A Guide to the Linda and Cynthia Phillips Papers, 1964-2018

Biographical Note

Linda and Cynthia Phillips were married in Dallas in 1958. Over the years, the couple became prominent within the transgender community of Central and South Texas. Linda and Cynthia also became affiliated with many transgender organizations. The most notable was the Boulton and Park Society of San Antonio, which the couple joined shortly after its formation in 1986. They also had a strong presence in the San Antonio community as the primary organizers of the Texas "T" Party, a Boulton and Park-sponsored event that became the largest annual convention for crossdressers in the nation. The Phillips gained national exposure in the early 1990s following their appearances on major television talk shows. Much of their time during the 1990s was dedicated to educating the public and other members of the transgender community on their experiences as a transgender couple.

Linda Phillips has been crossdressing since she was 3 years old. Her past positions include Editor of Cross Currents, the newsletter for the Heart of Texas Gender Association, and Gender Euphoria, the newsletter of the Boulton and Park Society. Linda was also the past Secretary and President for the Texas T Party. In addition, she has served as the Secretary and Treasurer of the Boulton and Park Society.

Cynthia Phillips has been actively involved in the transgender community for many years. She has authored countless articles on transgender relationships for various transgender newsletters and journals. Cynthia was Founder and Editor of the successful newsletter WACS (Women Associated with Crossdressers), and Editor of WACS' successor, Partners. She also served as the Co-Chairperson for the Texas T Party, as well as Executive Director of the Boulton and Park Society.

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Scope and Content Note

The Linda and Cynthia Phillips Papers document the couple's attempt to educate other transgender singles and couples based on experience gained in their own relationship. Additionally, the collection reflects the Phillips' active involvement in raising awareness of the transgender culture among the general population. Included are newsletters, articles, announcements, pamphlets, papers, magazines, and correspondence collected by the couple during the time of their association with the Boulton and Park Society. The materials are arranged in series by function, with Boulton and Park Society making up the bulk of the collection. This series offers insight into the Phillips' many activities within the transgender community. The couple dedicated the majority of their time to the Boulton and Park Society, producing its newsletter, as well as promoting its functions and activities.

Personal Papers consists of the Phillips' personal correspondence, the majority of which discusses both their personal lives, as well as their involvement in the Boulton and Park Society and other similar organizations. Also included in the Personal series are video tapes of interviews with the Phillips and their appearances on national talk shows during the 1990s. Transgender publications spanning several decades round out the series.

Selected material in this collection has been digitized and is available in our digital collections.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

This collection is housed at UTSA's Main Campus and must be accessed via the John Peace Library Special Collections reading room. To request access, please use the Collections Request Form.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Linda and Cynthia Phillips, MS 38, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.

Acquisition Information

All the materials in this collection were donated by Linda and Cynthia Phillips in 1996 and 1997 (Acc. 1996-15 and 1997-20). Additional materials were donated by Cynthia Phillips in 2018 (Acc. 2018-053 and 2018-062).

Processing Information

Processed by Dale Sauter, Processing Archivist, August 2000. Additions processed by Melissa Gohlke, Assistant Archivist, November, 2018 and June, 2019.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Boulton and Park Society, 1964-1999

Series Abstract

Material relating to the transgender culture collected by Linda and Cynthia Phillips during their association with the Boulton and Park Society. The bulk of the series is comprised of newsletters. There is a near complete run of the Boulton and Park Society newsletter Gender Euphoria for 1987 to 1999. As a note, the Gender Euphoria newsletter was originally titled Triple T News. Also present is the Partners newsletter (1989-1986), which was edited by Cynthia Phillips. Partners was originally entitled WATS (Women Associated with Transgender Support Group), and then WACS (Women Associated with Crossdressers). Also included is the Cross Currents newsletter (1989-1993), edited by Linda Phillips. Cross Currents was originally published by Heart of Texas TV, before becoming associated with the Boulton and Park Society. A small number of newsletters from other transgender organizations are also included. Of particular interest in the Research Materials subseries are the published results of a 1992 transgender survey developed by Boulton and Park Society and Dr. George R. Brown, a pioneer in the field of transgender behavior. At the time, this survey was the largest and most comprehensive survey done by the transgender community.

