Patti Roberts R. (1947-2011) Extent: 8 Cubic Feet, 1 Oversized Framed Certificate, 2 Map Folders Repository: San Francisco Public Library
Total Page:16
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Title: Patti Roberts Papers, 1968-2009 (bulk 1971-2004) Collection number: GLC 111 Creator: Patti Roberts R. (1947-2011) Extent: 8 cubic feet, 1 oversized framed certificate, 2 map folders Repository: San Francisco Public Library. James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center, San Francisco, California 94102 Abstract: Patricia (Patti) Rose Roberts was a longtime San Francisco Bay Area resident and civil rights and labor attorney. The papers document her interest in prison reform, George Jackson and Stephen Bingham, comparable worth and pay equity for women, gay and lesbian issues in the workplace, and employment discrimination. The collection contains subject files, photographs; books and magazines, and posters and ephemera. Language of Material: English with some items in Spanish. Access: The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk hours. Publication Rights: Copyright and literary rights retained by the Estate of Patti Roberts. Location: Collection is stored onsite (L65); map folders are stored in M43. Preferred citation: Patti Roberts Papers (GLC 111), James C. Hormel Gay & Lesbian Center, San Francisco Public Library. Immediate Source of Acquisition: Donated by Patti R. Roberts, September 24, 2008. Papers transferred by Margit Galanter, August 17, 2011. Biographical note: Patricia (Patti) Rose Roberts was a longtime San Francisco Bay Area resident, an out lesbian, a and civil rights and labor attorney. She was born in Far Rockaway, Queens, New York, on November 13, 1946. She graduated from Brooklyn College in 1967 and went to UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law. She graduated from Boalt in 1970 with a J.D. degree and a desire to use her legal skills to help those traditionally without representation. That same year, she formed a collective Oakland household where she and others, including Stephen Bingham, lived. While others moved out, Ms. Roberts lived in the home for the next 41 years. Roberts began her career working on behalf of prisoners at the National Lawyers Guild (NLG), and remained active with the organization, serving as president of the Bay Area chapter and on the local NLG board. While continuing to do political work with the guild, Roberts began work as the head of the Women's Litigation Unit at San Francisco Neighborhood Legal Aid, representing poor women on a wide range of legal issues. Following her time at Legal Aid, Ms. Roberts founded and co-directed the Comparable Worth Project in Oakland, which pioneered much of the earliest legal work on the issue of pay inequity rooted in gender and race bias. In 1977, Patti became a founding board member of the Lesbian Rights Project, later re- named the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and later served as NCLR interim executive director. NCLR is a nonprofit organization that was created to promote LGBT rights through litigation, public policy advocacy and public education. Roberts began private practice as an employment discrimination attorney in 1990 and also taught LGBT, legal, and labor studies at City College of San Francisco and San Francisco State University Extension. As a lawyer, her practice gravitated toward the defense of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights as well as women's and minority rights in the Bay Area. During her entire career, Roberts remained an outspoken advocate for feminist and LGBT rights. Patti Roberts died unexpectedly on January 7, 2011. Scope and content note: The papers document Roberts’ interest in prison reform, George Jackson and Stephen Bingham, comparable worth and pay equity for women, gay and lesbian issues in the workplace, and employment discrimination. The collection contains subject files, photographs; books and magazines, and posters and ephemera. There are files on her speaking engagements with notes and speeches. There are course readers and syllabi for the classes Roberts taught on the law and labor, employment, and gay and lesbian issues through San Francisco State University Extended Education, and City College of San Francisco. There are some materials on the East Bay Lesbian / Gay Democratic Club and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. There are many pamphlets and books, including several publications by the National Lawyers Guild on gay rights and women’s rights, some Soledad materials, and Weather Underground publications. Arrangement: The collection is roughly grouped into four series: Subject Files; Photographs; Books and Magazines; Posters and Ephemera. Indexing Terms: Roberts, Patti R.—Archives. East Bay Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club. National Lawyers Guild. Domestic partner benefits—Law and legislation—United States. Equal pay for equal work—Law and legislation—United States. Gay couples—Legal status, laws, etc.—United States. Gay men–Legal status, laws, etc. Gay rights—United States. Lesbians—Legal status, laws, etc. Sex discrimination in employment—Law and legislation—United States. Women—Employment—Law and legislation—United States. Box 1 Prison. [Stephen Bingham, George Jackson materials]. Steven L. Mayer letter to Alfred Bingham, May 16, 1978 encloses “Chapter 8. War Without Terms: The Death of George Jackson” copyright 1978 by Huey P. Newton (attributed by Mayer to Pat Richartz and others); “A Wanted Man: Is He Dead or Alive?” (Independent Journal Marin County, November 10, 1980) about Stephen Bingham; Josiah Thompson, Russell Stetler Memorandum to Counsel re: People vs. Johnny Spain, March 23, 1983 to Dennis Riordan, Esq.; clipping “The Binghams: a perversely fascinating family” by Frances Starn/Bookmarks”; photocopy of trial? Transcripts regarding George Jackson; photocopied Memorandum re extradition; California Magazine, January 1985 with article “The Last One Home: Requiem for a Mass Movement” by Jo Durden-Smith. Prison. “San Quentin News,” 1971. Photocopied clippings about George Jackson, Stephan Bingham, et al. Prison. Clippings 1971 (2 folders). Original and photocopied clippings about prisons, San Quentin, George Jackson, Stephen Bingham. Prison. [Bingham case], 1971. Order no. 4094 The People of the State of California vs. Stephen Mitchell Bingham, et al., October 1971; Affidavit of Bruce Bales, District Attorney Marin County, August 31, 1971; 4 sketches of Quentin Adjustment Center; Coroner’s report for George Lester Jackson, 1971 (2 copies). Prison. “Memo. San Quentin, August 21. Bingham,” 1971. October 18, 1971 memorandum to the Steve Bingham Defense Team. Articles Family/Gay, 1972-1980. Includes pamphlets: Families by Linda Gordon “a Bread and Rose Publication” (Boston: New England Free Press, 1970) with pencil annotations; and, The Political Perspective of The Lavender & Red Union (Los Angeles: Lavender & Red Union, March 1975). “Roberts / Prison Law 12.0” regarding lesbian and gay prisoners Huey P. Newton, 1942-1989. Photocopy of memorial service program (Allen Temple Baptist Church, Oakland, CA) National Lawyers Guild. “Convention Theme—NEC introduction” annotated, 1978. Gay Rights Task Force, NEC Proposal “The Struggle for Democratic Rights and the Guild” “Cuba—Gay / NLG,” 1979-1981. (2 folders) Includes “Homophobia and Sexism in Cuba” by Patti Roberts (Guild Notes, January 1979); correspondence with Barbara Ellen Handschu, Bob Hilliard, Sheryl [Karp?]; clippings, agenda for the Gay & Lesbian Cuban Refugee Program, memorandum from Bay Area Anti-Sexism Committee. Women. Pornography, 1985 Speaking Engagements, 1982-1985. Includes correspondence, notes for speeches, programs, flyers. Box 1 (continued) L / G Articles, Family, 1979-1993 G / L Workplace Fall 1997, 1997-2006 BALIF Workshop. Sexual Orientation and Employment, 1992 Labor Studies. GLBT Work, 1990-2001 Restaurants, 1993-2006 Box 2 Comparable Worth. Articles—Miscellaneous, 1976-1984 (2 folders) [includes “The 59 cent Swindle” by Patti Roberts (Union WAGE, January-February 1981), “Equal Pay For Equal Work” by Patti Roberts and Virginia Dean (Guild Notes, 11/80). Comparable Worth. Patti Roberts legal file. (4 folders) [Primarily contains photocopies of legal judgements. Folder #2 includes “November 1, 1981 preliminary findings report from the Comparable Worth Committee to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors” (Roberts was on the committee); “Remarks by Virginia Dean before the California Public Employers Labor Relations Association, Nov. 14, 1980” Comparable Worth Project; Notes for speech to California Women in Government; memorandum from Marie Ory]. Comparable Worth. Helen Remick article CB/VD [Carroll Boone, Virginia Dean], 1982-1983 (3 folders). Folder #1 includes correspondence with Remick, Donna Jones, 1983; “Legislative and Legal Points of Action on Comparable Worth” by Virginia Dean, Patti Roberts, Carroll Boone. Comparable Worth. Class outline and 23 handouts / articles. San Francisco Labor Studies. Women’s Issues—Comparable Worth. 1984. Includes transcript of speech by Gail Olson to Woodland City Council, February 15, 1983. Comparable Worth Project. Funding proposal, Fall 1981. Virigina Dean, Patti Roberts. Comparable Worth. New Labor Review, number 4, Fall 1982. Includes “An Introduction to Comparable Worth” by Patti Robert. San Francisco State University. Paralegal Studies Program. Labor Law, Spring 1986 Red folder. “To Grade” PLS 320 . Legal Research & Writing, Fall 2007 Labor Studies. Labor / Employment Law, Spring 2001. Box 3 L/G “Gay and Lesbian Issues in the Workplace. Roberts’ Reader and Resource Materials.” S.F. Community College. Patti R. Roberts, Instructor, Winter 1991. Labor 91D. Labor Studies / Gay & Lesbian