Overview

Ray and Henry Hillyer were central figures in the development and organization of the gatherings associated with the Emma Jones Society in Pensacola during the early 1970s. They are credited with organizing what became known as the Emma Jones Society, an informal network centered around annual gatherings and ongoing communication among participants. Through their efforts in coordination, communication, and event planning, they helped establish one of the most significant early LGBTQ+ social networks in the Gulf Coast region.

​

Creation of "Emma Jones"

The Hillyers are credited with the creation of “Emma Jones,” a constructed identity used to organize and promote annual gatherings held around the July 4th holiday. Rather than representing a single individual, Emma Jones functioned as a shared persona that provided both structure and a degree of separation for those involved in organizing events during a time of social and legal risk.

​

This construct allowed invitations, correspondence, and references to circulate under a recognizable name while maintaining discretion for participants.

​

Regional Connections and Communication

The Hillyers maintained connections beyond Pensacola, including the use of a post office box in New Orleans. Materials and correspondence were routed through this address and transported to Pensacola by a trusted intermediary.

​

This arrangement reflects the existence of a broader Gulf Coast network of LGBTQ+ individuals and communities, linking Pensacola with larger regional centers such as New Orleans.

​

Community Organization

A key aspect of the Hillyers’ work involved maintaining lists of individuals who attended or were invited to the annual gatherings. These records allowed for continued communication and helped establish a consistent and growing network of participants over multiple years.

​

The use of mailing lists and coordinated invitations demonstrates a structured approach to community-building at a time when such organization required careful planning and discretion.

​​

Events and Participation

The gatherings associated with Emma Jones became major social events, drawing participants from across the region. These events included performances, themed celebrations, and organized activities that contributed to a shared sense of identity and community.

​

The Hillyers were involved not only in organizing these events but also in shaping their visual and cultural elements, including costume design and participation in related festivities.

​

Relationship to Contemporary LGBTQ+ Spaces

While the Emma Jones gatherings and the more public-facing commercial venues of the period existed within the same broader community, they appear to have operated independently. The Hillyers’ work focused on network-based organization and private coordination, while other figures and establishments contributed to more visible, commercial expressions of LGBTQ+ life.

​

Subsequent legal and financial challenges, along with increasing public pressure, contributed to Llewellyn’s departure from Pensacola in the mid-1970s.

​

Historical Significance

The work of Ray and Henry Hillyer represents an early example of organized LGBTQ+ community-building in Pensacola. By creating systems for communication, developing a shared identity through Emma Jones, and coordinating large-scale gatherings, they helped transform informal social connections into a structured and recurring network.

​

Their efforts contributed to the growth and cohesion of the local LGBTQ+ community during a period of significant social change, laying groundwork that would influence both the expansion of community life and the heightened attention that followed.

​

Archival Note

Information regarding Ray and Henry Hillyer is drawn from contemporary accounts, later historical research, and oral histories documenting the Emma Jones gatherings and related events. Their roles are reconstructed from available sources and reflect their documented involvement in organizing and sustaining these activities.

​

Sources

• Pensacola News Journal (1970s) coverage

• UpFront Magazine (1972-1973)

• Watkins, Jerry T.  Queering the Redneck Riviera:  Sexuality and the Rise of Florida Tourism

 

​

 

​

​

​

​

​