Southern Voice newspaper collection, 1988-2010

Collection

Identifier: SC-S-005

Staff Only

Content Description

The collection consists of the Southern Voice newspaper, which was a significant resource for the LGBT community in the Southeast from 1988 to 2010, providing in-depth information on topics such as the fight against AIDS, marriage equality, legal issues, workplace discrimination, and violence against gay individuals. The collection does not constitute a complete run of the newspaper, as there are significant gaps in 1995, 1996, 1999, and 2002-2005. The collection does not include any issues published from December 1994 to July 1995, from August to November 1999, from January to March 2005, or from December 2009 to March 2010 .

Dates

1988-2010

Creator

Southern Voice (1988-2010) (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Archival materials may contain sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state “right to privacy” laws. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals without the consent of those individuals may have legal cause for action if facts concerning an individual’s private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person. KSU archives staff have taken care to identify and, in some cases, remove sensitive information found within its archival collections when undertaking archival processing work. However, privacy protected information may be revealed during use of the archival collections, particularly in those collections that are unprocessed or have been minimally processed. Researchers agree to make no notes or other recordation of privacy protected information if found within the archival collections, and further agree not to publish, publicize, or disclose such information to any other party for any purpose if found within the archival collections. Researchers agree to indemnify and hold harmless Kennesaw State University and its officers, employees, and agents from and against all suits, claims, actions, and expenses arising out of use of archival collections held by the Kennesaw State University Archives.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. Permission to publish, reproduce, publicly display, broadcast, or distribute this material must be secured from the repository and/or copyright holder.

Biographical or Historical Information

Southern Voice newspaper, also known as SOVO, was an alternative news source for lesbians and gay men in the greater Atlanta area and Southeast for over 20 years. The paper was founded in 1988 by Christina Cash and Leigh VanderEls with a bi-weekly circulation of 5,000 copies. The founders identified a need for a communication resource in the wake of the AIDS crisis and the 1987 National March on Washington that provided information on issues affecting LGBT individuals. Southern Voice provided coverage of local and national events, editorials, and guides to local arts and entertainment. Circulation grew to 15,000 within two years, reaching a maximum readership of 100,000 during the 2000s. Southern Voice became a weekly publication in 1992, and remained so until its closure in 2010. The original owners sold the business to Windows Media in 1997, which published a number of newspapers targeted to the gay community throughout the United States. In 2009 Windows Media filed for bankruptcy, and Southern Voice was last published on December 2, 2010. Note written by Heather Oswald.

Extent

approximately 14.00 cubic feet (19 print boxes, 8 newspaper boxes, 5 record cartons)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The newspapers are arranged chronologically by publication date.

Custodial History

This collection was aggregated over many years by the donor as the newspaper was published.

Method of Acquisition

Donated to the KSU archives by David McLaughlin, via Jessica Bull, Program Coordinator, GLBTIQ Student Retention Services in May 23, 2013 (Accession 13-034). The accession was split into two separate collections: LGBTQ publications collection (SC-L-005) and the Southern Voice newspaper collection (SC-S-005).

Related Materials

Collection: LGBTQ publications collection
Collection: David Neubecker Papers

Subjects

AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- Georgia -- Atlanta -- Periodicals. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Civil rights movements -- Georgia Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Gay activists Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Gay community -- Georgia -- Atlanta -- Periodicals Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Gay men -- Southern States -- Periodicals Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Gay newspapers Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
LGBT Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
LGBT rights Subject Source: Local sources
Lesbians -- Southern States -- Periodicals Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Newspapers Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Southern States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings