LGBT LANDMARKS: A Survey of Historic LGBT+ Sites in Central Indiana

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / AUGUST 2016 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / AUGUST 2016 INTRODUCTION

The National Park Service (NPS) launched its’ (Fire Island, NY), Cherry Grove Community LGBTQ Heritage Initiative on May 30, 2014, House & Theatre (Fire Island, NY), Dr. Franklin for the purpose of identifying and interpreting E. Kameny Residence (Washington, D.C.), the LGBTQ sites and stories, as well as James Merrill House (Stonington, CT), the nominating related properties to the National Furies Collective (Washington, D.C.), and Casa Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and as Orgullo (San Juan, Puerto Rico). San National Historic Landmarks (NHL). Currently, Francisco’s National AIDS Memorial Grove is a only two LGBT-related properties, NYC’s National Monument and the Stonewall Inn Stonewall Inn and Chicago’s Henry Gerber was declared one as well by President Obama INTRODUCTION 2 House, are listed as both NHLs and on the in June of 2016. Of over 90,500 NRHP SPONSORS 3 NRHP, and six other properties are also listed listings, these nine sites barely skim the on the NRHP, including the Carrington House surface of historic LGBT+ sites in the U.S. HISTORIOGRAPHY 4

METHODOLOGY 5

DATA SUMMARY 6

DEMOLITIONS 11

NRHP ELIGIBILITY 12

INTEGRITY ISSUES 13

ACTION POINTS 14

BIBLIOGRAPHY 15

The Damien Center, 26 N. Arsenal Ave. Largest HIV/AIDS service organization in Indiana Cover Page Info Image Courtesy of Kurt Lee Nettleton © 2015 Talbott Street Theatre Located at 2145 Talbott St. Known for its drag queen performances and as a popu- Local Significance lar dance club since the Why does Indiana need an LGBT+ survey? After the outcry and protests of the House Joint 1980s Resolution-3, a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in the state, Closed June 2016 and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a law that grants religious liberty rights to First Image: Courtesy of Bass individuals as well as corporations with little protections to the LGBT+ community, the need to Photo Co. Collection, Indiana identify, protect, and celebrate Central Indiana’s historic LGBT+ sites becomes even more Historical Society, 1926 necessary. While many LGBT+ sites, especially in Indianapolis, have been listed in NRHP Second Image: Courtesy of neighborhood districts (and some additionally in local districts) as contributing for architectural Kurt Lee Nettleton © 2015 significance, we must do a better job of acknowledging the LGBT+ community directly. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / AUGUST 2016

SPONSORS SPONSORS, CONTRIBUTORS & ASSOCIATED PROJECTS

Why Landmarks?

As the state’s largest non-profit preservation organization, Landmarks launched its own LGBT+ Heritage survey, following the lead of the NPS initiative. With the expertise of a local steering committee and the support of local LGBT+ non-profit Indy Pride Inc., Landmarks was able to document a portion of Indianapolis and Central Indiana LGBT+ history: this is history in the making. Landmarks will continue to survey Indianapolis LGBT+ sites, and Project Manager: Mark Dollase will expand the project statewide next year. Landmarks’ goal is to 2014 Surveyor: Travis Olson have all historically and architecturally significant LGBT+ sites in Indiana surveyed and analyzed for integrity, condition, National 2015-16 Surveyor: Jordan Ryan Register eligibility, and protection methods.

Funding for this initiative is provided by the Efroymson Family Fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation.

IUPUI’s smartphone app, Discover Indiana, features a tour of LGBT+ heritage sites in collaboration with Landmarks. Indiana Landmarks was a 2015-2016 inaugural sponsor of Discover Indiana. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / AUGUST 2016 HISTORIOGRAPHY SCHOLARSHIP ON LGBT+ PRESERVATION IS SLIM

Gay Men Leading Urban Preservation?

There’s a stereotype that gay men are the first to rehabilitate a historic neighborhood. Will Fellows describes the theories about gay men and preservation in his book, A Passion to Preserve: Gay Men as Keepers of Culture; gay men often have more disposable income and no children, so they have the money and time needed to take on historic rehabilitation projects, and without children, school quality and safety can play less of a role in certain dilapidated neighborhoods. Another theory is that gay preservationists are “attempting to create something that will live beyond them,” as in, rehabbing grand houses becomes part of their legacy. Perhaps a more psychoanalytic interpretation is that gay men take on the “marginal” work of preservation by taking “something degraded and making it whole and beautiful again, they are trying to prove themselves worthy of society’s respect and move up the social ladder.”

