Help us solve a mystery.
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The photos are property of the ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives at the USC Libraries and the John J. Wilcox, Jr. Archives at the William Way LGBT Community Center. Used here with permissions. Use of the photos must be granted by the archives.
The 1950's Gay Wedding Photo Mystery
Do you recognize anyone in these photos?
This collection of photos was first printed circa 1957 at a neighborhood drugstore in North Philadelphia.
The photographs capture special moments during a same-sex commitment ceremony, including the exchange of rings in front of witnesses, an officiant leading the ceremony, the first kiss, dancing, opening of gifts, cutting of the cake and more.
The owner of the drugstore allegedly deemed these particular wedding photos to be inappropriate and refused to return the photos to the grooms.
60 years later, the photos were found. The originals are now kept safely between the One National Gay & Lesbian Archives in Los Angeles and the John J. Wilcox, Jr. Archives in Philadelphia.
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