Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Finding Aid to the Chloe Atkins Collection, 1981-2014 GLC 94
GLC 94  
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Access
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Provenance
  • Related materials
  • Biographical note
  • Scope and Contents
  • Arrangement

  • Title: Chloe Atkins Collection
    Date (inclusive): 1981-2014
    Date (bulk): (bulk 1981-2002)
    Identifier/Call Number: GLC 94
    Creator: Atkins, Chloe
    Physical Description: 14 boxes (7 cubic feet)
    Contributing Institution: James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library
    100 Larkin Street
    San Francisco, CA 94102
    info@sfpl.org
    Abstract: Chloe Atkins is a photographer who lives in the San Francisco bay area. The collection includes all her film from still photography, including associated proof sheets and model releases where available. Chiefly images of the GLBT community in the bay area, from the 1980s through 2014.
    Physical Location: The collection is stored onsite.
    Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English.

    Access

    The collection is available for use during Photo Desk hours.

    Publication Rights

    Copyright shared between Chloe Atkins and the San Francisco Public Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item], Chloe Atkins Collection, (GLC 94), LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library.

    Provenance

    Collection donated by Chloe Atkins, September 26, 2014.

    Related materials

    Researchers are encouraged to see also GLC 38 Chloe Atkins Photographs Collection, a portfolio of 25 images selected by Atkins as a sample of her work.

    Biographical note

    Chloe Atkins is a photographer who lives in the San Francisco bay area. She was born in Reno, Nevada and raised in Quincy, California. She has lived her entire life in Northern California. She earned a Bachelor's degree in ceramics, and a Master's degree in photography. Her photography has been exhibited across the United States, is in some major collections, and has appeared in publications around the world, including the book Atkins: Girls' Night Out (St. Martin's Press, 1998). Her website includes examples of her work: http://www.chloeatkins.com.

    Scope and Contents

    The collection includes all of the film from her still photography, including associated proof sheets and model releases where available. These are chiefly images of the LGBTQIA community in the San Francisco bay area, from the 1980s through 2014.
    Atkins describes the collection in her "Thoughts on the Archive": "1989-1999 approximately 25,000 images from the nightclubs of Page Hodel. Not strictly in chronological order but rather separated by club, as in The Box, Club Q, Wet. Among these are some interesting photographs of Roberta Achtenberg from when she was running for mayor, Vince Calcagno a partner at Zuni Cafe, and Pratibha Parmar, models' releases are included."
    "Some studio photographs from a nightclub Page had briefly in 2000 called Respect. Included in these are images of Eleanor Palacios (who at one time was a biggie with NCLR), Trevor Hailey, (who became a local icon with her popular "Cruisin' the Castro" walking tours), and Deborah Guerrero who I don't think of as famous but probably should be and actually might be."
    "Besides Page Hodel's nightclubs, I also have photographs from other SF LGBT nightclubs such as Club Confidential (contains some interesting local and European lesbians), Futura (a Latino dance club), and the wonderful photographs from the roof of the San Francisco Eagle of the 1994 San Franciso Drag King Contest."
    "For several years, beginning in 1985, I worked for Robin Tyler documenting her West Coast Women's Music Festival. Though not specifically San Francisco, these are very lesbian and all the events were in California. Photos include Melissa Etheridge, Holly Near, Robin Tyler, Torrie Osborn, Ferron, Lea Delaria, Gloria Allred, Robin FLower, Teresa Trull, Barbara Higbie, Sheila Escovido, and many others."
    "Finally I have included my portraits of Drag Kings, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and my two brief artistic series: one a series of photos in which I pose in imitation of classic Hollywood photographs of male movie stars, and the final series I called "self-portraits" which were made in direct response to the Bush administration's immediate decision to go to war in Iraq following the 9/11/01 terrorist attack."

    Arrangement

    Arranged into 5 series: Series 1. West Coast Women's Music Festival; Series 2. Notable Figures; Series 3. Club Photographs; Series 4. Magazines with Atkins Photographs; Series 5. Portraits.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Drag kings
    Gay and lesbian dance parties -- California -- San Francisco
    Lesbians -- United States -- Portraits.
    Lesbians -- California -- San Francisco -- Social life and customs -- 20th century -- Photograph collections.
    Male impersonators
    Atkins, Chloe -- Archives.
    Hodel, Page
    Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence