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

Group at Pride Parade

Group at Pride Parade

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group at the 1987 Gay Pride Parade outside of the former Paris Cinema. On the left side of the image, a group with signs can be seen. One of the signs reads "Homophobia is a social disease."

Group at Pride Parade

Group at Pride Parade

Providence Public Library

Photograph of people during the 1987 Pride Parade in downtown Providence, R.I. This candid photo shows a group of men in pink shirts standing in a crowd in front of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul.

Group at Picnic

Group at Picnic

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons out on a picnic in the Lincoln Woods. This is a candid photo showing a group standing outside an open car trunk during the picnic. In the background on the right side of the image, another group is seen.

Group at Party

Group at Party

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group of women talking inside the Kings & Queens during a New Years Eve party. This is a candid photo and all the womens' faces are obstructed. The women are all holding drinks.

Grape Stomping

Grape Stomping

Providence Public Library

Photograph of members of the Royal Court softball team at Busch Gardens. In this photo, three members are standing on top of a wooden cart. Two of the members are standing inside wooden grape buckets.

Grape Stompers

Grape Stompers

Providence Public Library

Photograph of members of the Royal Court softball team at Busch Gardens. In this photo, three members are standing on top of a wooden cart. Two of the members are standing inside wooden grape buckets.

Gloria Pontbriaud, June Dube, and Rita Paux

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons out on a picnic in the Lincoln Woods. From left to right this photo shows: Gloria Pontbriaud, June Dube, and Rita Paux. The three are standing together posing for the camera while embracing each other.

Gloria Pontbriand "Gigi"

Gloria Pontbriand "Gigi"

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Gloria Pontbriand, known as "Gigi", inside the Kings & Queens during the 1992 New Years Eve party. This is a candid photo and she has her eyes closed as she holds a plate of food. In the background, a sign that reads "Makin Happy 1992" is present.

Gina Gee Portrait

Gina Gee Portrait

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens performer, Gina Gee. Gina is a fortune teller. This is the performer's headshot. Gina is looking away from the camera towards the right. Behind her, there is a reflection of the back of her head.

Gigi Pontbriand

Gigi Pontbriand

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens bar patron, Gigi Pontbriand, seated at a table inside of the Kings & Queens. The photographer is standing over Gigi as she is seated looking to the left side of the image, adjusting her hat.

Giant Halloween Costume

Giant Halloween Costume

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a bar patron in a very tall Halloween costume inside the Kings & Queens. This costume appears to almost touch the ceiling. The person in the tall costume is in the center of the image. On the left, another patron facing away from the camera looks at the costume. On the right side of the image, a man in all denim with his back to the camera looks over his shoulder at the tall costume.

George Hahn

George Hahn

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patron, George Hahn, seated on a stool inside the Kings & Queens. He is smiling and looking at the camera as he holds a cigarette. He is wearing a grey suit with a red tie and black pants. Behind him, a handmade sign for Doubles Pool League is present. There are silver reflective stars decorating the wall.

Frannie, Carol Calkins, Joan Facifici

Frannie, Carol Calkins, Joan Facifici

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Frannie, Carol Calkins, and Joan Facifici standing by the exit inside the Kings & Queens. The three women are engaged in conversation. The leftmost woman is smiling and looking towards the other two. The center woman is turned facing the rightmost woman. The rightmost woman is turned away from the camera, looking over her shoulder at the other two women. Above the group, Halloween decorations hang on the ceiling.

Frannie at Pool Night at Kings & Queens

Photograph of Kings & Queens patron, Frannie, during Pool Night. She is holding multiple pool balls and smiles at the camera. Behind her, a cake is present in the kitchen.

Four Women Talking

Four Women Talking

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons out on a picnic in the Lincoln Woods. This Photo shows a group of four women standing in a circle talking. This is a candid photo. The woman on the right side of the image is seated while the rest are standing.

Four People Roller Skating

Four People Roller Skating

Providence Public Library

Photograph of four people roller skating inside of a roller rink. This is a candid photograph with two women in the foreground glancing at the camera. Behind them, two men on roller skates are present.

Four Men Inside Kings & Queens

Four Men Inside Kings & Queens

Providence Public Library

Photograph of four men at the bar inside the Kings & Queens. The men are all smiling and looking at the camera as they pose for the photograph. Two men are seated at the bar with two men standing behind them. The standing men have their arms around the seated men. In the background, fall leaf decorations hang on the walls.

Four Drag Queens Performing

Four Drag Queens Performing

Providence Public Library

Photograph of four drag queens performing in front of a background with a tropical sunset motif at the Kings & Queens. The drag queens are mid-performance. From left to right the performers are: David Collins; Lee Daniels, performed by Brian Perrico; B.B. Hayes, performed by Brian Laquerre, and Vicki Williams. The photograph is taken from behind the audience.

Football Game

Football Game

Providence Public Library

Photograph of the Royal Court softball team playing football during the day outside in a field. This photo shows the football mid-air during the game.

Float Preparation in Cathedral Square

Float Preparation in Cathedral Square

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 two floats lined up on the left side of the image. The floats, cars covered in balloons and streamers, are parked. In the center and right side of the image, the people who decorated the floats are present.

Float in Cathedral Square

Float in Cathedral Square

Providence Public Library

Photograph of people preparing the first Kings & Queens float for the Pride Parade in Cathedral Square. Men are seen next to the car with the doors open attaching decorations.

Float Decorating in Cathedral Square

Float Decorating in Cathedral Square

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 two women standing by the driver's side door talking in the foreground as other members of the group decorate the back of the car in the background.

Float Decorating in Cathedral Square

Float Decorating in Cathedral Square

Providence Public Library

Photograph people decorating the first Pride Parade float from the Kings & Queens in Cathedral Square before the 1987 Pride Parade. This candid photo shows various group members attaching balloons, streamers, and a sign to a car. The decorations being attached are pink and purple. On the right side of the image, one of the decorators looks at the camera.

Flo and Sonny

Flo and Sonny

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons, Flo (left) and Sonny (right), seated at a table inside the Kings & Queens. Behind them, there is a banner on the top of the wall that reads "Makin Happy" in silver glitter advertising the theme for the New Year's Eve party. There is a handmade poster on the wall behind them advertising for a buffet. Other unidentified patrons are present in the background.

Five Person Drag Performance

Five Person Drag Performance

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group of five drag queens performing together at the Kings & Queens. They are all wearing matching black leotards and are standing in a straight line with their hands on the hips of the performer in front of them. The drag queen in the front of the line is Lee Daniels, performed by Brian Perrico. The drag queen in the back of the line is Vicki Williams.

Five Person Drag Performance

Five Person Drag Performance

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a drag performance with five members. The rightmost person is Brian Perrico performing as Lee Daniels. The performer third from left is Vicki Williams. The performers are all wearing matching hospital gown costumes. Behind them, there is a wall covered in posters of various entertainers.

Feather Boa Drag Performance

Feather Boa Drag Performance

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a three person Drag Performance. The group are all wearing feather boas. The drag queen on the left side of the image is Vicki Williams. On the right side of the image, audience members watch the performance.

Fang Decorations

Fang Decorations

Providence Public Library

Photograph of the mirror behind the bar inside the Kings & Queens. The mirror is decorated for Halloween. The decorations are large cut out fangs with blood on them. On either side of the mirror, jack-o-lanterns are present.

Fall and The Surprises Performing The Supremes

Photograph of Royal Court softball team members from back left Cheryl Dupree, Linda Trexler, and Autumn Howe Black (front center) lip syncing together as "Fall and The Surprises." This is a lip syncing fundraising event for the Royal Court Softball Team. The group is performing "Someday We'll Be Together" by Diana Ross and The Supremes.

Ellie Straight and Bartender Bob

Ellie Straight and Bartender Bob

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens bartender, Bob, with Kings & Queens patron, Ellie Straight. This is a candid photograph with Bob glancing towards the camera and Ellie looking away.