He was a slave in Hancock, Maryland, and was freed by Union soldiers after the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect. Born into slavery in 1858, he was the first person in the United States to lead a queer resistance group and the first known person to self-identify as a “queen of drag”. [3][5][6] In 1896, he was falsely convicted and sentenced to 10 months in jail for "keeping a disorderly house", i.e., running a brothel. This person was William Dorsey Swann. ️‍ William Dorsey Swann (c. 1858 - ?) So, today we’re talking about William Dorsey Swann. Swann was enslaved by Ann Murray until Union Soldiers freed him during the winter of 1862. William Dorsey Swann was known to his friends as “the Queen.” A former slave, Swann reigned over a secret world of drag balls in Washington, D.C., in the 1880s and was the leader of possibly the world’s earliest-known LGBTQ liberation group, according to an article in The Nation. Yet, after emancipation, Swann managed to … In the 1880s, he became the first known person to dub himself a “queen of drag” or a drag queen. Three months into his sentence, Swann filed a petition of pardon pleading that he was a respectable hard worker with a long record of continuous employment, that the sentence was severe to the crime, and that if released he would “live a proper and law abiding life.” Thirty of his friends and allies (also possibly members of the drag or queer community) signed the petition in a show of support. William Dorsey Swann (c. 1858) was an American gay liberation activist. Interestingly, the next month the Spencers and employees at the Washington Library Company petitioned the President for William Swann’s pardon. While the charge of keeping a disorderly house does not on its face differ from other cases in which milder sentences have been imposed, the prisoner was in fact convicted of the most horrible and disgusting offences known to the law; an offence so disgusting that it is unnamed. The second Pardon Case File I located was P-532, William D. Swan (NAID 165128484). Imagine the queenery of this icon. Wonderful account of Gay Lifestyle in the 1890s with a large majority of black gay men …This should be well preserved in understanding the Homosexuality and Transgedenrism in the Black Community worldwide. In 1882, Swann pled guilty and was sentenced in September to six months in jail for stealing books from the Washington Library Company, and one month for theft of objects from the home of Henry and Sara Spencer, heads of the Spencerian Business College where Swann was employed. A biography, House of Swann: Where Slaves Became Queens, is forthcoming. William Swann, … Step in to the world of William Dorsey Swann, an African American man born into slavery who became the world's first self-described "drag queen", as told by the award-winning journalist and Author of the forthcoming “House of Swann: Where Slaves Became Queens – and Changed the World” who discovered his story; Channing Gerard Joseph (he/him or she/her) William Dorsey Swann was a former slave who fought for queer freedom decades before the Stonewall riots of 1969. January 1, 1863. This is not the first time that the prisoner has been convicted of this crime, and his evil example in the community must have been most corrupting.”. He was a child when the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect. William Dorsey Swann was a former slave who fought for queer freedom decades before the Stonewall riots of 1969. William Dorsey Swann. [6], Former slave and activist known as the first person to identify as a drag queen, "The First Drag Queen Was a Former Slave", "Researcher says first self-described drag queen was a formerly enslaved man who 'reigned over a secret world of drag balls' in the 1800s", "2019 Creative Nonfiction Grantee: Channing Gerard Joseph", "The Black Drag Queens Who Fought Before Stonewall", "An Homage to Five Generations of Black Entertainers in Orlando", "William Dorsey Swann the 1st drag queen, LGBTQ rights pioneer", Photographs of postcards from the James Gardniner collection, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Dorsey_Swann&oldid=1005427292, LGBT rights activists from the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 7 February 2021, at 16:27. By the way, there are a number of photographs of Swann posted on the Internet. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. [1] Most of the attendees of Swann's gatherings were men who were formerly enslaved, and were gathering to dance in their satin and silk dresses. William Dorsey Swann was a gay liberation activist. [1], Swann was arrested in police raids numerous times,[3][4] including in the first documented case of arrests for female impersonation in the United States, on April 12, 1888. In it he introduces us to William Dorsey Swann, the first reported drag queen and queer activist in the United States. The article makes reference to a pardon from President Grover Cleveland, and that is where I decided to pull on the string to see what could be found in the Pardon Case Files ( NAID 572806 ), RG 204. Swann was born somewhere in Maryland sometime around 1858. [3] Because these events were secretive, invitations were often quietly made at places like the YMCA. In July, the same doctor that had given him a clean bill of health in March reported that Swann had a disease of the heart, and that the conditions in jail endangered his life. At the centre of the party was William Dorsey Swann, the self-proclaimed 'queen' of the ball. William Dorsey Swann - WikiMili, The Free Encyclopedia - WikiMili, Born into slavery, he was the first person in the United States to lead a queer resistance group and the first known person to self-identify as a queen of drag. [1] In it he introduces us to William Dorsey Swann, the first reported drag queen and queer activist in the United States. William Dorsey Swann was a black man who championed LGBTQ+ rights