Richard "Rick" Stafford Papers

Richard Wesley "Rick" Stafford Jr lived from 1952-2017. At age 41, Stafford served as the first openly gay elected chairman of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in 1993. He served as a delegate, superdelegate, Committeeman of the Democratic National Committee, and later Chair to the LGBT Caucus at the Democratic National Committee. He was also a board member of the National Stonewall Democrats.

In addition, Stafford was a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on HIV/AIDS, and was involved with the Minnesota AIDS Project as a volunteer, staff member, and the Board of Directors. This collection documents Stafford's many political achievements, including his trip with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Republic of China. This collection also include (but are not limited to) materials on Sharon Sayles Belton, Jonette Engan, Al Gore, Mike Erlandson, Steve Hunegs, Nancy Larson, Cory Davison, Buck Humphrey, Donny Ness, Jimmy Carter, Dave Lee, the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, the Gay and Lesbian Caucus, the Democratic National Convention, and numerous trips to the The White House.