Mabel Hampton (1902-1989) served as an early core member of the Lesbian Herstory Archives, and was pivotal to its direction through the 1970’s and 80’s. She had worked as a Coney Island entertainer among many other assorted jobs, and became a steady presence at the Archives, a rare older figure who was out and proud. In a 1979 interview, Hampton said “I’ve been a Lesbian since I was a very young girl,” and continued “I advise everyone: you have to live right, and you’re living right if you’re a Lesbian!” (91, Sinister Wisdom: 1991). Hampton’s personal belongings, photographs, and papers are held at the Lesbian Herstory Archives in Brooklyn, New York. Her Bronx apartment is listed in the NYC LGBT Historic Sites project.
Another interesting slice of Hampton’s life was her affiliation with the Freemasons: “Hampton was a devoted member of the Eastern Star, a women’s Masonic organization, and studied with the Rosicrucians, a mystical order dedicated to personal enlightenment and worldly responsibility” (Legacy Project Chicago).
