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Southern Voice records

 Collection
Collection number: ahc.MSS1016

Scope and Content

This collection contains editorial planning records and subject files for stories published by Southern Voice. These files include editorial planning meeting notes, story assignments, camera-ready art, and subject files on national and regional issues of crime, health, lifestyle, and politics concerning the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender community. The camera-ready art consists of photographs and graphics used in conjunction with published articles, as well as cartoons featured in the newspaper by Alison Bechdel, Jennifer Camper, Andrea Natalie, Eric Orner, and Melissa K. Sweeney. The editorial planning records consists of meeting notes, story assignments, and story ideas, mostly conveyed through printed email correspondence among the staff. The subject files include articles, drafts, notes, and research materials compiled by staff writers. There are eight subject areas on which staff writers collected and maintained records: colleges and universities; court cases; crime, health and science; lifestyle; organizations; politics and legislation; and youth. Some of these subject areas have further divisions. Within the health and science section, there is a group of files related to AIDS and HIV. Within the lifestyle section, there are files related to nightlife, pop culture, religion, and social issues. Within the organizations section, there are files related to businesses and corporations, organized events, government groups, and special interest groups. Within the political section, there are files related to elected officials, lobbyists, and activists, elections, legislation, and political issues.Within the youth section, there are files related to adoption and parenting, schools, and social issues.

Dates

  • 1982-2007 undated

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. All requests to publish, quote, or reproduce must be submitted through the Kenan Research Center.

Administrative/Biographical History

Launched as an independent publication in Atlanta, Georgia, by Christina Cash in 1988, Southern Voice was a weekly newspaper addressing national and local concerns of the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender community. Commonly known as "SoVo," the newspaper claimed over 100,000 readers, and at its peak employed a staff of thirty-five. The newspaper was a member of the National Gay Newspapers Guild. In 1997, Washington, D.C.-based Window Media, LLC, a national publisher of gay-oriented news publications, purchased Southern Voice. After twenty-one years of operation, Southern Voice shut down in November 2009 when Window Media closed due to financial troubles. The United States Bankruptcy Court in Atlanta auctioned off the assets of Southern Voice in February 2010. In March 2010, founder Christina Cash and editor Laura Douglas-Brown, who wrote and edited under the by-line Laura Brown, launched The Georgia Voice, a bi-weekly newspaper with online updates posted daily, as a replacement publication.

Extent

8.76 linear ft. (21 document boxes)

Language

English

Additional Description

System of Arrangement

This collection is arranged alphabetically according to titles suplied by staff.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, 2010

Description Control

Collection processed in 2012.

Subjects

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Southern Voice records
Author
Paul Crater
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English.

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Kenan Research Center at Atlanta History Center Repository

http://www.atlantahistorycenter.com/
Contact:
130 West Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta GA 30305
404-814-4040