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.

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Items in this collection

Halloween Decorations

Halloween Decorations

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Halloween decorations on the wall inside the Kings & Queens. In the center of the image, a plastic skull with glowing red eyes is present. To the right of that, there is a pentagram on the wall.

Group with Noise Makers

Group with Noise Makers

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group of five seated at a table inside the Kings & Queens during the 1981 New Year's Eve party. The group have noise makers and are blowing on them. Two women are seated with their backs to the camera; a third woman and two men are seated on the other side of the table facing the camera. The woman on the left with her back to the camera is turned facing the camera as she blows her noise maker.

Group Waving at Picnic Table

Group Waving at Picnic Table

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons out on a picnic in the Lincoln Woods. This photo shows a group at a picnic table. Some are seated and some are standing. Some of the people who are standing are waving at the camera.

Group Talking at Pride Parade

Group Talking at Pride Parade

Providence Public Library

Photograph of people during the 1987 Pride Parade in downtown Providence, R.I. This candid photo shows a man talking to two women in Cathedral Square. Behind them, parade participants with pink triangle signs are seen.

Group Seated During Party

Group Seated During Party

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group of four women seated at ta long rectangular table during a party. On the right side of the image, a woman is collecting the coat for the woman seated to her left as the woman on her left is leaning down with a cigarette in her hand. The woman on the center left side of the image is smiling looking at the camera. The woman on her left looks away from the camera while she eats. Behind them, a woman is walking past. There are balloons and streamers decorating the space.

Group Seated at Table

Group Seated at Table

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group of four women seated at a table inside the Kings & Queens. This is a candid photo with no members of the group looking at the camera. In the foreground, gold reflective ribbons hang from the ceilings. In the background, jack-o-lantern decorations hang on the walls. Jack-o-lanterns are present on the tables. There is a sign for blood donation on the wall.

Group Posing

Group Posing

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons out on a picnic in the Lincoln Woods. This photo shows a group of three posing for the camera. They are making funny poses. Behind them, a group is present.

Group Posed by Parade Car

Group Posed by Parade Car

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group from the Kings & Queens posed in front of their first float for the Gay Pride Parade in Providence, R.I. This photo shows two cars covered in pink and purple balloons and streamers on the right and left side of the image. In between the cars, a group is posed for the camera. The cars ad the group are posed in Cathedral Square.

Group Posed Between Parade Cars

Group Posed Between Parade Cars

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group from the Kings & Queens posed in front of their first float for the Gay Pride Parade in Providence, R.I. This photo shows two cars covered in pink and purple balloons and streamers on the right and left side of the image. In between the cars, a group is posed for the camera. The cars ad the group are posed in Cathedral Square.

Group Performing together

Group Performing together

Providence Public Library

Photograph of an unidentified group of men and women performing together inside the Kings & Queens. The man on the right end is holding one microphone and the woman on the front left is holding the other. Various members of the group are singing along and looking at each other.

Group on Pride Float

Group on Pride 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 carrying a large group of people who are all smiling at the camera. 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.

Group on Motorcycle with Rita Paux in Sidecar

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons out on a picnic in the Lincoln Woods. This photo shows former Kings & Queens owner, Rita Paux, riding in a motorcycle sidecar at the picnic. There are two women on the motorcycle next to her. Behind the group on the motorcycle, a forth woman is present standing behind them.

Group of Women Posing for Photo

Group of Women Posing for Photo

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group of seven women standing in a semicircle with their arms around each other. They are looking towards the camera smiling as they pose for the camera. The woman on the right side of the image looks away from the camera and has her mouth open. Some of the women hold drinks and cigarettes.

Group of Three

Group of Three

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group of three inside the Kings & Queens. This photo was taken during the 1983 New Years Eve Party. The group are smiling and posing for the camera. The group are all embracing each other. There are silver and red balloons and streamers decorating the ceiling and walls of the party.

Group of Four in Woods

Group of Four in Woods

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons out on a picnic in the Lincoln Woods. This photo shows a group of four in the woods. On the left, two people are standing. On the right, two people are seated in fold out chairs.

Group in Woods

Group in Woods

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons out on a picnic in the Lincoln Woods. This candid photo shows a group of four in the woods. The group is standing looking towards the left side of the image. A man standing behind the group is looking at the camera.

