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

Kenny Staples Inside Kings & Queens

Kenny Staples Inside Kings & Queens

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patron, Kenny Staples, seated inside the Kings & Queens and smiling at the camera. Behind him, Christmas decorations and handmade posters are present.

Kay Costa, Jackie, and Others

Kay Costa, Jackie, and Others

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kay Costa, Jackie, and unidentified bar patrons. The four women are seated at a table and there are leaf decorations on the wall behind them. The camera is at the end of the table and the four women facing each other turned their heads to face the camera.

Kay Costa and Other Bar Patrons

Kay Costa and Other Bar Patrons

Providence Public Library

Photograph of bar patrons seated at a table inside of the Kings & Queens. Kay Costa (L) is seated amongst the group at the table. In the center of the image, a woman in black looks directly at the camera.

Katie Goodwin and Laura Lynch Dancing Together

Photograph of Katie Goodwin and Laura Lynch embraced and holding hands while dancing. Laura is smiling looking towards the camera. Katie is smiling with her face on Laura's.

Kathy Rivers Headshot

Kathy Rivers Headshot

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patron and professional boxer, Kathy Rivers.

Kathy Goodwin, Moira Cardinal, and Marge Inside Kings & Queens

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons from left side of the image to right: Kathy Goodwin, Moira Cardinal, and Marge. They are all standing with their arms around each other smiling at the camera. Moira is holding a drink in her hand.

Justene as Dorothy

Justene as Dorothy

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens bar patron, Justene, dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. The photograph is taken from above Justene as she is seated. Justene is looking at the camera and smiling. The photo shows her from the shoulders up.

June Dube and Rita Paux

June Dube and Rita Paux

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons out on a picnic in the Lincoln Woods. This photo shows June Dube, owner of Dubes in Central Falls, and Rita Paux, former owner of the Kings & Queens. The two are embracing as they smile at the camera.

Judy Driving Pickup Truck

Judy Driving Pickup Truck

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a woman named Judy driving a pickup truck pulling a float for the Pride Parade. In this photo, Judy is looking out the rolled down window and making a face at the camera. There is another woman in the passenger seat. They are both wearing sunglasses. There are pink and purple balloons attached to the truck. The red crepe paper on the front of the float is slightly visible. There is a sign that reads "1989" on the windshield.

Judy and Heather Pollack in Kings & Queens

Photograph of women dancing inside the Kings & Queens. Judy (left) and Heather (rght) Pollack are in the foreground of the image with their arms around one another and posing for the camera. Unidentified patrons are in the background dancing.

Johnny Riendeau in White Knit Sweater

Johnny Riendeau in White Knit Sweater

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Johnny Riendeau inside the Kings & Queens smiling and looking towards the camera with one arm raised. He is wearing a knit white sweater with his hair pulled back. Behind Riendeau, a handmade sign on the wall reads "New Year's Night." This photo is from a folder called "Some of our family who died of AIDS."

Johnny Riendeau in Fluffy White Jacket

Photograph of Johnny Riendeau inside the Kings & Queens looking at the camera with one eyebrow raised. He is wearing a fluffy white jacket and a white shirt. Behind him, a halloween decoration is hanging on the wall. This photo is from a folder called "Some of our family who died of AIDS."

Johnny Riendeau in Blue Sequin Top

Johnny Riendeau in Blue Sequin Top

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Johnny Riendeau inside of the Kings & Queens wearing a blue sequined top. Riendeau is looking at the camera. Behind him, there are handwritten posters on the wall. This photo is from a folder called "Some of our family who died of AIDS."

Johnnie Dressed as Prince for Halloween Costume

Photograph of Johnnie dressed as the musician, Prince, for Halloween. He is standing next to the bar inside the Kings & Queens with his left elbow resting on it. There are Halloween decorations and a hand made sign that is advertising for an upcoming event.

Joannie Brier in a House

Joannie Brier in a House

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Joannie Brier standing inside a living room. She has her hands behind her back. Her body is slightly turned towards the right side of the image and her head is turned towards the camera. Behind her, a couch, and three paintings of flowers in a vase are present.

