Kim Deacon Collection

This collection documents the Kings & Queen Bar in Woonsocket, R.I. as well as the LGBT community in Rhode Island from the 1970s-early 2000s. The bulk of the collection includes photographs and videos, but additional clippings, event calendars and ephemera are included. Materials represent the bar as a gay social space and include events such as holiday parties, drag shows and fundraisers as well as events for the LGBT community sponsored by the bar including bi-annual picnics, roller skating nights and leagues for softball, bowling, flag football and darts.
This collection is part of Providence Public Library Digital Collections, hosted by Providence Public Library.

This collection is part of:

Items in this collection

Pam and Kathy Seated at Bar

Pam and Kathy Seated at Bar

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Pam (left) and Kathy (right) seated at the end of the bar at the Kings & Queens. Pam has her arms crossed resting on the bar. Kathy has her arm around the woman on the left. The two are looking at the camera while they smile.

Noel Pincince and Lisa Denton

Noel Pincince and Lisa Denton

Providence Public Library

Photograph of MC, Noel Pincince, and Royal Court softball team member, Lisa Denton. The two are on stage after Lisa's lip syncing performance. Lisa is dressed as Dolly Parton and Noel is asking her questions about her costume.

New Year's Eve Party

New Year's Eve Party

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a New Year's Eve party inside the Kings & Queens. This is a candid photo showing patrons during the party. Many of the patrons are seated at tables with red table cloths. There are balloons with reflective ribbon attached to the ceiling.

Muriel Cheniel at Payphone

Muriel Cheniel at Payphone

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patron, Muriel Cheniel, at the payphone inside of the Kings & Queens. She is about to dial the phone with her head turned facing the camera.

Mummy and Friends at Table

Mummy and Friends at Table

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group of four people seated at a table inside the Kings & Queens. In the foreground, a man dressed as a mummy and a man with black and white face paint are present. They are turned around from the table facing the camera and smiling. The man in the black and white face paint has his arm around the mummy. Behind them, two other men are present at the table smoking cigarettes. The man on the back right side of the image is looking at the camera. The man on the back left side of the image is looking towards the right. There are Halloween decorations on the wall behind the group.

Mudball Sunset

Mudball Sunset

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons playing a game called Mudball. They are outside in a baseball field. This photo shows a sunset over the field where Mudball was played.

Mudball Players on Field

Mudball Players on Field

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons playing a game called Mudball. They are outside in a baseball field. This photo shows various players walking off the field.

Mudball Player

Mudball Player

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons playing a game called Mudball. They are outside in a baseball field. This is a candid photo of one of the players walking by the photographer.

Mudball Game Player

Mudball Game Player

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons playing a game called Mudball. They are outside in a baseball field. This photo shows a player wearing a baseball glove in front of other players out on the field.

Mudball Game in Progress

Mudball Game in Progress

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons playing a game called Mudball. They are outside in a baseball field. This photo shows Mudball happening mid-game.

Mudball Game

Mudball Game

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons playing a game called Mudball. They are outside in a baseball field. This photo shows various players walking off the field.

Mudball from Behind Fence

Mudball from Behind Fence

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons playing a game called Mudball. They are outside in a baseball field. This photo shows people playing Mudball from behind the fence.

Mudball Being Played

Mudball Being Played

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons playing a game called Mudball. They are outside in a baseball field. This photo shows Mudball happening mid-game.

Moira, Laura, Pam, Dianne, and Carol Ann inside Kings & Queens

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons (L-R) Moira, Laura, Pam, Dianne, and Carol Ann. The group is inside the Kings & Queens holding up their drinks and smiling at the camera. Behind them, Christmas decorations and string lights are hanging on the walls.

Mo and Her Groupies as The Village People

Photograph of Royal Court softball team members lip synching a medley by the Village People as "Mo and Her Groupies." The group is made up of Cheryl Dupree (center right), Linda, Autumn Howe Black, Mo, and Mary. The photograph is taken from behind the audience.

Mo and Her Groupies as The Village People

Photograph of Royal Court softball team members lip synching a medley by the Village People as "Mo and Her Groupies." The group is made up of Cheryl Dupree (center right), Linda, Autumn Howe Black, Mo, and Mary. The photograph is taken from behind the audience.

Mo and Her Groupies as The Village People

Photograph of Royal Court softball team members lip synching a medley by the Village People as "Mo and Her Groupies." The group is made up of Cheryl Dupree (center right), Linda, Autumn Howe Black, Mo, and Mary. The photograph is taken from behind the audience.

Miss Brooks in a House

Miss Brooks in a House

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Miss Brooks inside of a home. Her body is turned away from the camera as her head looks over her shoulder. She is smiling as she looks at the camera. Behind her, leaf decorations are present on the wall.

Michael Martin

Michael Martin

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a black and white drawing of Michael Martin who passed away from AIDS on September 9th, 1988. The drawing is a portrait of Martin where he is smiling. He was 30 years old. The drawing is signed by Benjie.* This photo is from a folder called "Some of our family who died of AIDS."

Men Skating and Holding Hands

Men Skating and Holding Hands

Providence Public Library

Photograph of three men holding hands in a line while roller skating inside a roller rink. This is a candid photo. In the background, other roller skaters are present.

Men in Costume

Men in Costume

Providence Public Library

Photograph of two men in costume standing inside the Kings & Queens. The man on the left side of the image is dressed as an incarcerated person. The man on the right side of the image is dressed in a Keffiyeh. There are other bar patrons present in the background behind them.

Mark Hewitt, Ken Staples and Roland inside Kings & Queens

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons: Mark Hewitt, Ken Staples, and Roland. The three are inside the Kings & Queens near the door. This is a candid photo: two men are looking towards the camera and one is looking away.

Mark and Laura In Front of Foliage Decoration

Photograph of Mark (left) and Laura (right) standing in front of a wall at the Kings & Queens. The wall is decorated with real foliage as well as faux leaf decorations. The two people are standing in front of the wall shoulder to shoulder. Mark is wearing a bow tie.

Marilyn in DJ Booth

Marilyn in DJ Booth

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Marilyn inside the DJ booth at the Kings & Queens. This photo was taken during a New Years Eve Party. Marilyn is smiling as she looks at the camera. The walls are decorated with red streamers and craft paper. There are reflective stars on the left wall and a disco ball hanging from the ceiling.

Marge Jacob and Bobby Boscoe Embracing Inside Kings & Queens

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons, Marge Jacob and Bobby Boscoe, embracing inside the Kings & Queens during the Starlight Ball Milk Fundraiser. The two are in the center of the image. Marge is smiling at the camera as Bobby looks down. Behind them, silver star decorations are present along with a handmade poster for the Milk Fund Starlight Ball.

Man Standing on Float

Man Standing on Float

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a float made by bar patrons and owner of the Kings & Queens for the Providence Pride Parade. This photo shows the float parked on the side of the road in Providence. The float is in the process of being decorated. A man is standing in the center of the float looking at a group standing on the ground. They are all holding balloons. The float is covered in silver and red tinsel and has red and blue balloons. There is an American flag on the roof of the float.

Man Roller Skating

Man Roller Skating

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a man roller skating inside a roller rink. The man is looking at the camera. He is skating alone. Another man is present in the background also skating alone.