Queer Places:
Hillsdale Cemetery, 3725 Petrolia Line, Petrolia, ON N0N 1R0, Canada

Dr. Frederick Arthur "Fred" Flett (August 2, 1882 – March 25, 1959) was born on August 2, 1882, in Petrolia, Lambton County, Ontario, Canada. He was born to parents John Heddle Flett (1838–1914) and Ellen McBeath Flett (1846–1920). Growing up in his family, he had five siblings: James McBeth Flett (1866–1944), Robert John Flett (1868–1870), Albert Flett (1870–1904), Clara Grace Flett (1878–1960), and John Heddle Flett (1885–1953).

In 1900, at roughly eighteen years old, Flett immigrated to the United States. He went on to pursue a career in medicine, earning his dental degree from the Detroit College of Medicine. Following his education, Dr. Flett established his career in Michigan, where he practiced dentistry continuously over the next fifty years.

In addition to his dental career, Flett holds a historic place in early LGBTQ organizational efforts. In 1954, an early attempt was made to launch an affiliate branch of the Mattachine Society—one of the earliest homophile organizations in the United States—in Detroit. Dr. Flett was the sole participant of this unsuccessful organizational attempt whose identity is known to history, stepping forward four years prior to the eventual establishment of a official local Detroit chapter in 1958.

Dr. Fred Flett passed away at the age of 76 on March 25, 1959. He was laid to rest at Hillsdale Cemetery in his hometown of Petrolia, Lambton County, Ontario.

References:

• Michigan LGBTQ Remember Project, Profile Entry: "Fred Flett (August 2, 1882 – March 25, 1959)"
• Genealogical & Cemetery Records (Petrolia, Ontario), Find a Grave Record: Dr Frederick Arthur "Fred" Flett (Memorial ID / Hillsdale Cemetery, Petrolia, Lambton County, Ontario, Canada).
• Ontario Birth Registrations: Lambton County birth indexes recording Frederick Arthur Flett born August 2, 1882, to John Heddle Flett and Ellen McBeath.
• Canadian Census Records (1891, 1901): Enrolling the household of John H. Flett and Ellen McBeath in Petrolia, Ontario, including children James, Albert, Clara, Frederick, and John.
• Immigration & U.S. Census Records, U.S. Border Crossings & Alien Passenger Manifests (c. 1900): Documentation of entry into the United States from Canada.
• U.S. Federal Census Records (1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, 1950): Wayne County / Detroit, Michigan listings documenting Dr. Frederick A. Flett’s residence and dental practice.
• Detroit College of Medicine Records / Alumni Directories: Registering dental school enrollment and graduation in the early 1900s.
• Polk’s Dental Register of the United States and Canada: Professional listings confirming Dr. Frederick A. Flett practicing dentistry in Detroit, Michigan across his 50-year career.
• Mattachine Society Historical Files & Periodicals (c. 1954–1958): Institutional correspondence and organizational records detailing initial outreach efforts to form a Detroit chapter prior to its official establishment in 1958.

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