 There is no single LGBT+ experience or community  Tension exists between heterosexuality/the State’s control of space and the appropriation of space by minorities, including LGBT+ City-County Building, 200 E. Washington St.  Class, cultural, and racial divisions factor heavily in LGBT+ spaces; gays and lesbians do not interact with space in the same way Site of over 400 same-sex marriage licenses (gender privilege) after federal courts ruled that the state ban on  As early as 1991, cultural diversity in the preservation field same-sex marriage was unconstitutional emerged as a key topic, at the 1991 National Trust Conference in Image Courtesy Kurt Lee Nettleton © 2015 San Francisco

Questions to Consider

 How do we cultivate an LGBT audience as preservationists?

 How do we recognize the LGBT community for their key role in saving many historic buildings by simply residing in historic spaces—renting office space, etc.-when downtown was stagnant?

 Are we preserving the history of segregation in some ways?

 Do we need an LGBT Thematic NRHP Nomination for Indianapolis?

 Are we “outing” building owners when listing individual sites as LGBT-related?

 How do we grapple with the integrity of LGBT buildings when the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for historic alterations and the Period of Significance are in conflict? EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / AUGUST 2016 METHODOLOGY THE SURVEYING PROCESS

First Phase

The initial surveyor used historical documentation to locate and identify potential LGBT-sites, including resources at the Chris Gonzalez Library and Archives, the State Archives, and IUPUI’s digitized LGBT collection. This included viewing all issues of local publications The Screamer (1966-1967), The Works (1981-1987), The New Works News (1987-1991), The Word (1991-2000), and the zine The Mirror. Information derived from these sources was then organized thematically: Civil Rights, the Arts, Health, Businesses, Leisure, Residences, Events, Organizations, and People. Names, addresses, dates of significance, and a statement of significance were listed per each historic The Academy Building, 429 E. Vermont St. site. 10 interviews were completed as Location of the Chris Gonzalez Library & Archive well as photo documentation of 120 and Indianapolis LGBT+ advocacy group, IndyPride, Inc. sites. Image Courtesy of Kurt Lee Nettleton © 2015

Second Phase The second surveyor took the data derived from the first phase and developed an executive summary, including building a historiography which provided a national context and a methodology for the project. Then, the data was corrected and cleaned before the data interpretation and mapping efforts could begin. Each property was also checked for a listing in the State Register, National Register, and National Historic Landmarks via SHAARD, SHAARD GIS, and Interim Reports. Next, properties not already in the NRHP were preliminarily determined to be eligible or not for future NRHP nominations, pending DHPA approval. This list was evaluated and ranked on a three-tier system. Properties were also determined to have IHPC protections, Pride Fest 1991 on Monument Circle covenants, or easements as well as being extant or demolished. Some sites required additional 1 Monument Circle research or site visits. In the second summer, the Site of many protests, marches, candlelight vigils surveyor researched additional sites via the Image Courtesy of Hawthorn Mineart © 1991 Indiana Historical Society’s LGBT Oral History Initiative and Collections Initiative, along with new information available in collections from the Indiana State Library and the digitized feminist periodical, Womankind. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / AUGUST 2016 DATA SUMMARY FULL DATASET ORGANIZED BY THEME

ALL SITES THEMES

419 Locations 7 themes mapped

 NRHP Listed: 116 sites (28%)  Civil Rights  Leisure  The Arts  Residences  NRHP Eligible: 60 sites (14%)  Health  Events  Demolished: 59 sites (14%)  Businesses  Protected: 107sites (26%)

Map of all LGBT+ sites surveyed as of 2016 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / AUGUST 2016 DATA SUMMARY SUMMARY OF DATA ORGANIZED BY THEME

CIVIL RIGHTS

51 Locations

 Locations in which protests, events, meetings, etc., for the purpose of ex- tending civil rights to the LGBT+ com- munity occurred

 NRHP Listed: 11  NRHP Districts: Herron (4-1 is NC), Monument Circle (3), Individual (2), Lockerbie (1), Wholesale (1)

 NRHP Eligible: 13

 Demolished: 7

 Protected: 12 IHPC; 0 covenants  22% listed; 25% eligible; 14% demolished; 24% protected

THE ARTS

30 Locations

 Cultural institutions like theaters, cin- emas, art galleries & fairs, & perfor- mance halls which supported LGBT+ efforts

