Series XIX: Paulette Goodman PFLAG Collection
Finding aid updated
14 Nov 2022 by Vincent E. Slatt
Descriptive summary
Title: Series XIX: Paulette Goodman PFLAG Collection (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
Dates: 1980s-1990s.
Barbara Bush, letters, 1989
PG retirement, articles,
First issue of Flagpole, newsletters,
Accession number: 2017.019; 2024.005
Series number: MS 0764 RHP, Series XIX: PFLAG-DC
Creator: These records were created by Paulette Goodman in her role as the founder of the Metro Washington DC Chapter of PFLAG (1983) and president of the national federation (1988).
Extent: 8 Hollinger boxes (at DCHC); Also: 6 folders of PFLAG Newsletters moved to Series X Community Newsletters Collection in 2017.
Repository: The DC History Center, as of 8 June 2017; accretion at DCHC as of 2024 Jan 21.
Abstract: The Paulette Goodman Collection includes the personal correspondence, documents, and records of Paulette Goodman, the Metro Washington DC Chapter of PFLAG, and the national PFLAG federation.
Biographical note: Paulette Goodman was born in 1933 to a Jewish family in Paris, survived the Nazi-occupation, and moved to the United States as a teenager in 1949. Her family relocated to Silver Spring, Maryland in 1980. In 1981, while she was attending college at Sarah Lawrence, Goodman’s daughter came out as a lesbian. This event triggered Goodman’s journey as an activist on behalf of the LGBT community. She was one of the founding members of the Metro Washington DC chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). From 1983-1988 she was the chapter head, PFLAG-DC. In 1988, she was elected to National Chair of the PFLAG Federation, a position in which she served until 1992. In 1989, she sent a series of letters to then-First Lady, Barbara Bush, believing that the First Lady would respond. Mrs. Bush did respond, writing ““I firmly believe that we cannot tolerate discrimination against any individuals or groups in our country. Such treatment always brings with it pain and perpetuates intolerance.” This statement may be the first example of a positive statement about gay people to come from any White House. Goodman has continued her pioneering activism throughout her life, lecturing and organizing in support of the rights of LGBT persons and providing a venue for their parents, siblings, relatives, and friends to engage with one another.
In 2012, Rainbow History Project named Paulette Goodman a Community Pioneer. RHP conducted an oral history interview which can be accessed via the drive.
Paulette Goodman died 15 August 2021 in Beltsville, MD.
Scope and content of collection: The Paulette Goodman collection includes the personal correspondence of Paulette Goodman, as well as her correspondence on behalf of PFLAG-DC and the national PFLAG federation. The correspondence includes letters to and from First Lady Barbara Bush, which may represent one of the first positive statements about gay people to be delivered by any White House. The collection also consists of financial documents, committee, board, and task force records of PFLAG-DC, informational and instructional pamphlets and materials produced by PFLAG-DC, press clippings, press releases, testimonies before state and local government bodies, correspondence with state and local government officials, awards and honors for Ms. Goodman, speeches and PFLAG convention programs and records.
Administrative Information
Access: Open to all registered researchers at DC History Center.
Reproduction and use: All material is believed to be under copyright, and available for fair use purposes.
Acquisition information: The material was donated by Paulette Goodman in March 2016, when she moved. A second donation (3 bankers boxes) was donated in March 2022 by Cynthia Goodman (Paulette’s daughter), after Paulette’s death. Described on the deed of gift by the donor.
Processing history:
2017. 03.11 Nathan Avant led volunteers Andrew, Tim and Donald in sorting materials. The Newsletters and the large box of files were completed.
2017.04.08 Materials were transported from the home of Chuck Goldfarb to that of Vincent Slatt. Eric Gonzaba, with volunteers Brian Miller and Tim Meaghar continued to sort materials into folders and label them. Temporary boxes have been replaced with larger, more sturdy housing. The extant has been updated. One folder of personal material was identified for return to the donor.
2917.04.16. Vincent with Jon Shimabukuro continued to process--Box D was fully foldered and typed into document. Newsletters were removed to be transferred to Series X Newsletters.
2017.05.14 Several more review of the boxes, clean up of folders and finding aids. Assigned the series number, and began the folder numbering.
