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The Back Door Manual

An inventory of the item at Syracuse University


Finding aid created by: DTF
Date: 13 Oct 2023

Biographical History

The Back Door Computer Services, Inc. began its operations in San Francisco on January 17, 1984, as a bulletin board system (BBS - an early form of social media) that connected gay men through the internet. It was originally named the San Francisco T-Room, and allowed members to leave public and private messages. Eventually the company introduced a "back door" that enabled multiple users on the system at the same time. In 1990, the company changed its name to The Back Door. By 1995, The Back Door was operating 64 lines that allowed up to 64 users to communicate with each other simultaneously, a unique prospect in the early days of the internet. As technology advanced, the social network allowed users to play online games as well as exchange messages, photographs, videos, and files. Most, but not all, of the exchanges were sexual in nature. Gay men living with AIDS also connected on the network, an essential service during the height of the AIDS epidemic that severely affected the gay community.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Back Door Manual comprises a user manual for The Back Door bulletin board system (BBS). The user manual is contained in a three-ring binder and divided into nine sections.

Arrangement of the Collection

Single volume.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advance notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Subject Headings

Corporate Bodies

Back Door Computer Services, Inc.

Subjects

AIDS activists.
Computer bulletin boards.
Internet and gay men.
Social networks.

Places

San Francisco (Calif.)

Genres and Forms

Brochures.
Manuals (instructional materials)

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

The Back Door Manual,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Purchase, 2023.

Table of Contents

Printed material

Inventory