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LGBTQIA+ Studies: A Resource Guide

The Mattachine Society

The Mattachine Society (initially called the Mattachine Foundation) began as a secret organization in Los Angeles in 1950, with their first Statement of Purpose drawn up in 1951. The group was founded by Communist organizer Harry Hay and other leftists including Bob Hull, Chuck Rowland, Dale Jennings, Konrad Stevens, James Gruber and Rudi Gernreich (Jewish Refugee). The Mattachine founders borrowed the initial structure of the organization from the Communist Party, and the leadership, the "fifth order" was anonymous, so members didn't even know their names. The Mattachine Society went on to become one of several prominent groups organizing during the period of LGBTQ+ activism referred to as the Homophile Movement, with chapters opening up in a number of states. The Mattachine Society began publishing The Mattachine Review in 1955. Regional organizations also published their own periodicals and newsletters.

Around 1957, the National Mattachine Society moved their headquarters from Los Angeles to San Francisco. In a 1957 letter from the Mattachine Board of Directors, they informed the local chapters that the board had voted 5-2 in favor of revoking all area council charters and "getting out of the branch office business." The letter went on to encourage the local Mattachine branches to continue working autonomously, which many did.  The San Francisco Mattachine went on until 1967.

Sources:

D'Emilio, John (1983). Sexual Politics, Sexual Communities: The Making of a Homosexual Minority in the United States, 1940–1970. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. Library of Congress General Collections.

Coates, Paul. "Well, Medium and Rare,” in theLos Angeles Mirror,March 12, 1953. Accessed via Gale's Archives of Sexuality and Gender, The Homophile Movement: Papers of Donald Stewart Lucas, 1941-1976, Homophile Organizations Mattachine Foundation Correspondence. Library of Congress Electronic Resources.

Homophile Organizations Mattachine Society Dissolution of Chapters. September 30, 1957-1960; n.d. TS The Homophile Movement 3/14. Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Historical Society. Archives of Sexuality and Gender

Rieger, Mariyln. Notes of Discussion Group Meeting March 20,1953. Accessed via Gale's Archives of Sexuality and Gender, The Homophile Movement: Papers of Donald Stewart Lucas, 1941-1976, Homophile Organizations Mattachine Foundation Correspondence. Library of Congress Electronic Resources.

Finding Primary Sources

The following titles link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to additional online content are included when available.

Regional Organizations

  • Mattachine of Boston
  • Chicago, Mattachine Midwest 1965-1986. Address listed as 4753 Broadway in 1969. 
  • Cincinnati Mattachine Society (Ohio)
  • Dayton Mattachine Society (Ohio)
  • Denver
  • The Washington (DC) Mattachine, established in 1956 by Buell Dwight Huggins. FBI surveillance files reveal that they held several meetings at St. James Episcopal Church on 222 8th St NE, a church still in operation today. This memo estimated attendance at around 40 people.
  • The Mattachine Society of Washington (DC), formed in 1961. Founded by Frank Kameny and Jack Nichols. The first DC office space was located at 1319 F St. NW.
  • The Mattachine Society of New York, External formed in 1955, disbanded in 1987.
  • The Mattachine Society of Philadelphia, formed in January 1965 by four women. 
  • San Francisco

The National Mattachine Society (LA/San Francisco) held annual conventions. In addition, local branches often held conferences and events of their own. You can find a great deal of the conference proceedings in the subscription database linked below, the Archives of Sexuality and Gender.

Government surveillance occurred at a number of these conventions, and you can find FBI and CIA files on their investigation of homophile organizations including at conferences and events. 

The subscription resources marked with a padlock are available to researchers on-site at the Library of Congress. If you are unable to visit the Library, you may be able to access these resources through your local public or academic library.

The following titles link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to additional online content are included when available.