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

Del Desrosier Talking on the Phone

Del Desrosier Talking on the Phone

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Del Desrosier standing inside a house talking on a landline telephone. She is standing in a doorway with the phone held up to her right ear. She is turned looking towards the camera with her face partially obstructed by the phone.

Decorations on Wall

Decorations on Wall

Providence Public Library

Photograph of decorations on the wall inside the Kings & Queens. In the center of the image, a crucifix leaning towards the left is present. On either side of the crucifix, there are coffins. The coffin on the left side of the image says "Witches" and the coffin on the right side of the image says "Warlocks."

Decoration on Ceiling

Decoration on Ceiling

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Halloween decorations inside the Kings & Queens. This photograph shows a handmade ghost decoration hanging from the ceiling in the center of the image. In the background, there are paper monster face decorations hanging on the walls.

Decorating the Pride=Power Float

Decorating the Pride=Power Float

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group from the Kings & Queens decorating their Pride=Power themed float for the Providence Pride Parade. The float is a handmade lion roaring being pulled by a red pickup truck decorated in streamers. The pickup truck has a King and Queen playing card on the side. In the background, other floats being prepared for the parade are seen.

Decorating the Kings & Queens Float

Decorating the Kings & Queens Float

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a group preparing 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.

Decorated Bar Interior During Party

Decorated Bar Interior During Party

Providence Public Library

Photograph of the decorated bar area inside the Kings & Queens during the 1997 New Years Eve Party. This photo shows the walls covered in silver and blue balloons and blue streamers. There are blue Christmas lights hanging on the ceiling. This is a candid photo and several bar patrons are seen scattered throughout the bar.

David in James Dean T-shirt

David in James Dean T-shirt

Providence Public Library

Photograph of David wearing a James Dean T-shirt on the side of the road in Providence during Pride. This is a candid photograph. On the right side of the image, another man is seen laughing. Behind the two, four other men and a bus are present in the background.

David Collins?

David Collins?

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens bar patron and friend, David Collins. This photo was taken at the 1987 Providence Pride Parade. This is a posed photo showing David from the shoulders up. David is smiling and looking at the camera.

David Collins, Lee Daniels, B.B. Hayes, and Vicki Williams Performing Together

Photograph of four drag queens in the middle of a lip-sync performance together at the Kings & Queens. The four have their arms on each others' shoulders. The photograph is taken from the audience. 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. Behind them, the wall is decorated with a tropical sunset motif.

David Collins, B.B. Hayes, and Vicki Williams

Photograph of three drag queens (from left) David Collins, B.B. Hayes, and Vicki Williams performing together at the Kings & Queens. B.B. Hayes is performed by Brian Laquerre. The photograph is taken from the audience. Behind them, the wall is decorated with a tropical sunset motif.

David Collins Seated at Bar

David Collins Seated at Bar

Providence Public Library

Photograph of David Collins, runner up in Joan Rivers look alike contest on The Johnny Carson show, seated at the bar in the Kings & Queens. David is holding a book and looking at the camera. Behind him, a bartender is present, looking down at the bar.

David Collins in Driver's Seat of Float

Photograph of David Collins in the driver's seat of the first Kings & Queens Pride Parade float. The window is open and his hands are on the edge of the door as he looks out towards the camera. He is smiling with a follower in his hair. The float is decorated in yellow flowers in addition to pink and purple balloons and streamers.

Dancing Devils

Dancing Devils

Providence Public Library

Photograph of people in Halloween costumes dancing inside the Kings & Queens. This is a candid photo. There are two people in red face paint dressed as devils. There is also a person dressed in flannel and a fake beard. In the background on the right, there is a person in a baseball hat, glasses, and a polo shirt. There are Halloween decorations, tree branches, and leaves on the wall.

Dancing

Dancing

Providence Public Library

Photograph of people dancing inside the Kings & Queens during a New Years Eve party. This is a candid photograph with no one looking at the camera. There are red balloons hanging from the ceiling and reflective red streamers attached to the wall.

