Photographs, 1918-1989 and undated, bulk 1980s-1990s

Extent:
4 boxes
Scope and content:

Chiefly black-and-white photographic images used in Jim Sears' publications on gay history, as well as a few publicity shots of Sears, and casual snapshots of Sears at lectures, conferences, and book tours. Most of the research material was used to illustrate Rebels, Rubyfruit and Rhinestones and Lonely Hunters . Files of materials considered for use in a publication are identified with the original titles consisting of names of individuals, groups, or locales; contents can include photographs, paper printouts of images, other research material, clippings, permissions forms, and correspondence.

Key communities represented in the research materials include Atlanta and New Orleans, though there are files on most Southern states. The various materials in the series cover the period from the late nineteenth century through the 1990s, with the bulk focusing on the 20th century. While the majority of images relate to urban issues, images of rural gay culture are also included; files on the Short Mountain Sanctuary and people associated with it (among them Milo [Guthrie] Pyne and Merril Mushroom) are notable in this regard.

This series also includes a set of 21 signed 8x10 inch black-and-white portraits of gay activists, writers, and artists by noted photographer Robert Giardi. Giardi's subjects in alphabetical order: Paula Gunn Allen, Gloria Anzaldua, Perry Brass, Forman Brown (pseudonym Richard Meeker), Allen Ginsburg, Essex Hemphill, Dolores Kaich, Joan Larkin, Audre Lorde, Joan Nestle, Manuel Ramos Otero, Pat Parker, Felice Picano-Amagansett, Venita Porter, John Preston, James Purdy, Assotto Saint, Barbara Smith, Kitty Tsui, Carolyn Weather, and Jenny Wrenn; there is also a group portrait of the managing editors of RFD (publication of the Radical Faeries) at Short Mountain Sanctuary, an intentional gay community in rural Tennessee. The series is arranged alphabetically.

Other photographs and images can also be found throughout the James Sears Papers; additionally, hundreds of digital images related to this series and to other materials in the collection have been separated and mounted on a library server; please contact Research Services for access to these images.

Contents

Using These Materials

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Using These Materials

Collection restrictions:

Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

Consent forms signed by individuals whose interviews or images were recorded for possible use in publications are sometimes filed with other records relevant to that publication; oftentimes, however, permissions may have been filed in the Research Permissions Subseries box in the Research and Writings Series, or have not been located in the collection. Researchers wishing to publish information on individuals represented in the Sears Papers must have in hand the consent forms, or obtain permission from the individuals.

Original audiovisual materials are closed to use. Use of these materials requires production of listening or viewing copies.

All or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. The library may require up to 48 hours to retrieve these materials for research use.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

Use & permissions:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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