The organizational papers of The Mattachine Society reflect the vigorous and at times acrimonious debate that takes place among its members from the time of its foundation in 1950.

The first major gay organization in the United States, the society sponsored discussion groups, encouraged support for civil rights and opposed police entrapment for sexual acts.

The New York Chapter of The Mattachine Society, founded in 1955, became the largest gay rights group in the United States. From 1965 onwards it fought to establish the civil rights of gays, defended men arrested on morals charges and protested against the continual police practice of harassing people in gay bars.

The papers contained in this microform publication offer a poignant portrayal of the gay rights movement, through correspondence with gay men and lesbians throughout the United States, as well as the minutes of meetings, memoranda and ephemera.

24 reels

MACHINE-READABLE CATALOGING: RLIN; Collection-level record