Throwback Thursday: Harry Eberlin’s Bin, Part 1

Every week William Way Executive Director Chris Bartlett and I meet for a rummage through the LGBT community center’s John J. Wilcox Jr. Archives, a veritable treasure trove of relics from gay Philadelphia’s past.

Today, we share images picked from a bin of photos donated to the archives after it was discovered in the basement of  late Philadelphia Gay News (PGN) photographer Harry Eberlin‘s longtime partner Richard DeMatt. The photos span the past few decades, and feature some local LGBT notables, like PGN publisher Mark Segal, Philly leather community matriarch Pearl, Woody’s founder and Knock owner Bill Wood, and even a baby-faced Ed Rendell. 

We weren’t able to identify everyone, so feel free to comment below or email me if you recognize anyone in the photos.

Harry Eberlin

Pearl (center) at 1970s and 80s gay bar Raffles.

Harry Eberlin

Philadelphia Gay News publisher and longtime LGBT activist Mark Segal.

Harry Eberlin

LGBT activists and partners Jack Nichols and Lige Clarke.

Harry Eberlin

Musician Tom Wilson Weinberg.

Harry Eberlin

A group of folks at the "Children of Holocaust Survivors Workshop" at the sixth International Conference of Gay and Lesbian Jews in July of 1981. The workshop was led by Dovida Ishatova (far right).

Harry Eberlin

David Knudsen (far right).

Harry Eberlin

Mark Segal (left) and future Philadelphia Mayor and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell (right).

Harry Eberlin

Radical queer activist Tommi Avicolli Mecca (right).

Harry Eberlin

Health official and activist Walter J. Lear, who passed away in 2010.

Harry Eberlin

David Knudsen and Walter J. Lear (right).

Harry Eberlin

Woody's founder and Knock owner Bill Wood with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

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Harry Eberlin (1937-2006)

Have photos from Philly’s LGBT past you’d like to share? Submit them to Josh Middleton at jmiddleton@phillymag.com.