Geoff Mains papers
Finding aid created by GLBT Historical Society staff using RecordEXPRESS
GLBT Historical Society
2023
989 Market Street, Lower Level
San Francisco, California 94103
(415) 777-5455
reference@glbthistory.org
http://www.glbthistory.org/
Title: Geoff Mains papers
Dates: 1954-2000
Collection Number: 1989-03
Creator/Collector:
Geoff Mains
Extent: 7 cartons, 1 box, 2 oversize boxes, 1 oversize folder (9.15 linear feet)
Repository:
GLBT Historical Society
San Francisco, California 94103
Abstract: The Geoff Mains papers document the personal and professional life of the late leather activist and author of the groundbreaking
book, “Urban Aboriginals: A Celebration of Leather Sexuality.” The papers includes personal and professional correspondence;
materials related to “Urban Aboriginals” and “Gentle Warriors,” his novel about San Francisco in crisis; other writings, including
articles, poetry and a serialized novel about gay life in Vancouver, “Roofwater Chronicles”; journals; subject files; artwork;
audiotaped interviews and personalia.
Language of Material: English
Collection is open for research with the following restrictions: some of the interviews in Box 2 are currently restricted.
Please contact the Managing Archivist for more information.
Funding for processing this collection was provided by the National
Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
Copyright has been transferred to the GLBT Historical Society.
[Identification of item]. Geoff Mains papers . Collection Number: 1989-03. GLBT Historical Society
Gift of Mark Thompson on November 17, 1997.
Biography/Administrative History
Geoff Mains was born May 29, 1947. He had a doctorate in biochemistry and spent much of his professional career in Vancouver,
B.C., where he was a member of the faculty of the Forestry Department at the University of British Columbia. In 1984, he was
employed by Environmental Science Associates in San Francisco, enabling him to move to the city, “which he considered his
true home” (San Francisco Bay Guardian obitituary). Mains will be best remembered in the gay community for his groundbreaking
book, “Urban Aboriginals: A Celebration of Leather Sexuality” (1984). He also wrote a powerful novel about San Francisco in
crisis, “Gentle Warriors.” Mains died of complications arising from AIDS on June 21, 1989. He was 42 years old.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Geoff Mains papers document the personal and professional life of the late leather activist and author of the groundbreaking
book, “Urban Aboriginals: A Celebration of Leather Sexuality.” Mains had a doctorate in biochemistry and was a member of
the faculty of the Forestry Department at the University of British Columbia. He died of AIDS in 1989. The collection includes
personal and professional correspondence; materials related to “Urban Aboriginals” and “Gentle Warriors,” his novel about
San Francisco in crisis; other writings, including articles, poetry and a serialized novel about gay life in Vancouver, “Roofwater
Chronicles”; journals; subject files; artwork; audiotaped interviews related to gay culture, the court system and the leather
community; t-shirts; pins; and personalia.
Original order was maintained when possible, and whenever possible, folder labels were copied as supplied by Mains. When a
folder label, or portion of a label, was supplied by the processor, that label or portion was bracketed [thus] on the folder.
The collection is divided into 9 Series, as dictated by Mains filing system: Writings (typescripts and manuscripts of published
and unpublished writings); Journals; Research Files/Notes for Writing Projects; Correspondence (personal and professional);
Subject Files; Personalia; Artifacts and Clothing; Interviews; and Artwork.
Cartons 1-3 contain Writings; Carton 4 contains Writings, Journals and Research Files; Carton 5 contains Research Files solely
related to Urban Aboriginals; Carton 6 contains Research Files; Personal Correspondence and Correspondence Related to Publishing;
Carton 7 contains Subject Files and Personalia; Box 1 and OS Box 1 contain Artifacts and Clothing; Box 2 contains Interviews;
the OS Folder and OS Banner Box contain Artwork. GSSO Linked Terms: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/GSSO_000374; http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/GSSO_000268;
http://purl.bioontology.org/ontology/MESH/D008091
Gay men
Leather
Literature