Group in Wizard of Oz Costume

Group in Wizard of Oz Costume

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group of seven inside the Kings & Queens. They are all wearing Wizard of Oz costumes. Costumes from left are: Unidentified, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Unidentified, Cowardly Lion, Wicked Witch of the West, and in the front center is Toto.

Group in Partial Costume

Group in Partial Costume

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group of eight people posing for the camera inside the Kings & Queens. Members of the group are all in partial costume. Some members are wearing face paint. Behind them, there are orange and black balloons.

Group in Partial Costume

Group in Partial Costume

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group of eight people posing for the camera inside the Kings & Queens. Members of the group are all in partial costume. Some members are wearing face paint. Behind them, there are orange and black balloons.

Group in Halloween Costumes

Group in Halloween Costumes

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group of five people posing for the photo while wearing halloween costumes inside the Kings & Queens. The group is standing in front of the bar. Above them, a disco ball and a Halloween banner are seen. The group is standing in the center of the image. Four people in the group are standing and the center person is squatting down. The people standing have their arms around each others' shoulders.

Group in Country Western Costumes

Group in Country Western Costumes

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group of three women in cowboy hats and western wear costumes seated at a table together inside the Kings & Queens. They all have beers in front of them. They are smiling as they look at the camera. The woman on left side of the image is in a brown cowboy hat smiling and looking over her shoulder at the camera. The woman in the middle of the image is not wearing a hat. The woman on the right side of the image is wearing a white cowboy hat.

Group in Costume Seated at Table

Group in Costume Seated at Table

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group of women seated at a table inside the Kings & Queens. This is a candid photo. The group is seated at the table smoking cigarettes and wearing Halloween costumes. In the center of the group, a woman is dressed as a clown. On the right side of the image to her, another woman is dressed like a wolf. Next to the woman on the right, the rightmost woman has her head turned away from the camera towards the clown. On the left side of the image, a woman with glitter on her face is also looking away from the camera toward the clown. In the background, other patrons are seen. There are jack-o-lantern decorations on the wall.

Group in Costume

Group in Costume

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group of four inside the Kings & Queens. They are all wearing Halloween costumes. The group is standing close together posing for the photo. They are seen from the waist up. The costumes on the far left and far right are skeletons. The middle two costumes are unidentified.

Group in Cathedral Square

Group in Cathedral Square

Providence Public Library

Photograph of people during the 1987 Pride Parade in downtown Providence, R.I. This candid photograph shows a group of various people in Cathedral Square preparing for the parade. In the corner on the left side of the image, people are seen preparing the Kings & Queens float for the parade.

Group During Picnic

Group During Picnic

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons out on a picnic in the Lincoln Woods. This is a candid photo showing people during the picnic. In the foreground, two women are standing by a bush with their backs to the camera. On the left side of the image, a woman in pink has her back to the camera. Behind her, a woman is standing with her hands folded in front of her.

Group Decorating Float

Group Decorating Float

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group decorating the first Pride Parade float from the Kings & Queens. This candid photo was taken in Cathedral Square. It shows Kim Deacon holding purple streamers in the foreground as other members of the group attach decorations to the car in the background.

Group Bowling Portrait

Group Bowling Portrait

Providence Public Library

Photograph of the group from the Kings & Queens at the bowling alley. They are all gathered in front of the bowling lanes as they pose together for the photo. Kings & Queens bar owner, Kim Deacon, is kneeling in the front of the group third from the left of the image. Other Kings & Queens patrons: Denise Ferske, Cheryl Dupree, and Louise Belisle are present.

Group Bowling Portrait

Group Bowling Portrait

Providence Public Library

Photograph of the group from the Kings & Queens at the bowling alley. They are all gathered in front of the bowling lanes as they pose together for the photo. Kings & Queens bar owner, Kim Deacon, is standing in the center of the group. Other Kings & Queens patrons: Denise Ferske, Cheryl Dupree, and Louise Belisle are present.

Group at the Pride Parade

Group at the Pride Parade

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group of people posing for the camera the 1987 Pride Parade. The group have their arms around each others' shoulders and are looking at the camera. Two of the members of the group are wearing purple shirts with triangles on them. The group is in Cathedral Square.

Group at Table

Group at Table

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group of women seated at a table inside the Kings & Queens. This photo was taken during a New Years Eve party. This is a candid photo with most of the women looking away from the camera. The rightmost woman looks at the camera as she holds a cigarette.