At work arranging his archives, José Sarria holds an inscribed 1946 photo of a young German friend who would later become a major film star: Klaus Kinski.

Turning 90 on December 12, San Francisco native José Sarria has a long record of contributions to the GLBT community. A celebrated performer, advocate of homosexual equality and founder of several gay organizations, he was the first known openly gay person to campaign for elected office, running for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1961.

So Sarria wasn't altogether surprised when one of the most prestigious museums in the United States called about his archives. "The Smithsonian asked me to donate," he said. "But not everything. They just wanted the correspondence."

Sarria had already given a substantial portion of his papers to the GLBT Historical Society when he left San Francisco in 1996. Now living in a cozy cottage behind the home of friends in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, N.M., he looked over his files and memorabilia -- and made up his mind. 

"I decided my materials should stay together," Sarria explained. "With everything in one place, people will be able to see the story from beginning to end."   

GLBT Historical Society founding member Gerard Koskovich recently flew to New Mexico to help Sarria pack the materials. At the end of a four-day visit, 21 boxes were on the way to San Francisco. Among the treasures: extensive personal correspondence; costumes from Sarria's performances at The Black Cat bar in the 1950s; and records of the Imperial Court, the international network of drag charities that Sarria founded in 1965.    

Still tucked away in Sarria's home are historic paintings, photographs and more files. Sarria says those materials will come to the Historical Society in due course -- and he's already putting his words into action. A couple days after the shipment from New Mexico arrived, Sarria phoned Executive Director Paul Boneberg to let him know that two more boxes were in the mail. 

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