Arranged alphabetically.

Box

Folder

1

1

Announcements, 1992-1999, undated View Contents

2

Journal Articles, 1977-1991, undated

3

Newsletter Articles, 1992 and undated View Contents

Newsletters

Gender Euphoria

4

1987-1991 View Contents

5

1991-1992 View Contents

6

1993-1994 View Contents

7

1995-1999 View Contents

Box

Folder

2

WACS/Partners

1

1989-1996 View Contents

Cross Currents

2

1989-1993 View Contents

Assorted Publications

3

1993-1997 View Contents

4

Newspaper and magazine articles, 1990-1997, undated

5

Pamphlets, 1964-1977, undated View Contents

6

Papers, 1989-1995, undated View Contents

Box

3

Reports

1

Boulton and Park Financial Report, April- June 1992 View Contents

Proceedings from the International Conference on Transgender Law and Employment Policy

2

August 1992 View Contents

3

August 1993 View Contents

4

August 1994 View Contents

4

June 1995 View Contents

Box

Folder

4

1

Research Materials, 1992-1997 View Contents

Texas "T" Party

Planning materials, 1994-1995

Cynthia Phillips' packet, 1995

Box

5

Planning materials, 1989-1993

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Personal Papers, 1980-2003, 2018

Series Abstract

The bulk of this series is made up of personal correspondence of Linda and Cynthia Phillips. This material offers insight into the type of relationships the Phillips shared with other transgender individuals and organizations. Consisting of both incoming and outgoing correspondence, the letters document the personal exchange between the Phillips and fellow clubmembers, persons they have inspired and helped, and a small amount with the Phillips' close relatives. Also included are videotapes, one of which contains a fifty-minute interview with the Phillips. The program was recorded in April, 2000, and was intended for use by medical students and residents at the Department of Psychology at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Other videotapes feature the Phillips' many appearances on daytime talk shows during the 1990s.

Box

Folder

4

2

Correspondence, 1991-1997, undated View Contents

3

"Highlights of the Life and Times of Linda and Cynthia Phillips, 1957-2016," 2018

4

"When I was a Man," by Linda Phillips, undated

Publications

5

Drag: the International Transvestite Quarterly, 1975

6

Transvestia, 1980

7

How to be a Man, Though a Woman, 1988

8

Transgender Community News, 2002-2003

Box

Folder

2

7

TV-TS Tapestry, 1988-1991

8

Tri-Ess membership directory, 1992

9

Petticoat Junction, undated

9

Woman's World, 1991

10

En Femme, 1991

10

Femme Mirror, 1992

11

Crossdressers Quarterly, 1990

11

Crossdressers International Shopping Guide, 1989

Box

OM1

Videotapes

CJ and Linda-Peggy Rudd's home, 1990

Joan Rivers show, circa 1990

Montel Williams, 1991

St. Mary's University class, 1991

Geraldo Show, 1992 and undated

Jenny Jones, 1992 and undated

Transgender Video-Linda and Cynthia Phillips, interviewed by Dr. Barbara Doleshal, 2000

Communications-Dr. Sandra Cole, "Living in the Other Gender Role-Linda Phillips," undated

D. Mobley-Cleveland show, undated

Gender Play-Linda Phillips, undated

Linda and Cynthia, Kelly & Co. Detroit, undated

Maury Povich, "Gender Bender," TS Inmates, undated

Phillips Good Morning Houston, undated

Jerry Springer Show, undated

Metamorphosis, undated

The World of Gender: The Crossdresser and his Wife--Strategies for Coping, 1994

The World of Gender: The Crossdresser and the Transsexual--First Contact, 1994

Box

OM2

Transsexual Menace t-shirt, undated

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