Cow Smoking Cigarette

Cow Smoking Cigarette

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a person dressed as a dairy cow smoking a cigarette at the bar inside the Kings & Queens. They are looking towards the camera. Behind them, Halloween decorations and hand made signs are present on the wall.

Couple Seated

Couple Seated

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons out on a picnic in the Lincoln Woods. This photo shows two men seated. The couple are smiling at the camera. One man is seated in front of the other. The man in the back is seated on a fold out chair. The man in the front is seated on a blanket and leaning against the man in the back.

Collette Running During Softball Game

Collette Running During Softball Game

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Collette playing softball in the snow. In this photo, two women are running. Collette is in the foreground is running towards the center of the image. The woman in the background is running towards the left side of the image.

Collette Rogue & Louise Belisle

Collette Rogue & Louise Belisle

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Louise Belisle (center) and Collette Rogue (back) inside the Kings & Queens during Lip Sync Night in 1991. The Lip Sync Night was a fundraiser for the Royal Court Softball team. Both Louise and Collette were members of the Royal Court. Collette is on the back left side of the image turned towards the right looking away from the camera. Collette is dressed in costume as Deee-Lite for her performance. Louise is holding money as she stands centered with the camera. Her head is turned slightly towards the right of the image as she looks away from the camera.

Collette Laying in Snow

Collette Laying in Snow

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Collette playing softball in the snow. She is laying down in the snow with her softball glove on. She is looking away from the camera towards the back of the image.

Collette Hogue Performing as Deee-Lite

Photograph of Royal court softball team member, Collette Hogue performing the song "Power of Love" as Deee-Lite for a fundraising lip sync competition at the Kings & Queens. This is a candid photograph of Collette standing by the microphone taken during the performance.

Collette Hogue Performing as Deee-Lite

Photograph of Royal court softball team member, Collette Hogue performing the song "Power of Love" as Deee-Lite for a fundraising lip sync competition at the Kings & Queens. In the photograph, she is dancing and smiling at the camera.

Colleen Bellew in Cowboy Hat with Noise Maker

Photograph of Colleen Bellew (left, standing) wearing a cowboy hat inside the Kings & Queens during a New Years Eve party. She is blowing a noise maker. Paula Mencarini, also wearing a hat, is standing on the right.

Clown Smoking Cigarette

Clown Smoking Cigarette

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a person in a clown Halloween costume. They are seated on a stool inside the Kings & Queens next to a pinball machine. The clown is smoking a cigarette. The clown is seated in the center of the photograph and is looking directly at the camera.

Cigarette Machine Jack-o-lantern

Cigarette Machine Jack-o-lantern

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a jack-o-lantern on top of the cigarette machine inside the Kings & Queens. The jack-o-lantern is facing the camera. On the right side of the image, a handmade sign is present on the wall.

Christine Coulombe and Renee Champagne

Photograph of Royal Court softball team members Christine Coulombe and Renee Champagne performing at the Royal Court softball team fundraising event. The couple are performing "All I Ask of You" from the musical, "Phantom of the Opera." The couple are the winners of the Lip Syncing contest.

Chris Rose

Chris Rose

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patron, Chris Rose, comically posing for the camera while wearing a white plastic lei.

Chris Bell Inside Kings & Queens

Chris Bell Inside Kings & Queens

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patron, Chris Bell, inside the Kings & Queens. This is a candid photo with Chris glancing towards the camera mid-conversation. Behind him, fall decorations are on the walls.

Cheryl, Kim, and Kathy

Cheryl, Kim, and Kathy

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Cheryl, Kim Deacon (center), and Kathy. Cheryl and Kathy are unidentified. The three are seated at a table with drinks placed on it. The three are smiling and looking towards the camera. The woman on the left side of the images is smiling with her eyes closed, looking down.