Title: Cream City Business Association Records
Inclusive Dates: 1979-1989

Creator:

• Cream City Business Association

Call Number: UWM Manuscript Collection 204

Quantity: 1 cubic ft. (3 boxes)
Repository:

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department

Archival Location:

UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:

Collection consists of the records of the Cream City Business Association, an affiliation of metropolitan Milwaukee gay and lesbian business owners and service providers that was in existence from 1981 to 1989. Collection includes meeting agendas and minutes of the executive committee and board of directors, newsletters, administrative correspondence, business directories, and committee files.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-mil-uwmmss0204

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In August 1980, a group of fifteen people gathered at a meeting of the Gay Peoples Union to hear the vice president of the Business Association of Milwaukee, an association of gay and lesbian business owners, speak on the topic of "Gay Businesses in Milwaukee." When the speaker failed to show, some of the attendees met separately and discussed forming an alternative group of Milwaukee gay and lesbian business and professional people. After several planning meetings, the Cream City Business Association held its first public meeting in May 1981 with thirty-seven people in attendance. The first issue of CCBA's monthly newsletter appeared in the same month. The group incorporated in August of the same year.

Initial committees focused on investments, research and referral, special programs, the CCBA foundation, membership, and housing and restoration. From the start, CCBA was a member of the National Association of Business Councils. Throughout its existence, the CCBA held monthly meetings and programs, published a newsletter, and held an annual meeting with an awards ceremony.

Presidents included Ralph Navarro (1980-1984), Marc Haupert (1984-1986), Jerry Johnson (1986-1987), Karen Gotzler (1987-1988), and Gary Gussick (1988).

In 1984, CCBA boasted that it was the largest, active lesbian and gay organization in Wisconsin, and that it had more than 200 members. CCBA played a major role in establishing the Governor's Council on Lesbian and Gay Issues, developing the Cream City Association Foundation (now the Cream City Foundation), and expanding coverage of Milwaukee's LGBT community by the local media.

The richest sources of information in the collection are the minutes of the executive committee (1981-1987) and board of directors (1980-1989), the CCBA Newsletter (1981-1988), and the administrative correspondence (1981-1988). Information regarding the development of CCBA in late 1980 and early 1981 is found in the board of directors' minutes. The newsletter and business directories list CCBA member businesses in the metropolitan Milwaukee area. The monthly newsletter also contains meeting minutes, calendars of activities, the president's column, financial reports, local and national news stories, and features on local gay and lesbian businesses. The collection includes the results of member surveys conducted in 1981, 1982, and 1984. News clippings include features on the CCBA, gay professionals, and the "gay economy."

Citation Guide for Primary Sources

• Cream City Foundation Foundation Records. UWM Manuscript Collection 205.

• Milwaukee Gay/Lesbian Cable Network Records. UWM Manuscript Collection 206.

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

PrideFest donated the collection to the Archives in November 2003 (accession 2003-035). Scott Gunkel donated additional material in February 2004 (accession 2003-062).

Processing Information

Michael Doylen processed the collection in February 2004.

Box   1 Folder   1	Advisory Committee, 1986
Box   1 Folder   2	Annual Meeting, 1985
Box   1 Folder   3	Articles of Incorporation, 1981
Box   1 Folder   4	Board Manual, 1987
	Board of Directors
Box   1 Folder   5	Agendas and Minutes, 1980-1983
Box   1 Folder   6	Agendas and Minutes, 1984-1986
Box   1 Folder   7	Agendas and Minutes, 1987-1989
Box   1 Folder   8	Ad Hoc Committee to Meet with Resigned Members, 1986
Box   1 Folder   9	Brochures, undated
Box   1 Folder   10	Business Enhancement Committee, 1985-1986
Box   1 Folder   11	Business Network, 1987-1988, undated
Box   1 Folder   12	By-Laws, 1983-1986, undated
Box   1 Folder   13	By-Laws Committee, 1986
Box   1 Folder   14	CCBA Newsletter, 1981-1983
Box   1 Folder   15	CCBA Newsletter, 1984-1985
Box   1 Folder   16	CCBA Newsletter, 1986-1988
Box   1 Folder   17	Contract Review, 1986
Box   2 Folder   1	Correspondence, 1981
Box   2 Folder   2	Correspondence, 1982-1983
Box   2 Folder   3	Correspondence, 1984-1988
Box   2 Folder   4	Cream City Investment Club, 1984-1986, undated
Box   2 Folder   5	Cream City Special Edition, 1983-1984
Box   2 Folder   6	Dinner Meetings, 1987, undated
Box   2 Folder   7	Directories, 1983-1987
Box   2 Folder   8	Executive Committee, 1981-1987
Box   2 Folder   9	Financial Statements, 1981-1988
Box   2 Folder   10	Forms, undated
Box   2 Folder   11	Franklin Center Ad Hoc Committee, 1987, undated
Box   2 Folder   12	Goal Setting, 1981-1982, undated
Box   2 Folder   13	Histories, undated
Box   2 Folder   14	Housing and Development Committee, 1983
Box   2 Folder   15	Letterhead (Blank), undated
Box   2 Folder   16	Membership Application (Blank), undated
Box   2 Folder   17	Membership Committee, 1983-1987
Box   2 Folder   18	Membership Information, 1985-1986, undated
Box   2 Folder   19	Membership Surveys, 1981-1984
Box   2 Folder   20	Metropolitan Business Association/CCBA Ad Hoc Committee, 1982
Box   3 Folder   1	News Clippings, 1979-1986, undated
Box   3 Folder   2	Other LGBT Business Associations, 1985-1986, undated
Box   3 Folder   3	Photographs, undated
Box   3 Folder   4	Position Descriptions, 1986-1987
Box   3 Folder   5	Public Relations Committee, 1984-1986
Box   3 Folder   6	Secretarial Service Ad Hoc Committee, 1986
Box   3 Folder   7	Women's Planning Committee, 1986-1987, undated