almost a century before the Stonewall Riots and is largely credited with the start of the underground drag movement in Washington, D.C. Swann was born in Hancock, MD in the 1850s. What a lovely story, these story inspired me more, and brought hope into my Rainbow world. First drag queen, William Dorsey Swann was born into slavery in Maryland 1858 According to Channing Gerard Joseph, the author of The House of Swann, Swann fought for queer freedom nearly a … [1], Swann was born into slavery. The Pardon Case Files hold almost 1,000 cubic feet of textual records dealing with people who petitioned for Executive Clemency (or a pardon) from the President of the United States. Swann was born somewhere in Maryland sometime around 1858. Tell his story! He endured slavery, the Civil War, racism, police surveillance, torture behind bars, and many other injustices. The 1800s Drag Queens: William Dorsey Swann Known as the “Queen of Drag”, William Dorsey Swann, born in to slavery and endured racism, police surveillance and torture, fought for LGBTQ+ liberation and freedom long before the Stonewall Rebellion. William Dorsey Swann is the original queen, the original drag mother, the original activist. President Grover Cleveland denied to issue a pardon on July 29, 1896, stating, in summary, that the implications of his health were not sufficient to counter the character of his offense. Although the pardon was not a success, William Dorsey Swann continued to throw balls and thrive as the Queen of Drag, lasting at least until the turn of the twentieth century. Having lived through “slavery, the Civil War, racism, police surveillance, torture behind bars, and many other injustices,” Swann … Shortened familiar versions in English include Will, Willy, Willie, Bill, and Billy.A common Irish form is Liam. William Dorsey Swann, född ca 1858, var en amerikansk HBTQ-aktivist och dragqueen.. Han föddes som slav och var den första personen i USA som ledde en queer aktivistgrupp och den första kända personen som identifierade sig som en "queen of drag". The Queen wasn’t just a fabulous force in the local scene. Thanks James for curating this information and publishing it. He not only inspired a group of both white and black men to coalesce around him for fun, fashion, and friendship — society’s laws and social conventions be damned — he convinced them to risk their livelihoods and … Formerly an enslaved person, Swann endured the hardships of forced labour and lived through the tumultuous Civil War. The file however does not reveal if the pardon was ever granted. This request was denied, but Swann was the first American on record who pursued legal and political action to defend the LGBTQ community's right to gather. William Dorsey Swann was totally unique for his time. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of England in 1066, and remained so throughout the Middle Ages and into the modern era. Swann was born into slavery and was the property of a white woman named Ann Murray in Hancock, MD. So, today we’re talking about William Dorsey Swann. A large man named William Dorsey Swann—the queen of the ball—was “arrayed in a gorgeous dress of cream-colored satin.”[5] But unlike the others, he ran frantically toward the officers in a vain attempt to keep them from entering. Also Swann/Swan is a name associated with a number of African-American families in Washington, DC and nearby Maryland. Swan was born as a slave in Maryland around 1858. He was freed once the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect. William Dorsey Swann (c. 1858) was an American gay liberation activist. Was born an enslaved person in Hancock, Maryland. Sometime in his late teen or early adult years, Willam became the very first person to self-identify as a drag queen (though he … Files can include letters of recommendation for a pardon; correspondence with Congress, governors, or other state officials; reports about the person’s trail; and reports or affidavits from various officials or allies of the petitioner regarding their conduct. Born into slavery, he was the first person in the United States to lead a queer resistance group and the first known person to self-identify as a "queen of drag". After consulting indexes for the series, I located two case files that could be related to William Swann. William Dorsey Swann was a gay liberation activist. Very interesting Netisha. Print; Events. The wonderful thing about the massive amounts of paper that the National Archives has is that there will always be another story to uncover. As his friends fled the scene, Swann ran towards the arresting officer and reportedly said: "You is … Growing up in Slavery Approx. Such an important piece of history. The petition was endorsed by the judge that sentenced William Swann to six months (other people involved in the theft were already released on bail while he remained incarcerated), and the Assistant US District Attorney recommended the pardon. William Dorsey Swann Historical , Leaders/Changemakers As one of the first known drag queens, William Dorsey Swann unapologetically expressed himself in a time when queerness was an unspeakable crime, holding drag balls in the 1880s-90s that would popularize ballroom culture. While still pending presidential review, the friends of Swann started to call the US Attorney’s office expressing concern over his health. She was a fierce fighter for our rights over a century before Stonewall. The petition gives great detail of the incident and circumstances of the petty larceny, and is very generous in describing Swann’s character: “…he was free from vice, industrious, refined in his habits, and associations, gentle in his disposition, courteous in his bearing…”. A. The first, J-202, Dorsey Swan (NAID 165128485), contains an application for pardon for the offense of petty larceny. [1][7], Swann was known to have been close with Pierce Lafayette and Felix Hall, two men who had also