Steven J. Small papers
Collection Overview
The collection contains photographs, printed materials, ephemera, and publications relating to Small’s personal and professional life in Charleston, South Carolina. Photographs document community events at various gay bars and clubs, including Les Jardins, Streetcar, and the Garden and Gun Club. Also included are miscellaneous photographs of group activities, parties, and festivals in the Charleston region. Printed materials include publications, newsletters, flyers, clippings, and related ephemera associated with various gay clubs and bars in Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia. The collection also contains flyers, pamphlets, and greeting cards created by artist William Van Hettinga. Additional ephemera consists of membership cards, t-shirts, and other collectible materials associated with Les Jardins, the Garden and Gun Club, and the Spoleto festival. Publications include the book Barry and Alice: Portrait of a Bisexual Marriage.
Dates
- Creation: 1978-1988
Creator
- Small, Steven J. (Person)
Language of Material
Materials in English.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Copyright Notice
The nature of the College of Charleston's archival holdings means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. Special Collections claims only physical ownership of most archival materials.
The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
Biographical Note
Steven J. Small was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina. Since the 1980s, he has worked as a professional bartender in the restaurant and hospitality industry in Charleston, San Francisco, New York City, and Miami.
Full Extent
1.75 linear feet (1 document box, 1 flat box)
Abstract
Assorted papers of Steven J. Small, including photographs, printed materials, ephemera, and publications relating to his personal and professional life in Charleston, South Carolina.
Collection Arrangement
This collection is described at the folder level.
Acquisitions Information
Materials donated in 2020 by Steven J. Small.
Processing Information
Minimally processed by Sarah Meyer, June 2026. For preservation purposes, the collection was re-housed by transferring materials into acid-free boxes. This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
Source
- Small, Steven J. (Donor, Person)
Subject
- Small, Steven J. (Person)
- Garden and Gun Club (Charleston, S.C.) (Organization)
- Les Jardins (Charleston, S.C.) (Organization)
- Title
- Inventory of the Steven J. Small Papers, 1978-1988
- Status
- Minimal Record
- Author
- Minimally processed by: Sarah Meyer; finding aid created by: Sarah Meyer
- Date
- 2026
- Description rules
- Dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
Special Collections
College of Charleston Libraries
66 George Street
Charleston South Carolina 29424
(843) 953-8016
(843) 953-6319 (Fax)