The Birds of Sorrow: Giving Voice to Loss in an Age of Pandemic - Irwin Library, April 2025

Names on Blocks: 

Panel 1: Stephen Daniel "Jessy" Fogelman

Panel 2: San Diego Men's Chorus, Allen Robinson, Austin Wortley, Bill Christie, Bob Hatton, Bob Prewitt, Bob Warren, Buddy Cobb, Charles Feldman, David Davenport, David Held, David Maxey, David Tomayo, Doug Bush, Doug Macomber, Freddy Stann, Jack W. Allshire, Jake Jacobson, Jerry Snow, Jim Velberg, John Gardner John Olmstead, Ken Caton, Ken Young, Kevin Plaehn, Larry Mahon, Michael Maxey, Paul Brown, Paul Giovinazzo, Rick Shaw, Ricky Myers, Robert J. Brugger, Ronald Steven Pope, Ruben Dominquez, Scott McKenna, Scott Reichelt, Stephen Paul-Hoswell, Terry Amos, Vincent Herrera, Virgil Beard, Wayne Fabert

Panel 3: Gay Men's Chorus - San Diego, Dr. Bob, Rick Shaw, Scotty McKenna, Tim Tyner, Tom Harper

Panel 5: Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus, Bill Adams, Bob Burk, Bob Philips, Charles Kennerly, Corky Chandler, Dean Philips, Dennis Ellington, Dennis Stabler, Ed Coalter, Errol Statum, Gary Piccola, Glen Kennoy, Glenn Hall, Jim Bennett, Jim Brown, Jim Moore, Lyle Peters, Michael Pratt, Milton Heatherly, Neil Gregory, Randy Sink, Randy Thomas, Sam Davis, Tim Mutti, Tim Ragan, Tom Blackmon, Van Pinson

Panel 6: Columbus Gay Men's Chorus, Bill Marzluf, Bob Bowers, Brian Fertig, Chris Cuckler, David Essex, David Jennings, Dr. James Swearingen, Jack Culberson, Jeff Gibson, Jock Salinger, Max Gregory, Phippipe Van Minnenbrugger, Rev. Jeffrey Thompson, Terry Head, Tom Pennington

Panel 7: Indianapolis Men's Chorus, Alan Miller, James Gilbert, Marlin King, Marlin Moman, Michael Dillow, Richard Berkey, Steve Miller, Tom Brown

Panel 8: Gay Men's Chorus South Florida, A. Beau Siegel, Art Fairhill, Arthur Hall, B. Jay Freier, Beau Fort, Bill Kimmons, Bo Bowman, Bob Stewart, Bob Walter, Bobby Smith, Brett Conrad, Bruce Alexander, Dennis Allen, Fred Frank, Gregory P. Jones, Hobart Stevens, J.R. Spurrs, Jack Stewart, Jay Richards, Jeff Husman, Jerry Lamoureux, Jim Klein, Jorge Lopez, Ken Edmonds, Kevin Mitchell, Larry Cooper, Mecheal Sander, Michael Bernstein, Michael Morrow, Michael Stout, Phil Wallach, Randy Stalnecker, Raymond Armour, Robert Schafer, Thomas Turney, Todd Crowell; Tom Barnes; Victor Houck, Wayne McCollum

The AIDS Memorial Quilt digital collection presents digitized records concerning Quilt panels that are more than 25 years old. Records concerning panels less than 25 years old are available onsite in the Folklife Reading Room.

The Library of Congress is providing access to these materials strictly for educational and research purposes.

The National AIDS Memorial and the Library of Congress ask that researchers treat the records within the Archive with respect for the persons whose lives the records document.

The information provided below is taken from the panel maker records to allow the description of these panels, and the people represented on them, to come from those who loved them and made the panel. It is used under Fair Use for educational purposes. To read the panel makers' submissions in full, please visit the digital collection through the Library of Congress.  If you have other reference questions about these files, you should contact the Folklife Reading Room for assistance. Not every panel on each block had records available and if there is no information, it is not included below.

Who is on this panel?

Stephen Daniel "Jessy" Fogelman (1964-1995) whose panel was made by his friend Ruth. She said, "Jesse was a special friend...and he could always make me smile with one of his wonderful embraces. ... We shared a number of things in common...a love of music (he sang bass and I sang alto...although not at the same time...in the local chapter of GALA Choruses), and a fascination with dance." She added, "We also discovered that he and my husband had grown up in the same town and attended the same high school in Indiana, although over ten years apart." She ended her letter saying, "Although I never had the privilege of meeting his family, I hope they realize how special he was to those of us who loved him. We miss him dearly, but no one should suffer as he and so many have. I hope he has finally found peace."

GALA Choruses still exist and describes themselves: "Our choral movement serves as a means of expression, community building, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. The movement began in the 1970s by forming various women’s and gay men’s choruses in cities across the United States. Particularly the women’s choral movement brought lesbians and straight women together, providing a space to sing, perform, and express themselves. It was part of a larger movement for women’s rights and empowerment. Since then, the movement has expanded to include bisexual, transgender, and queer people and has grown to include choral groups in many countries worldwide." (from the "Our Movement" page)

San Diego Men's Chorus (1985-2010): The San Diego Men’s Chorus (SDMC) was formed in 1985 after members of The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles came to San Diego to perform a benefit concert that promoted the launch of a gay men’s chorus in San Diego. SDMC began its history with approximately 45 men. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, SDMC performed at many funerals and memorials for members of the community who had died of AIDS. (from their History page)

Gay Men's Chorus - San Diego (1992-2010): The Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego was founded in 1992 by eleven San Diego Men’s Chorus members who wanted to sing in a self-identified “gay chorus.” 

After performing together in December 2009 for the first time in 17 years, the San Diego Men’s Chorus (SDMC) and the Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego (GMCSD), with their uniquely distinctive and proud histories, officially merged to create the new SAN DIEGO GAY MEN’S CHORUS (SDGMC). The SDGMC is one of the ten largest GALA choruses in the United States. It currently features over 100 talented and dedicated singers and dancers who are devoted to the chorus mission statement, “To create a positive musical experience through exciting performances which engage our audiences, build community support and provide a dynamic force for social change.”The newly merged Chorus looks forward to continuing the tradition of extraordinary musicianship and dedication to the community outreach of their predecessors. (from their History page)

Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus "In 1981, a time when the gay-rights movement was just gaining momentum, founding artistic director Jeffrey McIntyre and 45 talented and brave singers came together to form the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus (AGMC)—an ensemble of the highest musical quality that nurtures its members and educates its community toward understanding, compassion and inclusiveness. ... In 2008, Ann Pinyan, board chair of the Atlanta Feminist Women’s Chorus, proposed that the defunct AFWC would contribute their music library to the AGMC and in return the AGMC would create a new women’s chorus. ... Today, over 200 talented and diverse singers comprise the two choruses; together, the volunteer members of the AGMC and AWC entertain thousands of gay and straight audience members from metro Atlanta and beyond, through their thought-provoking performances. Both choruses are members of the International Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA) and actively participate in collaborative performances and educational efforts with GALA member choruses worldwide." (from their History page). The Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus and the Atlanta Women's Chorus continue today under the umbrella organization Voices of Note.

Columbus Gay Men's Chorus (CGMC) was formed in 1990 by five people. The non-auditioned chorus maintains the vision of its founding members to foster increased recognition, understanding and acceptance of gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender persons (from Wikipedia).  The CGMC continues today with the mission: "to foster increased recognition, understanding, and acceptance of individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community. We dedicate ourselves to perform vocal music at the highest possible standard of quality, and to maintain an atmosphere of camaraderie, support, and respect for our diverse members and audiences." (from their About page).

Indianapolis Men's Chorus In 1990, the nonprofit Crossroads Performing Arts, Inc. established the Indianapolis Men’s Chorus (IMC) as its first performance group. The goal of Crossroads Performing Arts was to develop LGBTQ musical ensembles (both vocal and instrumental) that would provide central Indiana audiences with high-caliber concerts, present the LGBTQ community in a positive light, promote a spirit of pride, and build bridges of understanding.

In August1990, a steering committee hired the IMC’s first artistic director, Michael Hayden from Butler University. Rehearsals began in October, and the group first sang in public on December 16, 1990, performing a holiday concert at All Saints Episcopal Church. The IMC made its formal debut at the Madam Walker Theater on June 8, 1991.

In 2015, the IMC spun off from Crossroads Performing Arts and began operating as an independent nonprofit organization. While no longer exclusively a gay men’s chorus, most of its 70-plus volunteer singers identify as members of the LGBTQ community, and it still has a similar mission to “entertain, educate, and promote inclusive community through musical excellence.” 

(Excerpted from the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis)

Gay Men's Chorus South Florida