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

Smiling Man in Tuxedo

Smiling Man in Tuxedo

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a man standing at the bar inside the Kings & Queens. The man is smiling as he looks towards the camera. He is wearing a Tuxedo with a bow tie. Behind him, other bar patrons are present. There are pink and silver reflective streamers hanging from the ceiling.

Slow Dance

Slow Dance

Providence Public Library

Photograph of couples embraced during a slow dance at the Kings & Queens. In the foreground, two men are embracing while slow dancing. One man, in a brown jacket, is smiling with his head over his partner's shoulder looking away from the camera. His partner has his back to the camera. Behind the pair of men in the foreground other couples are slow dancing.

Sign and Decorations on Wall

Sign and Decorations on Wall

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a wall inside the Kings & Queens. In the center of the image, a handwritten orange sign is present. 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 contribution to our good fortune." On either side of the sign, paper jack-o-lantern decorations are present. Surrounding them, there are fall foliage and gourd decorations on the wall.

Shawna Inside Kings & Queens

Shawna Inside Kings & Queens

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patron, Shawna, inside the Kings & Queens. She smiles towards the camera. Behind her, bar patrons are present.

Sharon with Noise Maker

Sharon with Noise Maker

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Sharon seated at a table inside the Kings & Queens during a New Years Eve party. She is looking at the camera as she wears a party hat and holds a noise maker to her mouth. There appear to be other people present at the table who are out of view.

Sharon Borek

Sharon Borek

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Sharon Borek's right profile. She is seated facing towards the right side of the image smiling. Borek is seen in a 3/4 profile.

Sharon and Tracie

Sharon and Tracie

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Sharon (left) and Tracie (right) standing inside the Kings & Queens during the 1981 New Year's Eve party. This is a candid photo taken from a low angle showing the two women engaged in conversation. Sharon is facing Traci but is looking over her shoulder at the camera. There are reflective ribbons hanging from the ceiling.

Sharon & Darlene

Sharon & Darlene

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons, Sharon and Darlene, seated at the bar inside of the Kings & Queens. The woman seated furthest right in the photograph is smiling at the camera as the other women present are looking away towards the right of the image. In the background, Halloween decorations are hanging on the walls and green reflective streamers hang from the ceiling.

Severed Head Halloween Decoration

Severed Head Halloween Decoration

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a severed head Halloween decoration on a table. This decoration shows a mannequin head wearing a witch's hat with fake blood on the mouth and around the neck.

Seated Woman Dressed as Man with Moustache

Photograph of a woman seated at a table inside the Kings & Queens. The woman is in costume dressed as a man. She has a moustache and big eyebrows painted on her face. This is a candid photo and the woman is looking down at an item she's holding in her hands. She is slightly in profile facing the left side of the image. In front of her, another woman is present, also in profile and facing toward the left side of the image. Behind them, other costumed patrons are visible in the background.

Scarecrow Bartender

Scarecrow Bartender

Providence Public Library

Photograph of a person dressed as the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz standing behind the bar at the Kings & Queens. The Scarecrow has their hands in their pockets and is looking at the camera. There are jack-o-lanterns on the bar. In the background on the left side of the image, a single patron is drinking. There are black and orange balloons floating against the ceiling in the foreground and background. They have gold reflective ribbons hanging from them.

Scarecrow and Woman in Costume

Scarecrow and Woman in Costume

Providence Public Library

Photograph of two women inside the Kings & Queens. The woman on the right side of the image is in a Scarecrow costume from the Wizard of Oz. The woman on the right side of the image is in a maroon costume and is wearing sunglasses. The two women are photographed from the waist up. They are both looking at the camera. In the foreground and the background gold reflective ribbons hang from the ceiling. In the background, paper Halloween decorations hang on the wall.

Scarecrow and Tin Man

Scarecrow and Tin Man

Providence Public Library

Photograph of two people in Wizard of Oz costumes inside of the Kings & Queens. The person on left is dressed as the Tin Man and is standing in front of the person on the right. The person on the right is dressed as the Scarecrow and has their arm around the shoulders of the Tin Man. The photograph shows the pair from the waist up. Gold reflective ribbons hanging from the ceiling are present in the foreground and background. In the background, paper Halloween decorations hang on the wall.

Santa Claus Holding Microphone

Santa Claus Holding Microphone

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Santa Claus seated in a living room holding a microphone. He is seated between two people. The person on the left is wearing Santa hat. The person on the right is holding a Christmas gift. Next to Santa, Christmas gifts are present on a table.

Russ Levesque and Scott Paulin inside Kings & Queens

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons, Russ Levesque and Scott Paulin, inside of the Kings & Queens. The two are standing next to each other as they look at the camera. Behind them silver reflective stars decorate the walls.

