{"value"=>"1957-1972", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1957/1972"}
{"value"=>"1981", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1981"}
{"value"=>"2005", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"2005"}
{"value"=>"<p>Formed in San Francisco in 1955, the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB) was the first lesbian organization in the United States. Gittings formed the East Coast chapter in 1958, based in New York City, by request of the organization's founders. In 1963, Gittings became editor of DOB's magazine, <span class=\"title\">The Ladder</span>. Under her leadership and with the photojournalistic help of Kay Tobin Lahusen, the two evolved the magazine into \"A Lesbian Review\" with cover portraits of organization members. They stayed involved with the magazine until 1966, when their activism became too radical for the organization's leadership.</p> <p>The Daughters of Bilitis materials are arranged into two main groups: General files and <span class=\"title\">The Ladder</span> editorial files. The editorial files are further divided into Correspondence and Production files. In maintaining the donors' filing system, the correspondence is arranged alphabetically by year.</p> <p>Correspondence, committee notes, drafts, and editorial files document Gittings and Lahusen's involvement with the DOB, particularly their work with <span class=\"title\">The Ladder</span>. DOB members and its leadership, outside experts, and homophile activists regularly wrote to Gittings in her capacity as editor. The correspondence traces their evolution of the magazine within the larger context of the homophile movement.</p> <p>Not all correspondence concerning <span class=\"title\">The Ladder</span> is filed here; such material was separated by the donors and filed by correspondent rather than by year. For information regarding the involvement of Foster Gunnison, Frank Kameny, and Ros Regelson and Elenore Lester with <span class=\"title\">The Ladder</span>, see Series I. Correspondence. Correspondence with Fritz Fluckiger, Barbara Grier, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, Leo Skir, and Lilli Vincenz appear in both filing systems.</p> <p>Issues of <span class=\"title\">The Ladder</span> can be found in the LGBT Periodicals collection maintained by the Manuscripts and Archives Division: http://archives.nypl.org/mss/1494.</p>"}