances by Jeanne Manford and \"Get Out the Vote\" campaign ads by the Dade County Coalition for Human Rights.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/1857#c192951'>Series V. Video Recordings</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1974; 1992; 1994</div>\n<div class='series-description'></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
arrangement
{"value"=>"<p>The Jeanne Manford Papers are organized in the following series:</p> <ul> <li>Series I. Correspondence, 1972-1995</li> <li>Series II. POG/PFLAG Files</li> <li>Series III. Photographs</li> <li>Series IV. Sound Recordings, 1974-1977</li> <li>Series V. Video Recordings, 1974; 1992; 1994</li> <li>Restricted Letters</li></ul>", "supress_display"=>true}
acqinfo
{"value"=>"<p>Gift of Jeanne Manford, June 1993-1994; 2001.</p>"}
accessrestrict
{"value"=>"<p>Sound and video recordings are unavailable until duplicated. Please contact the Division regarding access.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p>One folder of correspondence is restricted until 2075.</p>"}
relatedmaterial
{"value"=>"<span class=\"archref\"> Morty Manford Papers. Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.</span> <span class=\"archref\"> Gay Activists Alliance Records. Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.</span> <span class=\"archref\"> International Gay Information Center Records. Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.</span> <span class=\"archref\"> Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.</span>"}
langmaterial
{"value"=>"English"}
processinfo
{"value"=>"<p>Compiled by Manuscripts and Archives Division staff; machine readable finding aid created by FAKER.</p>"}
extent_statement
1 linear foot (3 boxes)
date_start
1972
date_end
1995

Update Collection TOP

Update from EAD XML File

Resources TOP

PDF finding aid



https://nyplorg-data-archives.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/collection/pdf_finding_aid/manfordj.pdf

File attachments

No files attached.

Repository Assets

No UUIDs attached.

Living at NYPL Archives

Sign in to add or edit a living at feature for this collection.

Export Collection to ArchivesSpace