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Noel Lytle and David Mayersky photographs

 Collection
Collection number: ahc.VIS421

Scope and Contents

This collection contains photographs documenting the response to the 1993 Cobb County Board of Commissioners' anti-gay resolution. Photographs include members the Cobb Citizens Coalition (CCC) addressing the Board of Commissioners, protesting the resolution at rallies, and marching in the 1994 Atlanta Pride Parade; anti-gay counter protesters; members of Olympics Out of Cobb County (OOCC), which sought to move the Olympics out of Cobb County in response to the resolution; and signs protesting the Olympics in Cobb County. Also included are photographs of Commission Chairman Bill Byrnes issuing a welcoming proclamation from the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, attended by Elaine Hill and other CCC members; and Reverend Mel White, a member of the gay-affirming Metropolitan Community Church, addressing the Board of Commissioners in regard to the resolution. Other photographs show gay rights and pride events in Atlanta, Georgia, such as the 2001 Gay Pride Festival and a 1988 demonstration, possibly organized by ACT UP.

Dates

  • 1988-2001, undated

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

This material is protected by copyright law. (Title 17, U.S. Code) Permission for use must be cleared through the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center. Licensing agreement may be required.

Biographical / Historical

Noel Lytle (1956-) was born in Iowa to Eloise (1925-2007) and Harry Lytle (1922-2010). Lytle graduated from Atlantic High School in Atlantic, Iowa, in 1975. He later moved to Des Moines and became an active member of the Democratic Party in Iowa. In 1978, Lytle attended the Democratic Convention in Iowa City, acting as a delegate for his precinct. By 1983, he managed a clerk's office for collecting fines with Polk County, Iowa. In 1989, Lytle moved to Georgia, where he met his partner, David Mayersky (1960-). In 1991, they purchased a home in Marietta, Georgia. Lytle continued to be politically and socially active during this time.

David Mayersky was a co-founder of the Cobb Citizens Coalition (CCC). Additional biographical information about David Mayersky has not been determined.

Noel Lytle, David Mayersky, Jon Greaves, and Lynne Patterson founded the Cobb Citizens Coalition (CCC) in August 1993 in response to Cobb County Commission's passing of anti-gay legislation the previous month. This legislation stated that Cobb County supported "traditional" families and that gay lifestyles were contrary to state law. The vision of the CCC was "to promote understanding, tolerance, and acceptance of all people." In January 1994, the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) announced that Cobb County would host the Olympic Women's Volleyball tournament. In response to the announcement, CCC, along with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Olympics Out of Cobb Committee (AOCC), and Georgia Equality Project (GEP), initiated an effort to remove Olympic events from Cobb. The CCC held fundraisers; publicized their goal through radio ads, a billboard, and an educational video documenting the agenda of the radical religious right; and contacted businesses and politicians in Cobb asking them to boycott the Cobb Galleria Convention Center, which was chosen to host the volleyball tournament. CCC and its sister organizations were successful and ACOG moved the Women's Volleyball tournament from Cobb. The CCC continues their efforts to improve LGBTQ+ life in Cobb County.

Extent

148 image(s) (92 color photographic prints, 46 color negatives, and 10 black and white photographic prints)

Language

English

Arrangement

This collection is arranged alphabetically by titles supplied by staff.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Many of the images in this collection are located in cold storage (CS) as indicated in the descriptive inventory. Patrons must allow 24 hours after retrieval of cold storage item(s) before viewing material.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, 2005, with subsequent additions

Related Materials

Cobb Citizens Coalition records, MSS 1211, Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center

Processing Information

This collection was processed in 2021.

Title
Noel Lytle and David Mayersky photographs
Author
Aleece Bustamante
Date
December 2021
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Kenan Research Center at Atlanta History Center Repository

Contact:
130 West Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta GA 30305
404-814-4040