2017.06.08 Materials delivered to DCHC, and housed in final boxes. Collection is open for research
2022.05.06 Tanja Aho collects the accretion from Brian Koen at Riderwood Senior Living and delivers it to Vincent’s home.
2022.07.02 Jeff Donahoe and Vincent assess the boxes to devise a processing plan.
2022.11.16 Toby Makowski collects 2 bankers boxes (not box of DVDs) and transports them to Toby’s home for processing.
2023.10.05. Toby Makowski returns 2 bankers boxes to Vincent’s home.
2023.10.29. Colette, Frankie, and Vincent processed and combined two bankers boxes into one.
2024.01.21 Vincent transferred accretion to DCHC and housed it in boxes 7 and 8.
Next Steps:
Final folder it of boxes 7 and 8 (Completed 8/7/25 - MM)
Upload bootleg DVDs to Internet Archive; box remains in storage shed.
CONTAINER LIST--INITIAL INVENTORY
Box 1 of 8
Folder 1: Bisexuality Information 1991-1995
Folder 2: Correspondence 1988-1992
Folder 3: Correspondence with mental health professionals 1983-1985
Folder 4: Correspondence with outside organizations 1985-1991
Folder 5: Correspondence - Government political advocacy, Jan 1993-April 1999
Folder 6: Correspondence - Government political advocacy, Mar 2000-Mar 2012
Folder 7: Correspondence with Catherine Tuerk 1994
Folder 8: Correspondence with PFLAG Board
Folder 9: Correspondence - Advocacy (Non Politician) 1985-1991
Folder 10: Correspondence - Advocacy (Non Politician) 1992-2000
Folder 11: Correspondence - Personal, Feb 1986-Oct 1999 (Includes Photos from Quilt on Mall, 1993)
Folder 12: Correspondence - Personal, May 2000-Oct 2003
Box 2 of 8
Folder 1: Directory of Board Committees and Task Forces FY 1991-1992
Folder 2: Donation Letters (Pt 1)
Folder 3: Donation Letters (Pt 2)
Folder 4: Federation of PFLAG Audit and CFC 1988
Folder 5: Financial Documents 1982-1991
Folder 6: Guidelines for Getting Speakers to Media Programs
Folder 7: PFLAG Informational Packets
Folder 8: PFLAG Fundraising 1993 Manual and Donors List, Thank You Letters
Folder 9: PFLAG Support Group Meeting Guidelines
Folder 10: PFLAG Newsletters (Originals & Drafts) - National Newsletter 1989, DC & San Francisco 2001-2003
Folder 11: PFLAG National Bylaws and Mission Statement 1991
Folder 12: Press Clippings 1985-1995
Folder 13: Press Releases
Folder 14: PFLAG Internal Correspondence
Box 3 of 8
Folder 1: PFLAG Flyers and Mailings
Folder 2: PFLAG Newsletters - Originals March 1985-October 1987
Folder 3: PFLAG Fundraising Materials
Folder 4: Religious: Churches and Seminaries
Folder 5: Religious Task Force 1990-1992
Folder 6: Statements to State and Local Governments, Speech Drafts, and Event Fliers Featuring Paulette, 1983-1994
Folder 7: Testimonies, Bios, and Notes on Campaign 2000-2010
Folder 8: Tips and Tactics 1993
Folder 9: Testimonies, Speeches, Bios, and Letters to Important Figures 1983-1984
Folder 10: Testimonies, Speeches, Bios, and Letters to Barbara Bush, Mosbacher, Weisel 1989-1994
Folder 11: Letters to the Editor
Folder 12: Transgender, Transsexuality Information 1997 & N.D.
