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Collection of writings, ephemera, clippings, and other materials assembled by Jack Nichols, close friend of James Sears. The two met in the 1970s while Sears was researching the first volume in his series on gay history. Nichols, a journalist, writer, and gay activist from the sixties, became one of Sears' primary contributors to Lonely Hunters and to subsequent historical works by Sears, most notably Rebels, Rubyfruit, and Rhinestones. When Nichols died of complications from AIDS in 2005, he bequeathed his personal papers to Sears. The papers have been kept in original order and are arranged in the following subseries: Clippings and Printed Materials; Correspondence; Personal Files; Serials; Subject Files; Writings; and Oversize Material. Audiovisual documentary materials relating to the life of Jack Nichols originally part of his personal papers and separated due to preservation needs are found in the photographs, audio and video recordings in the Audiovisual Material Series of the Sears Papers; many additional files pertaining to Nichols are in the subseries for Rebels, Rubyfruit, and Rhinestones in the Research and Writings Series, and a smaller amount of materials are in the Research Files Subseries of the Research and Writings Series..