Royal Court Team in Line

Royal Court Team in Line

Providence Public Library

Photograph of members of the Royal Court softball team at Busch Gardens. In this candid photo, team members are standing in a line for an attraction. One of the team members is wearing something on her head.

Royal Court Spelled in Rocks

Royal Court Spelled in Rocks

Providence Public Library

Photograph of "Royal Court" spelled out in rocks outside in a field. The sign is spelled on a small hill in front of the woods.

Royal Court Softball Team Members in Costume for Lip Sync Fundraiser

Photograph of Royal Court softball team members from left: unidentified, Cheryl Dupree (unseen), Linda Trexler, Terry Kohanski, Collette Hogue (unseen), and unidentified. This candid photo shows the teammates standing together after their performances. The team members are all in costume for their performances.

Royal Court Softball Team Members in Costume for Lip Sync Fundraiser

Photograph of Royal Court softball team members from left: Cheryl Dupree, Terry Kohanski, Linda Trexler, Collette Hogue, and unidentified. This candid photo shows the teammates seated together after their performances. The team members are all in costume for their performances.

Royal Court Softball Team

Royal Court Softball Team

Providence Public Library

Photograph of the Royal Court Softball Team outside in a field. They are posed in a pyramid behind their trophies. This photo was taken during the South Kingston Softball Tournament in 1987. The members of the team are: (bottom from left) Collette Hogue, Ann Bissonette, Angie Giarusso, Lisa Hevey, Kimmie, Stacy (middle from left) Kim Deacon, Linda Trexler, Judy Cobden, Unidentified, Karen Dupis (top from left) Barbara Berube, Unidentified, Terry K, and Patty Mitchelle.

Royal Court in Water Rapids Ride

Royal Court in Water Rapids Ride

Providence Public Library

Photograph of members of the Royal Court softball team at Busch Gardens. In this photo, a group of members are on a water rapids ride. The photo is taken from above the ride looking down on the team inside of a circular yellow raft as they float down the ride.

Royal Court in Water Rapids Ride

Royal Court in Water Rapids Ride

Providence Public Library

Photograph of members of the Royal Court softball team at Busch Gardens. In this photo, a group of members are on a water rapids ride. The photo is taken from above the ride looking down on the team inside of a circular yellow raft.

Ronnie Nasuti and Friend Next to Christmas Tree

Photograph of Ronnie Nasuti (left) and friend (right) standing next to a decorated Christmas Tree. Ronnies has his arm around the shoulders of his friend and is holding a glass of wine. Above it, a wreath hangs on the wall.

Ron Nasuti and Carol Hanlen

Ron Nasuti and Carol Hanlen

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons, Ron Nasuti and Carol Hanlen. The two are embracing as they face the camera and smile. Ron is on the right side of the image and Carol is on the left side of the image. The two are wearing tuxedos. Behind them, there are blue and silver balloons and blue streamers hanging on the wall.

Roger Vanasse with Jack-o-Lantern Balloon

Photograph of Roger "Buster" Vanasse standing in a flower shop holding a large jack-o-lantern helium balloon. Vanasse is smiling and looking towards the camera. Roger was the first of the KQ family to be diagnosed with AIDS and passed in 1988. This photo is from a folder called "Some of our family who died of AIDS."

Roger "Buster" Vanasse

Roger "Buster" Vanasse

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Roger "Buster" Vanasse standing inside a doorway in a house. He is smiling and laughing and has one arm outstretched. This photo is from a folder called "Some of our family who died of AIDS." Vanasse passed away on 10/15/1988.

Rochelle, Lisa, Tracie, Paula and Laura

Photograph of a group of five women, Rochelle, Lisa, Tracie, Paula and Laura, seated inside the Kings & Queens during the 1996 New Years Eve Party. The group is posed for a photo and smiling at the camera.

Rochelle Jacobs, Lisa Hevey, Paula, and Laura

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons: Rochelle Jacobs, Lisa Hevey, Paula, and Laura. The four women are lined up against a wood paneled wall, to the left of a dartboard. They are all turned slightly towards the right side of the image, facing the camera. There are string lights hanging from the top of the wall.

Rita's Kiss

Rita's Kiss

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Rita Paux and a woman kissing inside the Kings & Queens. To the left of the kiss, another two women are present. The one directly to the left of Rita (center left) is looking at the camera) the leftmost women is making a face at the camera and holding up two peace signs. This photo was taken during the 1983 New Years Eve party. There are silver and red balloons and streamers decorating the ceiling and walls of the party.