Robert Melton collection of gay male literature and theater, 1950-2023, 1882
Navigate the Collection
Summary
- Creator:
- Melton, Robert, 1951-
- Abstract:
- Robert Melton (b. 1951) is a gay man and a retired curator and librarian with multiple subject specialties in the humanities. Melton compiled this collection over decades, which focuses on literary works and theatrical representations created by, for, and about gay men or homoerotic desire. The archival collection includes select periodicals and book dealers' catalogs, issues of The New Yorker with writings by David Sedaris and other authors, and materials from Diversionary Theatre such as playbills, programs, and mailers. Also included in the collection are similar materials from other theaters, as well as literature reviews and ephemera.
- Extent:
- 9 Linear Feet
- Language:
- Materials in English.
- Collection ID:
- RL.13071
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Robert Melton Collection of Gay Male Literature and Theater consists of monographs, serials, and archival materials produced by or representing gay men. The archival portion of the collection includes select periodicals and book dealers' catalogs, issues of The New Yorker with writings by David Sedaris and others, materials from Diversionary Theatre and other theaters, and literature reviews and ephemera. Periodicals include magazines, journals, and newsletters addressing topics such as gay literature and poetry, gay theater, and gay activism. Book dealer's catalogs are a selection of catalogs, some from gay presses, offering works by or about gay people. Issues of The New Yorker largely feature pieces written by David Sedaris, although selections from other writers are also included. Materials from Diversionary Theatre document the theater's performances and programs from 2001 to 2022 and consist mostly of playbills, programs, and mailers. Clippings and reviews of Diversionary Theatre's shows are also included. Theater ephemera consists of playbills, programs, clippings, and reviews from various American theaters, many based in California. Literature reviews and ephemera consist largely of book reviews, articles, and clippings related to gay literature. Other items included in literature ephemera are letters, photographs, and materials related to the American Library Association's GLBT task force and round table.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Robert Melton (b. 1951) is a gay man and a retired curator and librarian with multiple subject specialties in the humanities who lives in San Diego, CA. He earned a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in English from Duke University, as well as a Master's Degree in Librarianship from Columbia University. He worked at the University of Kansas and then at the University of California San Diego, where he was a selector for current literature. Melton compiled his collection over several decades, initially focusing on works by, for, or about gay men that fell within Melton's personal literary tastes. He was influenced by his service as a juror for the American Library Association's Stonewall Book Awards in the 1990s, which expanded the collection's scope to encompass experimental works, works from small presses, and ephemeral material. Melton also collected material related to theatrical representations of gay men or homoerotic desire. Melton envisioned the collection as providing a "representative sampling of what a gay male…in 1970 or in 2020 would have had available, actually as well as theoretically, to read about people like himself."
Diversionary Theatre is the third-oldest LGBTQIA+ theater in America, located in San Diego, CA. It was founded in 1986 "as a forum to shed light on the important social issues affecting the quality of life of LGBTQ+ people," with a particular focus on AIDS. As of 2024, Diversionary Theatre aims to "foster and amplify the next generation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other marginalized voices by providing the local community with live entertainment in a dynamic, inclusive, and welcoming environment that celebrates and preserves our unique culture."
David Sedaris is a gay man and humor writer whose work regularly appears in The New Yorker .
Portions of this note adapted from Robert Melton's summary description of the collection.
Sources: "About Diversionary Theatre," Diversionary Theatre website; The Official David Sedaris Site (accessed March 29, 2024).
- Acquisition information:
- The Robert Melton Collection of Gay Male Literature and Theater was received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift from Robert Melton in 2023.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Ofelia Lopez and Leah Tams, March 2024
Accessions described in this collection guide: 2024-0022.
- Arrangement:
-
Arranged into five series: Periodicals and Catalogs; The New Yorker; Diversionary Theatre; Theater Ephemera; Literature Reviews and Ephemera.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.
Contents
Using These Materials
- Using These Materials Links:
-
Using These Materials
- Restrictions:
-
Collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the Rubenstein Library's Citations, Permissions, and Copyright guide.
- Before you visit:
- Please consult our up-to-date information for visitors page, as our services and guidelines periodically change.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Robert Melton Collection of Gay Male Literature and Theater, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
- Permalink:
- https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1m74s