Lesbians and Gay Men in the Twentieth-Century United States
History BC3485y
Spring 2000

This course will introduce you to some of the key themes and issues in lesbian and gay history in the United States from the turn of the century through the 1990s. We will examine examples of different scholarly approaches to lesbian and gay history; focus on critical moments in that history over the past 100 years; and work with primary and secondary source materials in order to prepare you to write a final paper based on original research into a topic of your choosing.

Assignments

The two major assignments for this class are 1) participation in discussions of the course reading, and 2) the writing of an original research paper (20pp.). Informed participation in the discussion of the course reading will account for 40% of the final grade; the course paper will account for the remaining 60%.

1)  Discussion of the course readings will take place in class and on the course CUBBoard:

Each week, 1-2 members of the class will be responsible for posting initial questions about the course readings to the bulletin board. Others should respond to their questions or post other thoughts. The initial postings should be at least 2 paragraphs. Responses may be brief (one paragraph). Over the course of the semester, students must make one initial posting and at least 5 responses. Postings to the CUBBoard and participation in class will both contribute to the final grade for class participation (CUBBoard postings 40%, in-class participation 60%).

2) The course paper is due in the final class meeting on April 25. In order to provide some guideposts for work on the paper, I have set two preliminary assignments:

a) A three-page proposal for the final paper, due February 15. This should include a discussion of the topic you want to look into and questions you’d like to answer; a preliminary bibliography of 3-5 secondary sources to be consulted; and a one-page analysis of a primary document relevant to the topic (a photocopy of the document should be attached).  The grade for the proposal will represent 10% of the final grade for the paper.

b) An 8-10pp. draft of the paper, due March 21. This draft should demonstrate that you have consulted the appropriate secondary sources to contextualize your research, and that you have begun to work with some primary sources. The draft grade will represent 20% of the final grade for the paper.

Both preliminary assignments are required and will count toward the final paper grade.

Course books are available at Labyrinth Books (112^th street between Broadway and Amsterdam), and on reserve in the Barnard Library.

Henry Abelove, Michele Aina Barale, and David M. Halperin, eds., The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader (New York: Routledge, 1993).

Mark Blasius and Shane Phelan, eds., We Are Everywhere: A Historical Sourcebook of Gay and Lesbian Politics (New York: Routledge, 1997).

George Chauncey, Jr., Gay New York: Gender, Urban Culture, and the Making of the Gay Male World, 1890-1940 (New York: Basic Books, 1994).

Robert J. Corber, In the Name of National Security: Hitchcock, Homophobia, and the Political Construction of Gender in Postwar America (Durham: Duke University Press, 1993)

Elizabeth Lapovsky Kennedy and Madeline Davis, Boots of Leather, Slippers of Gold: The History of a Lesbian Community (New York: Penguin, 1993).

NB: Allan Berube, Coming Out Under Fire: The History of Gay Men and Women in World War II is currently out of stock. I am trying to locate used copies for the class.

Course packet of selected articles, available at Broadway Copy (Broadway between 121^st and 122^nd streets) and on reserve in the Barnard Library (readings marked with a * in the schedule below).