The bulk of the material deals with Biron's political and artistic activities in Ann Arbor. These include documents and correspondence related to the founding of the Gay Community Services Center (GCS), as well as flyers (many designed by Biron) for events and handouts from consciousness-raising sessions. The Ann Arbor series also includes folders related to Tristain Tzara (about whom Biron curated an exhibit in Hatcher Graduate Library) and Fernando Arrabal (whom Biron interviewed in Ann Arbor). The San Francisco series consists primarily of posters and flyers for events. Another highlight is a folder of materials related to the magazine Gay Sunshine, including correspondence between Biron and Winston Leyland. Although some of the collection dates from the early 80s, there is no material related to HIV/AIDS. Biron's own books of photography, and some of his work published elsewhere, comprise the last series.
Lionel Biron is a photographer, artist, and activist based in San Francisco. Biron lived in Ann Arbor from 1969 to 1978, where he was a doctoral student and eventually a graduate teaching fellow in the University of Michigan's department of Romance Languages and Literatures. In this period he played an active role in the formation of what would become the Graduate Employees Organization (GEO), and his materials documenting the 1973 strike and other major events in GEO history are held by the Bentley Historical Library. Biron was also one of the founders of the Gay Community Services Center (GCS), which provided services such as a hotline and consciousness-raising groups to Ann Arbor's Gay Community. In addition to his community work and teaching, Biron also maintained an interest in Dada, especially mail art and Xerox art, and also contributed a number of letters to the editor and opinion pieces to local and national publications. In 1978, Biron relocated to San Francisco, where he remained active in gay arts scenes and found success as a photographer.
