Lesbian Herstory Archives AudioVisual Collections

Mabel Hampton, 1988 (Tape 1)

Item

1652_ca_object_representations_media_136_original.jpg

Title

Mabel Hampton, 1988 (Tape 1)

Subject

Lesbian culture [sh2004003370] Greenwich Village (New York, N.Y.)--Maps [sh2009125702] Same-sex marriage [sh92003901] Lesbians--Identity [sh94004083] Race [sh85110232] African American lesbians [sh85001859]

Description

Mabel discusses her early life as a lesbian in the Village between the two world wars, including the rooming house where she lived and the parties she attended. She describes how women dressed, what they ate at the parties, what they did at the parties, including dancing, the records they listened to, and the general social life of these parties. She describes the interracial relations between white and black lesbians. She also discusses the language lesbians used to describe themselves at the time, including "bulldaggers", "lady lovers", and "butches". She also tells the story of a large lesbian marriage ceremony in Central Park West, officated by a gay minister named Rev. Monroe and how the couple managed to get an offical marriage certificate. She also discusses gay life in Harlem and the New York City drag balls.

Creator

Mabel Hampton (Interviewee)
Joan Nestle (interviewer)

Date Created

1988

Format

Original = Cassette Tape
WAV
MP3

Medium

Digital reproduction of audio cassette.

Language

English

Type

Sound
Oral Histories

Identifier

SPW1145

Rights Holder

Lesbian Herstory Archives, Contact Designation: Maxine Wolfe, Contact Address: 484 14th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215, Phone Number: 718-768-3953

Citation

Mabel Hampton (Interviewee) and Joan Nestle (interviewer), “Mabel Hampton, 1988 (Tape 1),” Lesbian Herstory Archives AudioVisual Collections, accessed March 29, 2024, http://herstories.prattinfoschool.nyc/omeka/items/show/87.