Robert Dardano papers, 1983-2005, bulk 1984-1986

Summary

Abstract:
Robert (Bob) Dardano (Jr.) was active in several gay and lesbian civil rights organizations in Rochester, NY in the 1980s, including the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley and in writing and publishing The Empty Closet magazine. Dardano also contributed volunteer efforts to the first political campaign of Rochester City Councilman Tim Mains in 1985. This collection consists of personal papers collected or created by Dardano in the course of these activities, including correspondence, meeting notes and minutes, and organizational governing documents. Included is newspaper clippings collection along with other published articles about gay life, culture, and political advocacy in Rochester in the 1980s.
Extent:
0.8 Cubic Feet 2 legal records boxes [12 folders], 1 oversized folder.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Robert Dardano Papers. [box #,folder #]. Local History and Genealogy Division, Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County N.Y.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of personal papers collected or created by Robert (Bob) Dardano (Jr.), who was an active member of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley and participant in its Rochester Lesbian and Gay Political Caucus in the early- and mid-1980s. Dardano also participated in the Tim Mains Rochester City Council political campaign and successful election in 1985, and other New York LGBTQ rights organizations, as well as being a staff writer, editor, and business manager for The Empty Closet magazine. The materials are comprised of meeting notes and minutes, political campaign planning and legislative district committee members, correspondence, organizational governing documents, newsletters, annual reports, and articles in various publications about gay life focusing on Rochester, NY in the 1980s. There is a newspaper clippings collection from primarily local publications, with a detailed inventory listing each article. Materials are primarly from 1983 - 1989, with very few records relating to Tim Mains mayoral campaign in 2005.

Biographical / historical:

Robert (Bob) Dardano (Jr.) was active in several gay and lesbian civil rights organizations in Rochester, NY in the 1980s. These included the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley in which he served on the Board, the Rochester Lesbian and Gay Political Caucus, the New York State Lesbian and Gay Lobby, and working as a staff member in writing and publishing The Empty Closet magazine. Notably, Dardano worked with these groups to support the first political campaign of Rochester City Councilman Tim Mains in 1985. Dardano attended the University of Rochester from 1973 - 1977. Dardano lived in Washington, D.C. and worked for the Library of Congress.

Acquisition information:
Donated by Robert Dardano in 2021.
Processing information:

This collection was received with the original order intact. Material in hanging folders and portfolios were rehoused into archival folders; folder names were taken from the original titles or from notes written by the creator about folder contents. When needed, folders are numbered together as a subunit. Acidic papers were housed in plastic sleeves; newspaper clippings were segmented to their own folders.

During light processing of these materials in 2017, a detailed index of every newspaper clipping (in this collection, Series III) was created; this lists each article title, publication, and date of publication. The index list does not match the order of the clippings in the folders. This typed and printed index is housed in "Collection inventory," Folder 0.

Arrangement:

This collection consists of 2 document boxes and 1 oversized folder.

Series I: Gay and Lesbian organizations, 1983 - 1989

Series II: Tim Mains political campaigns, bulk: 1985, 2005

Series III: Newspaper clippings, 1983-1989 (detailed listing is created for each clipping, but the index list does not match the order of the clippings in the folders)

Series IV: Oversized Materials, 1983-1986

Physical description:
Good condition. Some acidic paper, especially newsprint clippings and publications, are yellowing and stained other papers in the collection to which they were adjacent.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the collection.

Terms of access:

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use in any current or future manifestations must be obtained in writing from the Rochester Public Library Local History and Genealogy Division.

Preferred citation:

Robert Dardano Papers. [box #,folder #]. Local History and Genealogy Division, Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County N.Y.

Location of this collection:
Rundel Memorial Building
115 South Avenue
Rochester, NY 14604, United States
Link to repository site
Contact:
585-428-8370
lochist@libraryweb.org