Joan Pacifici and Unidentified Man

Joan Pacifici and Unidentified Man

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons, Joan Pacifici and unidentified man, seated inside of the Kings & Queens at a table. Both are smiling and looking at the camera. Joan is seated on the right side of the image with her head turned towards the camera and the man is seated at the end of the table looking directly at the camera.

Jen and Diane Embracing

Jen and Diane Embracing

Providence Public Library

Photograph of two women, Jen and Diane, with their arms around each other inside the Kings & Queens. They are both holding a drink. The woman on the left side of the image is smoking a cigarette and is wearing a bolo tie.

Jeannette Sylvester, aka "Gina Gee", Headshot

Headshot of performer, Jeannette Sylvester, also known as Gina Gee. Jeannette is on the right of the image smiling and looking at the camera. She has her arms around a handmade horsehead on the left side of the image. The horsehead is decorated with buttons and mosaics.

Jeanne Malo Outside in Sunglasses

Jeanne Malo Outside in Sunglasses

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Royal Court Softball team member, Jeanne Malo, outside wearing sunglasses. She is looking at the camera smiling with her mouth open. Her right hand is held up as she makes the peace sign with her index and middle finger.

Jeanne Bessette and Her Partner

Jeanne Bessette and Her Partner

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Jeanne Bessette and her partner inside of a home. The two are seated close and smiling towards the camera.

Jeanette Doyan and Charlie Holbrock

Jeanette Doyan and Charlie Holbrock

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens bar patrons, Jeanette Doyan and Charlie Holbrock seated at a table inside of the Kings & Queens. This is a candid photo and Jeanette and Charlie are looking towards the camera.

Hope Aquaviva at a Dinner

Hope Aquaviva at a Dinner

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Hope Aquaviva seated at a table. Aquaviva is dressed elegantly and seated on a gold chair at a table with a gold tablecloth. She is smiling and looking towards the camera with a cigarette in her left hand. Behind her, other women seated at tables are present.

Heather in Bathing Suit Looking at Camera

Photograph of a woman named Heather posing in a doorway. She is wearing a red and white striped v-cut one piece bathing suit. She is looking directly at the camera with one hand on her hip and one on the doorway.

Heather and Yitska

Heather and Yitska

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons, Heather and Yitska, embracing and looking at the camera. They are both wearing tinsel. The woman on the left side of the image is wearing a "New Years" headband.

Heather and Joan Posing for Photo

Heather and Joan Posing for Photo

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Heather (left) and Joan (right) inside the Kings & Queens during a 1981 New Year's Eve Party. The two women are smiling at the camera and posing for a photo. Heather has her arm around Joan while Joan is leaning into her and their heads are touching.

Happy New Year 98

Happy New Year 98

Providence Public Library

Photograph of the decorations inside the Kings & Queens. These decorations are for the 1998 New Years Eve party. This photo shows a sign that reads "Happy New Year! '98'" hanging under silver tinsel curtains.

Happy Anniversary Sign Above Bar

Happy Anniversary Sign Above Bar

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a green handmade Happy Anniversary sign hanging on a mirror above the liquor at the bar. There are green reflective streamers and balloons hanging from the ceiling. This sign celebrates the 15 year anniversary for the Kings & Queens.

Hanging Tinsel

Hanging Tinsel

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. Two men are standing at the back of the float hanging silver tinsel while two other men look on. The float is covered in silver and red tinsel and has red and blue balloons. There is an American flag on the top of the float.

Handmade Poster on Wall at Kings & Queens

Photograph of a handmade sign on the wall at the Kings & Queens. The sign reads "The wonder of time is the speed with which it passes- IF we are fortunate, it leaves in its path fond memories of both Lovers and friends. Thank you for contributing to Our Good Fortune." There are leaf decorations present on the wall around the sign.

Halloween Decorations on Wall

Halloween Decorations on Wall

Providence Public Library

Photograph of the decorated walls inside the Kings & Queens. The walls are decorated with Halloween decorations. In the center of the wall, a coffin decoration with a skull on it is present. Above that, there is a row of pink and yellow paper skull decorations. A pool table is seen on the right side of the image.