Provenance
This Collection was donated by Michael Oliveri. It arrived December 16, 1991, in three cartons.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of Michael Olivieri's personal papers and articles during the time he was involved in Dignity/New York . It includes but is not limited to court cases of Dignity v. Benjamin Ward, et. al., and Michael Olivieri, et.,al. v. Benjamin Ward, et.,al., personal correspondence, flyers, church bulletins, rental agreements from St. Francis of Xavier Church, Board of Director's meetings and minutes from same, Dignity Newsletters to name but a few. The collection is rich in the early history of the organization and includes the infighting and back - bitting of some of the early members.
History or Bio
In 1982 Michael Olivieri was elected to serve as President of Dignity/New York. He remained in that leadership role for three years. As President, Michael established their first AIDS ministry and healing liturgy. He also was a represenative to Mayor Koch on the Police Council on Lesbian and Gay Issues. In 1985, he was the main plantiff against the City of New York for Dignity. The case itself dealt with the public access to the sidewalk in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral. While the court originally ruled in the City's favor, the Supreme Court overturned the lower courts decision, creating a big victory for Dignity. Then in 1988, Michael served as the coordinator of Catholic Liturgies, which ultimitly led to the formation of Dignity/Big Apple, New York's second Dignity chapter in Manhattan. Michael Olivieri was also the founder of the Defenders, Dignity' leather and levi club. He remained an active member for eleven years and was elected to serve as it's President a year before he died of AIDS on February 7, 1993 less than a month after his 50th birthday.
Folder List
Box1:
1. Agreement Dignity / St. Francis
2. AIDS
3. A.D.A. [ Americans for Democratic Action ]
4. Archdiocesan talks
5. Anniversary, 12th. etc.
6. AIDS Gp.
7. Akus, Joe
8. Charter
9. Courage
10. Cuomo [ Mario Cuomo ]
11. Dignity, Inc. Newsletter
12. Dignity / Bx [ Dignity / Bronx ]
13. Dignity / NY [ Dignity / New York ]
14. Social Justice CTTE [ Committee ]
15. [ Michael Olivieri candidate information ]
16. Andy Humm
17. Hispanic Gp.
18. Gardner, Jim
19. Hearings [ a suggestion for a hearing with the then Archbishop O'Connor ]
20. Gay Pride '84
21. Exec. Order #50 [ New York City Executive ]
22. Gay Men's Chorus / Dignity
23. Directory, Bd. of Director's
24. Dignity/ John XXIII [ pre Big Apple name, Big Apple newsletters 1987 -1991 ]
25. Elections - 1984 / '85
26. Convention [ 7th Biennial Dignity Convention 1985 ]
27. [ Convention notebook ]
28. Elections [ Election statements of local New York / Dignity chapter candidates ]
29. Dignity, Inc.
30. Election '83
31. Catholic New York
32. Comm. Ctr. [ Lesbian and Gay Community Center ]
33. Corpus
34. Constitution Dignity, Inc., N.Y.
35. Calendar [ 1985 -1990 Newsletter ]
Box 2
36. This Week
37. The Tablet [ Church Bulletins ]
38. St. Joseph's [ Newsletter ]
39. St.Anthony Messenger [ Newsletter ]
40. Spiritual Dev.
41. Membership Committee
42. PROM [ Public Relations, Outreach, and Media ]
43. 85 civ. 3269 (CMB) Plaintiffs v. Defendants
44. 84 civ. Dignity v. Benjamin Ward, et. al. [ to exhibit #15 ] [ folder # 1 ]
45. 84 civ. Dignity v. Benjamin Ward, et. al. [to exhibit #16 ] [ folder # 2 ]
46. 84 civ. Dignity v Benjamin Ward, et. al. [ to exhibit #16 contd ] [ folder 3 ]
47. 84 civ. Dignity v. Benjamin Ward, et. al. [ to exhibit #16 contd ] [ folder 4]
48. 84 civ. Dignity v. Benjamin Ward, et. al. [ to exhibit #16 contd ] [ folder # 5 ]
49. Williams, Bruce
50. Veterans Group
51. Vatican AIDS Group
52. Regional Affairs
53. Olivieri, M. [Michael J. Olivieri ]
54. New Ways Ministry
55. N Y Times
56. NCR [ National Catholic Reporter ]
57. Mayor's Ofc [ Office ]
58. O'Connor & Cooke [ Cardinals ]
59. [ Newspaper articles and Press advisories ]
60. O'Connor - 87 +
61. [ Rental renewal of St. Francis Xavier letter ]
62. [ Catholic War Veterans v. The City of New York, et. al. ]
63. [ Michael Olivieri, et. al. v. Benjamin Ward, et. al. ]
64. Koch - O'Connor - Exec. Order #50
Box 3:
65. Gay Pride - 1983
66. Intro II [ New York City Gay Rights Bill ]
67. Intro I [ New York City Gay Rights Bill ]
68. Integrity
69. Lambda Legal Defense [ Education ] Fund
70. [ Legal papers folder #1 ]
71. [ Legal papers folder #2 ]
72. [ Legal papers folder #3 ]
