Using These Materials
- RESTRICTIONS:
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Access to this record group is unrestricted with the exception of one folder in Series 5 noted in the container list.
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Summary
- Abstract:
- The Libby Post Papers contain political campaign documents, professional correspondences, news clippings, meeting minutes, agendas, document drafts, press releases, news letters, civil activism notes, and other materials that document her involvement securing various LGBT rights and with political organizations, as well as the general LGBT community in Albany, NY.
- Extent:
- 4.18 cubic ft.
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, box, folder, Libby Post Papers, 1978-2005. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Post Papers).
Background
- Scope and Content:
The Libby Post Papers primarily hold Post's press releases created for politicians and political interest groups. Campaign materials for Ed Bloch's 1984 bid for Congress, document Bloch's record on various issues with editorial letters regarding his candidacy, voting records, and "Bloch For Congress" newsletters. Materials for Helen Desfosses' campaigns for city council president are extensive, covering most aspects of the campaign, including items from within the campaign such as planning documents and volunteer lists. The materials for Nancy Burton primarily document her actions during time as city comptroller between the 1993 and 1997 campaigns in news clippings and press releases. Campaign materials for Sheila Healy's bid for Albany County 6th District Legislator are limited to a campaign brochure and seven press releases publicizing Healy's political record. Materials for Carl McCall are limited to announcements and invitation lists for a fund raising breakfast. Sharon Ward's campaign materials for 1989 consist of a campaign plan for the 6th District Democratic primary.
Press releases for New York State Assemblywoman May W. Newburger that Post created as press secretary, outline Newburger's stand on public issues with quotes, voting records, and information on Newburger's activities. Also included are files of press coverage and news clippings discussing Newburger, not all of which were the result of Post's press releases. Post's role as media coordinator for Family Planning Advocates of New York State, Inc., is documented by press releases, press coverage, notes regarding the preparation of a conference, and an agenda for the organization's 10th anniversary celebration. Press releases for, and press coverage clippings regarding, the New York Coalition on Domestic Violence, highlight Post's role in the organization, especially her work with the "Speak Out Rally" held on March 9, 1987. Post's lobbyist work for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is documented in notes of meetings and administrative materials of the ERA "Working Group", which lobbied for passage of the Amendment. The ERA files also include press coverage and press releases that trace the progress of ratification during this year. There are no records of Post's work for ERA before or after 1984.
The Subject Files that Libby Post collected on various issues relate to her work and public interests and include news clippings and informative literature on homosexuality, child abuse, Planned Parenthood (affiliated with Family Planning Advocates of New York State, Inc.), gay rights, legislative matters regarding reproduction, and state law. The fifth series consists of papers collected during Post's tenure as President of the Capital District Gay and Lesbian Community Council, 1999-2003. It includes documents relating to the running of the council, such as policy statements and financial paperwork, as well as public relations materials like event announcements and press releases. The final series contains correspondences, agendas, policies, meeting minutes, and other materials related to the Empire State Pride Agenda.
- Biographical / Historical:
Libby Post has served as press secretary, campaign manager, and media coordinator for various politicians and organizations in New York State's Capital Region. Her academic credentials include an MA in political communications from the State University of New York at Albany. Post's political consulting and public relations firm, Communication Services,[1] has worked with a number of Democratic candidates in their quests for elected office. Post's work is a combination of her profession as media coordinator and her own political activism. Her early work as part of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) Working Group on the state level--a group within the ERA Task Force chaired by Democratic State Assemblywoman May W. Newburger--can be traced in the records back to 1982.
In political campaigns, Post served as Press Secretary for Assemblywoman May W. Newburger (Democrat--Great Neck); Press Secretary for the Ed Bloch campaigns against incumbent Republican Gerald B.H. Solomon from New York's 24th Congressional District; and as Press Secretary for Sheila Healy, 6th District Democratic candidate for the Albany County Legislature. Post has continued to work with Albany-area candidates, including Sharon Ward in her 6th Ward Democratic primary campaign and Nancy Burton's campaigns for City Comptroller in 1993 and 1997. Post worked extensively with Helen Desfosses in her 1997 and 2001 campaigns for City Council President. In 2002, Post helped organize fundraising with the Women for McCall-Mehiel group campaigning for Carl McCall during his run for New York State Governor.
In 1986, Post became Media Coordinator for Family Planning Advocates of New York State, Inc., which "lobbies on behalf of Planned Parenthood and other family planning groups." During her tenure as Media Coordinator for Family Planning Advocates of New York State, Inc., Post provided news coverage and press releases on behalf of the lobbying efforts of the group, and in 1987, she covered the 10 year anniversary conference celebrated by Family Planning Advocates of New York State. Also in 1987, Post became Press Secretary for the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Inc., providing press releases regarding the "Speak Out Rally" held in Albany, New York on March 9, 1987.
Post has also done a great deal of work with several Capital Region organizations promoting gay and lesbian rights. She served as co-chair of the Albany-based New York State Lesbian and Gay Lobby in 1989 and oversaw its merger in 1990 with FAIRPAC, a New York City based organization, to become the Empire State Pride Agenda. In 1994 she became a board member of the Capital District Gay and Lesbian Community Council (CDGLCC). She became president of CDGLCC (now referred to as the Capital Pride Center) in April 1999, and later served as president emeritus beginning in April 2004. Post continues to be active in the LGBT community, and currently contributes to a LGBT political blog on the Albany Times Union website.
1. Additional information about Community Services is available at http://commservices.net.
- Acquisition information:
- Libby Post donated all items in this manuscript group to the University Libraries, M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, in May 1994, May 2003, December 2005, and June 2006.
- Processing information:
Processed in 1998 by Rita M. Mignacca, in 1999 by Kevin Glick, in 2004 by Joshua Hauck Whealton, and in 2013 by Chloe Pfendler.
- Arrangement:
All series are arranged chronologically. The collection is organized into the following series:
- Physical location:
- The materials are located onsite in the department.
Subjects
- Subjects:
- Women
Social Activists and Public Advocates
Public Servants
Human Sexuality and Gender Identity
Albany, New York
Gay rights--New York (State)
Community organization--New York (State)
Sexual minorities--New York (State)
Equal rights amendments--United States
Clippings
Correspondence
Posters
Bylaws (administrative records)
Photographs
Calendars
Brochures
Minutes
Newsletters - Names:
- Empire State Pride Agenda
Capital Pride Center
Bloch, Ed
Burton, Nancy
McCall, Carl
Desfosses, Helen
Healy, Sheila
Post, Libby
Ward, Sharon - Places:
- New York (State)--Politics and government
New York (State)--Social conditions
Contents
Access
Using These Materials
- ACCESS:
- The archives are open to the public and anyone is welcome to visit and view the collections.
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
Access to this record group is unrestricted with the exception of one folder in Series 5 noted in the container list.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives will provide information about copyright owners and other restrictions, but the legal determination ultimately rests with the researcher. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Head of Special Collections and Archives.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, box, folder, Libby Post Papers, 1978-2005. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Post Papers).