 NRHP Listed: 16—1 is also NHL  NRHP Districts: Herron (3), Individual (3), Fountain Square/Fletcher Place (2), Mass. Ave. (2), Apartments (1), Chatham Arch (1), Irvington (1), Lock- erbie (1), Meridian Park (1), Old Northside (1), Wholesale (1)

 NRHP Eligible: 5

 Demolished: 3

 Protected: 13 IHPC; 1 covenant (dup)  53% listed; 17% eligible; 10% demolished; 43% protected EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / AUGUST 2016 DATA SUMMARY SUMMARY OF DATA ORGANIZED BY THEME

HEALTH 44 Locations

 Health organizations, clinics, doctors, & events devoted to the medical needs of the community

 NRHP Listed: 13  NRHP Districts: Chatham Arch (2), Mass. Ave. (2), Monument Circle (2), Old Northside (2), Parks & Blvd. (2), Holy Cross (1), Shortridge (1), Cum- berland (1-NC)

 NRHP Eligible: 4

 Demolished: 4  Protected: 10 IHPC (1-NC); 1 cove- nant (duplicate)  30% listed; 9% eligible; 9% demolished; 23% protected

BUSINESSES

189 Locations

 Retail, bookstores, niche-interest, sa- lons, pet stores, etc., either owned by LGBT+ businesspeople or advertised to and serving the LGBT+ community

 NRHP Listed: 46  NRHP Districts: Mass. Ave. (13), Monu- ment Circle (10-1 NC,) St. Joe (5-1 NC), Individual (4), Old Northside (3), Lock- erbie (2), Wholesale (2), Herron (1), Holy Cross (1), Holy Rosary (1), Irving- ton (1), Meridian Park (1), Pleasanton (1), Shortridge (1)

 NRHP Eligible: 19

 Demolished: 24

 Protected: 42 IHPC; 0 covenants  24% listed; 10% eligible; 13% demolished; 22% protected EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / AUGUST 2016 DATA SUMMARY SUMMARY OF DATA ORGANIZED BY THEME

LEISURE

88 Locations

 Any alcohol-serving establishment or entertainment venue either owned by LGBT+ members or serving the LGBT+ community as well as cruising sites

 NRHP Listed: 32 (1-NHL)  NRHP Districts: Individual (5), Mass. Ave. (5), Herron (4-1 NC), Monument Circle (3), Old Northside (3-2 NC), Parks & Blvd. (3), Wholesale (3), Lockerbie (2), Emerson Heights (1), Fountain Square (1), Holy Cross (1), Shortridge (1)

 NRHP Eligible: 14

 Demolished: 23

 Protected: 26 IHPC; 0 covenants  36% listed; 16% eligible; 26% demolished; 30% protected

RESIDENCES

26 Locations

 Any dwelling that the LGBT+ communi- ty resided in or advertised rentals, as well as dwellings reported with crimes

 NRHP Listed: 15  NRHP Districts: Old Northside (4), Indi- vidual (3), Mass. Ave. (2), Woodruff (2), Chatham Arch (1), Herron (1), Monu- ment Circle (1), St. Joe (1)

 NRHP Eligible: 6

 Demolished: 0

 Protected: 12 IHPC; 0 covenants  58% listed; 23% eligible; 0% demolished; 46% protected EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / AUGUST 2016 DATA SUMMARY SUMMARY OF DATA ORGANIZED BY THEME

EVENTS

118 Locations

 Any annual LGBT+ related event or celebra- tion, as well as individual events such as per- formances, speeches, the founding of organi- zations, introduction of new laws, and as- saults, harassment, homicides against LGBT+ individuals

 NRHP Listed: 25  NRHP Districts: Herron (8-1 NC), Individual (5), Monument Circle (3), Old Northside (3), Wholesale (2), Fletcher Place (1), Fountain Square (1), Lockerbie (1), Shortridge (1)

 NRHP Eligible: 12

 Demolished: 6

 Protected: 25 IHPC; 0 covenants  21% listed; 10% eligible; 5% demolished; 21% protected EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / AUGUST 2016 DEMOLITIONS MANY STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED

The Bell Flower Clinic, 1101 W. 10th St. STD Clinic that advertised to community Tomorrow’s Bar, 2301 N. Meridian St., de- Demolished in 2014 molished in 2013; Talbott General Store, Image Courtesy of Kurt Lee Nettleton © 2013 2153 N. Talbott St., 1984 fire gutted build- ing, demolished in 2003; Club Indy, 341 N Capitol Ave., demolished in 1982 for park- ing lot. Images courtesy of the Chris Gonza- lez Library’s digitized collection via IUPUI EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / AUGUST 2016 NRHP ELIGIBILITY DETERMINING NRHP ELIGIBILITY FOR SURVEYED PROPERTIES

POTENTIAL NOMINATIONS

 Between the 7 categories surveyed, there were 60 properties eligible for National Register nomination (duplicates removed).