Folder 13: University of Pennsylvania LGBT Alumni Association Annual Dinner, May 19, 2001
Box 4 of 8
Folder 1: Correspondence with White House 1989-2013
Folder 2: Correspondence with Larry King 1991
Folder 3: National Association of Social Workers
Folder 4: 12th International Conference of Gay & Lesbian Jews remarks 1991
Folder 5: “Why is my child gay?” brochure
Folder 6: PFLAG Barbara Bush Correspondence + Clippings 1989-1992
Folder 7: PFLAG membership lists 1986, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995
Folder 8: PFLAG support group meeting tips and guidelines
Folder 9: Pride Guide 89
Folder 10: Montgomery County human rights 1983-1984
Folder 11: Goodman personal correspondence
Folder 12: PFLAG publication (non newsletter)
Folder 13: PFLAG event programs 1981-1989
Folder 14: PFLAG event programs 1990-2000
Folder 15: PFLAG mother’s day brunch programs 1990-1993
Folder 16: Human rights campaign fund dinner 1989 program
Folder 17: National assoc of black & white men together convention program 1990 [SCAN TO WEB]
Folder 18: PFLAG international conference program 1992
Box 5 of 8
Folder 1: Newsletter correspondence 1990
Folder 2: Events and honors for Goodman
Folder 3: Dignity/ Washington 20th Anniversary event program 1992
Folder 4: Women of the evangelical lutheran church in america second triennial convention program 1993
Folder 5: 12th International conference of gay & lesbian jews program 1991
Folder 6: 3rd annual gay & lesbian substance abuse prevention & treatment conference 1990
Folder 7: PFLAG ninth international convention 1990
Folder 8: PFLAG tenth international convention 1991
Folder 9: Families in the nineties correspondence
Folder 10: PFLAG sixth international convention 1987
Folder 11: Understanding homosexuality conference- Howard University 1986
Folder 12: National magazine clippings.
Folder 13: Gay Articles, Lesbia Magazine, French-language
Folder 14: 1983 Suburban Maryland Gay Alliance -- Bill # 59-83
Folder 15: RAY: Respect All Youth, Issue Papers 1-3
Folder 16: RAY: Press Coverage
Folder 17: RAY News & Clippings
Folder 18:PFLAG Trans Network Conference, San Francisco, 12 Sept 1988
Folder 19: National Conference on Strategies for the Prevention of Youth Suicide, 18 Nov 1986
Folder 20: National Conference on Youth Suicide, 1985
Box 6 of 8
Folder 1: 1991-1995, Publicity, R.A.Y., and Publications
Folder 2: R.A.Y.: Distribution by Mail
Folder 3: Awards and Recognition--Goodman
Folder 4: Gay Rights Recall, Alexandria, VA, 1988
Folder 5: PFLAG-DC 21st Anniversary, 2004
Folder 6: PFLAG New York
Folder 7: Beverly Southerland Speech
Folder 8: PFLAG Federation Origins
Folder 9: PFLAG Silver Spring
Folder 10: Robert Bernstein’s Daughter
Folder 11: Officer Directories National Branches
Folder 12: PFLAG International Conference 1982
Folder 13: Publications, Not Newsletter
Folder 14: Annual Reports, 1983-1991
Folder 15: Articles of Incorporation, DC-PFLAG 1984
Folder 16: Correspondence, 1985-1995
Accretion 2022 Gift of the Estate
Box 7 of 8
Folder 1: Annual Dinners and Brochures
Folder 2: Accounting
Folder 3: Answers to Your Questions
Folder 4: “Coming Out to Parents” Translations to French
Folder 5: Dvora Luz Correspondence
Folder 6: Events
Folder 7: Gay and Lesbian DC Chorus Groups 2006-2013
Folder 8: Gay Straight Alliance Outreach
Folder 9: PFLAG “Flagpole” Newsletter
Folder 10: Homosexuality and the Bible
Folder 11: Helpline and Referrals
Folder 12: International Gay and Lesbian Jewish Affairs
Box 8 of 8
Folder 1: Lesbian and Gay Immigration Rights and Taskforce
Folder 2: National Conference Brochures
Folder 3: Pamphlets
Folder 4: Personal and Biographical Information
Folder 5: PFLAG France Launched 1992 - CONTACT France
Folder 6: PFLAG Meetings at Riderwood 2009-2012
Folder 7: PFLAG Respect All Youth 1990
Folder 8: Soul Force Equality Ride 2012
Folder 9: PFLAG Support Group
Folder 10: Supporting Our Gay Loved Ones
Folder 11: Templates to Form Local PFLAG Branches
Folder 12: “Transsexuals” 1977-1991
Folder 13: Trip to Portland, OR 1992
Folder 14: Riderwood
Folder 15: White House and Congress Correspondences