both been enslaved and who formed the earliest documented male same-sex relationship between enslaved Americans. William Dorsey Swann is remembered for his many firsts. A. Birney broadcast the stark disapproval of the life that William Swann lived, stating: “This petition is wholly without merit. Beginning in the 1880s, Swann became the 1st American activist to lead an LGBTQ resistance group that had violent encounters with the police. Original post by James Stanhope. Unlike the one filed in 1882, this petition of pardon was not met favorably by the US Attorney. Newspaper accounts of the day reveal that Swann was actually holding a drag ball (as noted in this clipping from the Evening Star). It is sometimes abbreviated "Wm." House of Swann is the story of William Dorsey Swann, an African-American man born into slavery who became the world's first self-described "drag queen" and the leader of possibly the world's earliest-known gay liberation organization. On January 1, 1896, William Swann was charged with “keeping a disorderly house” (known to be a euphemism for running a brothel). In it he introduces us to William Dorsey Swann, the first reported drag queen and queer activist in the United States. [1] All information regarding William Dorsey Swann’s life not documented in the Pardon Case Files is derived from this article. Born into slavery in 1860, William Dorsey Swann, known affectionately as “the Queen,” was possibly the very first drag queen, and a pioneer when it came to LGBTQ rights and activism. Thank you for pointing out a potential source for research. In his forthcoming book, House of Swann: Where Slaves Became Queens, he details the life of William Dorsey Swann, who Joseph believes was the … Swann was born into slavery. 1858 - Approx. Today’s post was written by Netisha Currie, archives specialist at the National Archives in College Park, MD. William Dorsey Swann was a former slave who reigned over a secret world of drag balls in Washington, D.C., and fought for queer rights nearly 100 years before the Stonewall Riots. Thank you Katherine Wadders for sharing this with me. [1][2] After his sentencing, he requested a pardon from President Grover Cleveland. The article makes reference to a pardon from President Grover Cleveland, and that is where I decided to pull on the string to see what could be found in the Pardon Case Files (NAID 572806), RG 204. Historian Channing Gerard Joseph is working on a book about the incredible trailblazer. The petitioners also note that he was trying to improve his education and provide for his family, and that the Spencers would happily offer lifetime employment as the college janitor. William Dorsey Swann, otherwise known as “the Queen” was born in Maryland around 1860. Now some of the language here is a little colourful and does not reflect the language or thoughts of All Gay Long. He was born into slavery in 1860, he was the first person in the United States to lead a queer resistance group and the first known person to self-identify as a “queen of drag”. The existence of these papers is the first instance where an “American [took] specific legal and political steps to defend the queer community’s right to gather without the threat of criminalization, suppression, or police violence.”. H is name was William Dorsey Swann, but to his friends he was known as “the Queen.” Both of those names had been forgotten for nearly a century … [1], When Swann stopped organizing and participating in drag events, his brother continued to make costumes for the drag community. At the beginning of this year, I came across the article “The First Drag Queen was a Former Slave” by Channing Gerard Joseph, a fellow Oberlin College alum. William Dorsey Swann (c. 1858) was an American gay liberation activist. [1]Under 1880 och 1890-talen arrangerade Swann baler för dragqueens i Washington, D.C. [1] Han arresterades flera gånger i polisattacker. The article makes reference to a pardon from President Grover Cleveland, and that is where I decided to pull on the string to see what could be found in the Pardon Case Files (NAID 572806), RG 204. [1][2], During the 1880s and 1890s, Swann organized a series of balls in Washington, D.C.[3] He called himself the "queen of drag". Born into slavery, he was the first person in the United States to lead a queer resistance group and the first known person to self-identify as a "queen of drag". In an article published in The … It is set for publication by Picador in 2021. William Dorsey Swann (1858-early 20 th c.) was a freed slave from Maryland who relocated to Washington, DC, where he was the first known drag performer, referred to as “The Queen.” He organized balls for the DC area. In an article published in The Nation Friday, writer and historian Channing Gerard Joseph tells the little-known story of Swann, a cross-dressing black man born into slavery who was affectionately known as “the Queen.” [1], Swann is the subject of the upcoming non-fiction book The House of Swann: Where Slaves Became Queens by Channing Joseph. After pleading not guilty, a speedy trial and conviction followed on January 3, 1896, and he was sentenced to 300 days in jail, to expire with good time in September 1896. [2] Two of his brothers had also been active participants in Swann's drag balls. William Dorsey Swann was born into bondage, and after the Civil War became Washington D.C.’s greatest drag queen. In this file, the federal record reveals one of the points where Swann makes queer history. William is a popular given name of an old Germanic origin. [2] He was enslaved in Hancock, Maryland and was freed by Union soldiers after the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863. House of Swann: Where Slaves Became Queens, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), "Revolutionary Movements Then and Now: Black Power and Black Lives Matter" Welcome Remarks.
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