Learning Objectives:
Students will be able to understand why the university attempted to purge gay students from campus, and how they concealed those records.
Students will be able to understand the historical context of the purges.
Students will be able to understand the role of science, medicine, and psychotherapy in the justification of purges and ending them.
Podcast Questions:
How does the context of the “Lavender Scare” help explain why the purges occurred?
Elaborate more on Seyforth’s remarks that you had the “law, religion, and medicine working against you.” What are the implications for these institutions “being against” gay people?
How was Hammersley at the center of the purges? What actions and policies did he undertake to situate himself at the center?
Why would UW support Hammersley and the purges but want to limit news coverage and conceal the student conduct process?
How did the role of “science” and “medicine” both legitimize and help end the purges?
How is the history of the purges connected to the history of policing?
Primary Sources:
Lavender Wheel: View Source Here
Role of University Psychology in Homosexual Students 1948-1949: Read Report Here
Student Conduct Records 1953-54: Read Record Here
UWPD Memorandum: View Source Here
Recommended Readings:
Public History Project Blog: “Gay Purge: The Persecution of Homosexual Students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1962–1963” By Ezra Gerard. Read Blog Post Here
Seyforth, Scott C., and Nichole Barnes. ““In People’s Faces for Lesbian and Gay Rights”: Stories of Activism in Madison, Wisconsin, 1970 to 1990.” The Oral History Review 43, no. 1 (2016): 81-97. Read Article Here
Other Resources:
The “Gay Purge” at UW–Madison Teaching Guide: View Teaching Guide Here
Police and Policing at UW–Madison Teaching Guide: View Teaching Guide Here
NPR Podcast, Throughline. “The Lavender Scare.” Listen to Podcast Here
Primary Source Citations:
https://www.archives.gov/files/publications/prologue/2016/summer/images/lavender-wheel-l.jpg
Role of University Psychology in Homosexual Students 1948-1949: Annette Washburne, Report on the Role of University Psychology in Homosexual student, Student Conduct and Appeals Committee 1923-1970, Series 5/87, Box 1, Student Conduct Committee (1948-1949) Folder, UW–Madison Archives, UW–Madison Libraries.
Student Conduct Records 1953-54: Student Conduct Report, 1953-1955, Student Conduct and Appeals Committee 1923-1970, Series 5/87, Box 2, UW–Madison Archives, UW–Madison Libraries.
For more information regarding the citation for the UWPD Memorandum, please contact the Center for Campus History directly at centerforcampushistory@wisc.edu