Above right: A flyer for Heaven’s Christmas Night, ca. 1992-1994. Above left: A flyer for Memorial Day Weekend at Heaven, 1992. Both from the Club Heaven Manuscript Collection.

Abstract: Heaven, an after-hours club at 7 Mile and Woodward, was an influential hotspot during the 1980s and 1990s that helped spur the electronic and dance scene in Detroit, Michigan. The club was prominent in the black LGBTQ scene that featured locally and internationally known dancers and Detroit DJs, creating a space for young Black, queer people to express themselves. The collection contains documents, articles, photos, maps, event and party ephemera pertaining to Club Heaven; materials covering the larger LGBTQ club and bar scene in Detroit; and documents about DSC organizing efforts and events to preserve the memory of Club Heaven. Read the full finding aid here.

Donor(s): The material in this collection was gathered by DSC founder Dr. Carleton Gholz throughout DSC’s efforts to preserve the memory of Heaven and refurbish its sound system. Donors include Cynthia Trent (DJ Cent), Greg Collier, and Tim Retzloff. If you contributed to the Club Heaven collection please contact info@detroitsound.org so that your donation can be recognized.

Dates: 1945-2019, bulk 1994-2019

Extent: .42 LF

Collection Type: Physical

Subjects: Club Heaven, LGBTQ+ people, LGBTQ culture, Dance parties, Dance music, Techno music, drag queens, Detroit Sound Conservancy

Related Collections and Artifacts: