Second Oral History Interview with Frederick Sproule (1984)
oral history, Toronto, World War I, gay culture, relationships
Trigger warning for use of racist and sexist language in this interview.
This is John Grube's second interview with Frederick Sproule for Foolscap. The oral history begins with Grube and Sproule looking through a series of photos, and Sproule explaining the context of and characters in each photo. Lionel Collier and Eddie Fortune also make the occasional appearance, asking Sproule questions and discussing dinner. Sproule discusses major Toronto landmarks, and the gay scene from 1920s onward. Sproule expresses his hatred of effeminate men and lesbians in this interview.
John Grube
The LGBTQ Oral History Digital Collaboratory
1984-12-23
CLGA
PDF, WAV
English
Sound, text
2016-034
1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1980s, Toronto
Oral History Interview with John Gartshore (1984)
oral history, SM, bathhouse raids, Foolscap, Upper Canada College, University of Toronto, Air Canada, work, army, Letros, CHAT, homophile, Christianity, Episcopal, Chicago, Integrity
John Gartshore, a gay man age 58 at time on interview, begins the conversation outlining the his early realizations of him homosexuality at Upper Canada College. He continues onward choronologically, discussing his incomplete BA at Trinity College of University of Toronto, and involvement at St Mary Magdalene. He then explains beginning work at Air Canada (called Trans Canada Airlines at time of hiring) and then his being convinced to joi the army subsequently. Through the army, Gartshore was introduced to the Toronto gay culture – starting at Letros. Gartshore discusses his activism, through CHAT and later Courtwatch, throughout the interview, as well as his experiences consolidating his Christianity and queer identity, including his experience with the gay caucus of the Episcopal Church in Chicago and the formation of the Toronto Chapter of Integrity. Gartshore closes the interview with a brief recount of his experience with police entrapment at the bathhouse raids, and a story about his coming out at the workplace.
Foolscap Oral History Project
1984-11-15
John Grube
CLGA
PDF, WAV
English
sound and text
2016-034
Toronto, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s