Atif Toor Collection on SALGA-NYC
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Abstract
SALGA-NYC is a not-for-profit, all-volunteer organization serving the South Asian LGBTQ community in New York. This collection consists of material accumulated by member and organizer Atif Toor, documenting the history and activities of SALGA-NYC including event announcements and fliers; clippings; photographs from parades, dances, and retreats; SLAAP! (Sexually Liberated Arts Activist Asian People!) informational postcards and photographs; and computer files containing photographs and music used for dance party visual effects. This collection also contains a SALGA-NYC historical timeline, informational fliers, and a small amount of meeting and office files.
Historical Note
SALGA-NYC, formerly known as the South Asian Lesbian and Gay Association, is a not-for-profit, all-volunteer organization serving the South Asian LGBTQ community in the New York area. The organization was founded in 1991 for gay men to debate about co-gender and inclusion of other races in meetings. The organization eventually expanded its mission, promoting awareness, acceptance, empowerment, and safe inclusive spaces for people of all sexual and gender identities who trace their heritage to South Asia or who identify as South Asian. Groups march in Manhattan and Queens gay pride parades as well as the India Day and Pakistan Day parades, supporting SALGA-NYC's mission to enable community members to establish cultural visibility, and oppose oppression and all forms of discrimination. SALGA-NYC also provides multi-generational support, immigration advocacy, and assistance with mental and physical health issues through monthly support meetings and retreats, as well as sponsoring events such as the annual "Color Me Queer" dance party, film festivals, and workshops.
Arrangement
This collection has not been arranged by an archivist. A majority of the materials were arranged by item type when received from the donor.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of materials accumulated by member and organizer Atif Toor, documenting SALGA-NYC history and organizational activities, as well as the South Asian immigrant LGBTQ community in New York City more broadly. This collection also contains event announcements and fliers, including the annual "Color Me Queer" dance party and the PARDA: Unveiling South Asian Artistic Queer Expression event. Clippings cover SALGA-sponsored events, as well as national and international LGBTQ community issues impacting members. Photographs depict members participating in pride and international parades, dances, and retreats. Computer files files in this collection include photographs and music used for dance party visual effects. A SALGA-NYC historical timeline, general information fliers, meeting information and attendee lists, and event planning notes can be found in this collection. Informational postcards and original photographs for SLAAP! (Sexually Liberated Arts Activist Asian People!) are also included in this collection. These materials document the experiences of this small, international community of New Yorkers, from the early 1990s to the early 2000s with regards to the intersection of gender, sexuality, and diasporic backgrounds.
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Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use materials in the collection in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; Guide to the Atif Toor Collection on SALGA-NYC; MSS 492; box number; folder number or item identifier; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Atif Toor, September 2016. The accession number associated with this gift is 2017.047.
Custodial History
Material was accumulated and donated by long-time SALGA-NYC member and organizer Atif Toor.
Born-Digital Access Policies and Procedures
Advance notice is required for the use of computer records. Original physical digital media is restricted.
An access terminal for born-digital materials in the collection is available by appointment for reading room viewing and listening only. Researchers may view an item's original container and/or carrier, but the physical carriers themselves are not available for use because of preservation concerns.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Materials were placed in acid-free folders and box. Four DVD-R discs were forensically imaged, analyzed, and arranged. New York University Libraries follow professional standards and best practices when imaging, ingesting, and processing born-digital material in order to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the content. In November 2024, a digital object for processed electronic records was created to conform to current practices. The inventory was reorganized so that individual formats were listed separately.
