Research with Primary Sources: Finding Evidence in Special Collections

Research with Primary SourcesFinding evidence in special collections

Examples from the Lollie Johnson Papers, UTSA Libraries

digital.utsa.edu/cdm/lolliejohnsonpapers

What are primary sources?“A primary source is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study. These sources were present during an experience or time period and offer an inside view of a particular event.”

Quoted from: http://www.princeton.edu/~refdesk/primary2.html

Primary sources provide facts & feelingsFACTS: Names, dates, places, events, relationships, and lots of other data

FEELINGS: Personal perspectives, opinions, sentiments, and social conditions

FactsWhat can we learn?

FactsLollie Johnson owned Noo Zoo

Lollie Johnson is associated with the San Antonio gay community

In 1991, San Antonio had a defined gay community

Noo Zoo opened in early 1983

Hot Tea is a supporter of Lollie Johnson, Noo Zoo, and the San Antonio gay community

FeelingsWhat can we learn?

FeelingsSocial conditions

Worries and fears

Role models

The experience of coming out

Facts & FeelingsCulture

Ritual

Emotions

Social conditions

Source CriticismEvaluate sources based on:

• Date: When was the source produced?

• Locality: Where was it produced?

• Authorship: By whom was it produced?

• Analysis: From what pre-existing material was it produced?

• Integrity: In what original form was it produced?

• Credibility: What is the evidential value of its contents?

Source: Gilbert J. Garraghan, A Guide to Historical Method (Fordham University Press: New York, 1946): 168.

Lollie Johnson PapersLet’s have a look inside Special Collections!digital.utsa.edu/cdm/lolliejohnsonpapers

About Lollie Johnson Laura Lollie Johnson (1939-2001) was born in Beaumont, Texas, but moved to San Antonio in her youth and graduated from Brackenridge High School in 1956. A divorced mother of three, she worked for almost 10 years as a bartender before opening the Kali Club in 1971. Many other bars followed, including the Hypothesis Club (1972-1976), The Zoo Club (1974-1979), Faces (1979-1983), and her longest running establishment, the Noo Zoo Company (1983-1993). The success of her nightclub businesses was credited to her commitment to the San Antonio Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered community, which made up the majority of her customer base. Lollie was also active in the local community groups, including Alamo Human Rights Committee, Lavender Alcalde, and 1st Gay Conference in San Antonio. Additionally, she served as secretary on the Board of Directors of the San Antonio AIDS foundation and was treasurer and vice president of the San Antonio Tavern Guild.

About the Collection The Lollie Johnson Papers include newspaper clippings, correspondence, printed materials, photographs, negatives, a small notebook, menus, programs, and artifacts. Photographs comprise the largest portion of the collection, recording Lollie’s family and friends, homes, clubs and vacations throughout her lifetime. The photographs taken at her clubs show events such as Halloween parties, open-mic nights, New Year’s Eve parties, and female impersonator shows. Employees and bar patrons are well documented, as are her many house parties.

Information

Keywords:

San Antonio, bartender, LGBT, community groups, events, open-mic, parties, bar patrons, newspaper clippings, correspondence, printed materials, artifacts, photographs, negatives, notebook, menus, programs

What questions can we answer?

What questions can we develop?

At the clubWhat do we see?

At the clubPeople

Activities

Visual art

Performance art

Fashion & costume

Interior design & decor

At homeWhat do we see?

At homeArchitecture

Local flora

Climate

MethodologyIdentify:• Data needs• Likely sources

Find evidence:• Facts• Feelings

Critique evidence:• Date• Locality• Authorship• Analysis• Integrity• Credibility

Go exploring!digital.utsa.edu/cdm/lolliejohnsonpapers

Presentation by Allison Jai O’Dell

@AllisonJaiODell | [email protected]