Administrative/Biographical History: 

Jo Purvis (1922-2026) was a legendary promoter and DJ on the LGBTQ+ scene throughout her long life and was still running wheelchair discos for residents in her care home after she turned 100. Born in East London, Jo left school at a young age and got a job with British Airways, as a receptionist in the Piccadilly branch. She met lots of interesting people and spent evenings in the West End, where she became involved in promoting club nights in different venues.

On a visit to Paris, she had found a café where drag artists served tables and felt London was ready for something similar. She recounts in her interview how she persuaded the owner of the private member Rehearsal club to allow a trial night. This coincided with the passing of the Sexual Offences Act. The night was an immediate success and grew into several events each week, often with a cabaret and drag acts. 

She became involved in many clubs, beginning in 1983 with Stallions. It was there that she began to DJ, when her friend Jack left her temporarily in charge, and she never looked back. It was also here that she began the famous Tea Dances. Her other enduring dance legacy began in 1993. Always open to new ventures, she embraced Peter Flockhart’s suggestion of line dancing which he discovered in the States. The Cactus Club, largely LGBTQ, was born and is still thriving. Moving to Nightingale House in 2022, Jo ran wheelchair discos, based on her intuition of what music she thought the residents would like. 

Jo was a very private person stating ‘I’ve always enjoyed my life…because I’ve been accepted for what I am rather than what I do in bed’. However, whilst she used female pronouns, she wanted to be thought of as a boy as a youngster. She lived with her partner Eileen for decades.  

Scope and Content: 

Archive of DJ and promoter Jo Purvis (1922-2026), including: tickets, invites and card from dances, New Year events and other occasions at the Rehearsal Club, Stallions and other venues, 1951-1998; photographs of attendees at events hosted and DJ'ed by Jo, along with photographs from Pride marches, 1984-1995; promotional photographs and other material for drag artistes who performed at clubs Jo was promoting or DJing at, 1970-1989; two albums containing cuttings regarding Jo and her events, 1983-2017; CDs and audio cassettes containing music and playlists prepared by Jo for events, 2000s.  

Quantity: 

2 Boxes