 A 3-tiered system was established to triage eligible sites based on their historical significance to the LGBT community, architectural significance, and overall integrity.

 For example, a 1930’s commercial building with low architectural significance that was used by an LGBT organization as rented office space for a year would be in the third tier, whereas a building with high architectural significance used by the same organization may be on the second tier.

 Many buildings originally listed as Non-Contributing in NRHP The Ritz Theater, 3422 N. Illinois St. neighborhood district nominations are eligible now because of Location of the Famous Door, a drag perfor- the NPS’ 50-year rule. mance venue, in the 1970s Possibly the oldest site for drag shows in Indy Image Courtesy of Kurt Lee Nettleton © 2015

Eligible Sites for LGBT related NRHP Nominations:

 Riley Towers, 650 North Alabama Street, built 1963

 The Ritz Theater, 3422-3430 North Illinois Street, built 1927

 The Varsity Lounge, 1517 North Penn- sylvania Street, built c. 1937

 Bachnalia House, 1201 Pleasant Street, built c. 1875

 Clowes Memorial Hall, 4602 Sunset Avenue, built 1963

 Old Trails Building, 305 W. Washington Street, built 1928 Old Trails Building, 305 W. Washington St.  And numerous apartments, houses, Location of the Expo Bar in the 1970s churches, shopping centers, theaters, Image Courtesy of Kurt Lee Nettleton © 2016 parks, and commercial structures EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / AUGUST 2016 INTEGRITY ISSUES NO STANDARD GUIDELINES FOR INTEGRITY QUESTIONS

How do preservationists balance LGBT-related alterations with historic integrity? It depends on factors such as:  Did the alteration occur during the determined period of significance?  Do the alterations provide context for the criteria applied?  Is the structure in a district with already established periods of significance or select criteria?  If the historical significance is less than 50 years, does the property apply for criteria consideration G, “Properties that have Achieved Significance Within the Last Fifty Years?”  Are the individuals or events associated with the The Varsity Lounge, 1517 N. Pennsylvania St. structure enough that integrity is irrelevant? Most likely the oldest gay bar in Indianapolis Closed late 2015; Building for sale Image Courtesy Kurt Lee Nettleton © 2015

The Ten Bar/The Ruins, 1218 N. Pennsylvania St. Gay bar in the 1980s turned lesbian bar and dance club until 2014 Closed 2014 Converted back into 5 storefronts 2015-2016 Image Courtesy Kurt Lee Nettleton © 2015 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / AUGUST 2016 ACTION POINTS STEPS TO IDENTIFY, PROTECT & CELEBRATE LGBT+ SITES

NRHP AMENDMENTS

Many properties surveyed already are listed in National Register of Historic Places nominations, particularly neighborhood districts, although not specified for LGBT+- related history. To add information regarding LGBT+ history, the nominations require an amendment either by submitting a continuation sheet with new information, or completing a new form incorporating new and former documentation, according to National Register Bulletin #16A Part VI. Further coordination will be needed from DNR- DHPA’s National Register team. Lockerbie Pub, COLLABORATION 631 E. Michigan St. Formerly Labyris, a female-run lesbian bar and music venue NRHP NOMINATIONS started in 1979 Hosted numerous folk and Many Indiana institutions are developing country female performers LGBT+-related programming, exhibits, and Image Courtesy of Properties not already listed in the National events in their respective areas. Because of Kurt Lee Nettleton © 2015 Register of Historic Places will need a this, numerous opportunities for collaboration nomination written by a community exist between institutions and the community. member, historian, etc., and approved by For example, the Indiana Historical Society DNR-DHPA’s National Register team. has its own LGBT Oral History Initiative and Landmarks developed a three tiered- Collections Initiative. And IUPUI’s Public system for LGBT+ sites surveyed that are History masters program developed an LGBT eligible for the NRHP. Please check with history tour for the smartphone app Indy the Landmarks survey if you are interested Historical. Any collaboration effort will help in nominating a specific LGBT+ property. raise awareness to LGBT+ history.

PROTECTIVE METHODS FUNDRAISING PROMOTING SPACES

Protective methods may be needed for To fund future National Register There are numerous ways to promote some properties. Landmarks can nominations, bricks-and-mortar grants, LGBT+-related historic architecture and coordinate establishing protective Indiana Historical Bureau marker history, through house tours, neighborhood covenants or easements in order to restrict applications, and other forms of walking tours, parties, lectures, and other future development of the property; these heritage tourism, institutions must special events. Celebrating these historic volunteer agreements typically restrict develop new fundraising programs. spaces can be a catalyst for preserving changes to the exterior of the building. Strong fundraising abilities will translate other LGBT+ historic sites and the Check with Landmarks to learn more about into more opportunities for institutions neighborhoods these sites are situated in. covenants and easements and the tax and the public to engage in LGBT+ Contact Landmarks with ideas for incentives you may be eligible for. history and develop scholarship. promoting your favorite LGBT+ historic site. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / AUGUST 2016 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Local Collections:  Chris Gonzalez Library & Archive LGBT collection: www.indypride.org/library  IUPUI’s digital collection of The Works from the Chris Gonzalez Library & Archive: www.ulib.iupui.edu/collections/ GonzalezGLBT  IUPUI’s digital collection of Womankind: www.ulib.iupui.edu/collections/Womankind  Indiana Historical Society LGBT Collections Initiative: www.indianahistory.org/feature-details/indiana-lgbt-collecting- initiative Collections include: Mark A. Lee LGBT Collection, 1981-2014 (M1157); Indy Pride Bag Ladies Materials, ca. 1977- 2015 (P0564/OM0604); Mark St. John Papers, 1992-2015 (M1217); Indianapolis Men’s Chorus Records, ca. 1989- 1995, 2005 (M1198); Gerry Tyrrell Papers, ca. 1985-1987 (M1202)  Discover Indiana, IUPUI History Department’s smartphone LGBT History Tour: indyhist.iupui.edu/tours/show/11

Suggested Readings:  Anne-Marie Bouthillette, essay “Queer and Gendered Housing: A Tale of Two Neighborhoods in Vancouver,” in Queers in Space: Communities, Public Places, Sites of Resistance (Seattle: Bay Press, 1997)  Petra L. Doan and Harrison Higgins, “The Demise of Queer Space? Resurgent Gentrification and the Assimilation of LGBT Neighborhoods,” Journal of Planning Education and Research, 31, no. 6 (Spring 2011): 6-25  Will Fellows, A Passion to Preserve: Gay Men as Keepers of Culture (Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press, 2004)  Susan Ferentinos, Interpreting LGBT History at Museums and Historic Sites (New York: Bowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2014)  Kasey Jaren Fulwood, Thesis, “The National Register of Historic Places and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Heritage,” 2014  Elizabeth Lapovsky Kennedy and Madeline D. Davis, Boots of Leather, Slippers of Gold: The History of a Lesbian Community (New York: Routledge, 1993)  National Park Service’s LGBT Initiative: www.nps.gov/history/heritageinitiatives/LGBThistory/  Dwight Young, “Out in Front: Recognition is Long Overdue of the Gay Contribution to Reviving Historic Neighborhoods,” Preservation: The Magazine of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, 51, no. 6 (Nov.-Dec. 1999): 104

Online Links:  American Alliance of Museums, LGBTQ Alliance Welcoming Guidelines for Museums, 2016: www.aam-us.org/docs/default -source/professional-networks/lgbtq_welcome_guide.pdf  NPS’ Stonewall National Monument Page: www.nps.gov/ston/index.htm  The LGBT Community Center National History Archive: gaycenter.org/archives  LGBTQ History—Oral History Hub: lgbtqdigitalcollaboratory.org/oral-history-hub  Indy Rainbow Chamber: www.gayindynow.com  Wearing Gay History-Digital Archive of Historical LGBT T-Shirts: www.wearinggayhistory.com  Country Queers-Rural Oral History Project: countryqueers.com  NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project: nyclgbtsites.org  LGBTQ American Collection on History Pin: www.historypin.org  Alice Langford Oral History: archive.org/details/RambleRedheadEpisode68InterviewwithAliceLangford