Guide to the Aristide J. Laurent Collection

Special Collections & Archives

University Library

California State University, Northridge

18111 Nordhoff Street

Northridge, CA 91330-8326

URL: https://library.csun.edu/SCA

Contact: https://library.csun.edu/SCA/Contact

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Contributing Institution: Special Collections & Archives

Title: Aristide J. Laurent Collection

Creator: Laurent, Aristide J., 1941-2011

Identifier/Call Number: SC.AL

Extent: 7.30 linear feet

Date (inclusive): 1967-2010

Abstract: Aristide Joseph "A.J." Laurent was a U.S. Airman, writer, publisher, printer, and pioneer activist for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) communities. He clandestinely co-founded The Advocate —the oldest and largest LGBT publication in the United States—in the basement studios of ABC Television in 1967, two years prior to the infamous Stonewall Riots of NYC which marked the beginning of the gay liberation movement in America. Consisting primarily of clippings, photographs, correspondence, scrapbooks, and memorabilia, the Aristide J. Laurent Collection documents aspects of Laurent's personal life and advocacy involvement, and provides a unique perspective for considering the social and political history of the early LGBT rights movements.

Language of Material: English

Biographical Information:

Aristide Joseph "A.J." Laurent was born in Magnolia Springs, Alabama on September 15, 1941 to farm hand Duval "Buck" Laurent and Elizabeth "Betty" Weeks. He had one younger sister, Carol Elizabeth Weeks (1945-2010). After graduating from Weeks High School in 1960, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served four years, first as a signals intelligence operator in Karamursel, Turkey and later as an instructor at the Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi.

Upon discharge in 1964, Laurent moved to Los Angeles, California and began living as an openly gay man. He took a job with the American Broadcasting Company where he worked from 1964-1967 producing scripts for ABC Television. Laurent allegedly participated in the Compton's Cafeteria Riots during the summer of 1966 as well as the Black Cat Tavern Riots which occurred on New Year's Day 1967. Following these demonstrations he became involved with the Los Angeles organization PRIDE (Personal Rights in Defense and Education) which published a local newsletter documenting police violence and harassment against the LGBT community.

In the basement print shop of ABC studios alongside Richard Mitch, Bill Rau, and Sam Allen, Laurent transformed PRIDE's newsletter into The Los Angeles Advocate, later known simply as The Advocate—the oldest and largest LGBT publication in the United States and the only pre-Stonewall publication of its kind still in existence today. Under the pseudonym "P. Nutz," Laurent penned the nightlife column, "Mariposas de la Noche" ("Butterfly of the Night").

Laurent continued his work in publishing and printing until retirement in the 1990s and remained an active LGBT rights activist into the first decade of the twenty-first century. He participated in the 1976 charity "slave auction" at the Mark IV Bathhouse in Hollywood to benefit the Gay Community Services Center and was one of forty arrested by Los Angeles Police after a mistaken tip indicated that the event was an actual, illegal slave trade. In the 1980s Laurent joined the ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) movement to fight discrimination, inequality, and indifference to the AIDS crisis. In 1993 he attended the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation and visited the capitol again in 2000 for the Millennium March on Washington.

On October 26, 2011 Aristide Laurent passed away after a fifteen year battle with prostate cancer. His work, efforts, and advocacy involvement can be considered the foundation for the modern LGBT equality movements in the United States.

Scope and Contents

The Aristide J. Laurent Collection documents aspects of Laurent's life in Los Angeles as a pioneer activist for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) communities. His involvement precedes the infamous 1969 Stonewall Riots of New York City which traditionally mark the beginning of the LGBT liberation movement in America. The collection dates from 1967-2010 and is composed of three series: Personal Materials (circa 1975-2010), LGBT Advocacy (1967-2009), and Scrapbooks (circa 1970-2000). Many items in the collection are sexually explicit in nature.

Series I, Personal Materials, documents Laurent's personal life in Los Angeles. It consists primarily of calendars, clippings, correspondence, collected essays and personal writings, party announcements and fliers, and photographs. The files are arranged alphabetically by subject and arranged chronologically within.

Series II, LGBT Advocacy, highlights aspects of Laurent's involvement in the LGBT rights movements. It consists primarily of event programs and fliers, news clippings, and photographs. Of particular note is a copy of the 1976 arrest report from the charity slave auction at Hollywood's Mark IV Bathhouse as well as a radio transcription featuring the event and police action. The files are arranged alphabetically by subject and arranged chronologically within.

Series III, Scrapbooks, consists of five scrapbooks compiled by Laurent. Three scrapbooks are comprised of magazine clippings, the bulk of which are from the 1970s. Two scrapbooks highlight his travels: one documents a 1999 trip to Florida and Alabama where he attended pride events and visited with family, and the second documents a 2000 trip to Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia where he attended the Millennium March on Washington and Pride Fest America. The series is arranged alphabetically by subject.

Related Material

Homosexual Information Center Subject Files Collection

Conditions Governing Access:

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use:

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Homosexual Information Center, 07/12/2012.

Arrangement of Materials:

Series I: Personal Materials, ca.1975-2010

Series II: LGBT Advocacy, 1967-2009

Series III: Scrapbooks, ca.1970-2000

Preferred Citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materials guide.

Processing Information:

Christine Hertzel, 2015

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Albums (Books)

Ephemera

Documents

Photographs

Series I: Personal Materials, ca.1975-2010

Box 1, Folder 1

Article Clippings, 1997-2000

Box 1, Folder 2

Calendars, 1984-2010

Box 1, Folder 3

Calendar with notes, 1985

Box 1, Folder 4

Collected Essays

Box 1, Folder 5

Correspondence and Contacts, ca.1979-1997

Box 1, Folder 6

Erotica Clippings, ca.1980-ca.2001

Box 1, Folder 7

Erotica Clippings removed from frames

Box 1, Folder 8

Evelyn Rainbird Catalog, 1979

Box 1, Folder 9

Jeff Stryker Playing Cards, ca.1980-ca.1989

Box 1, Folder 10

Membership Cards, 1977-1995

Box 1, Folder 11

Party Announcements and Fliers, 1979-1997

Box 1, Folder 12

Pornographic Illustrations, 1976-1982

Box 1, Folder 13

Receipts, 1984-2000

Box 1, Folder 14

Voter Registration Affidavit, 1986

Box 1, Folder 15

Writings, 1985

Box 2, Folder 1

Family, Friends, and Personal Interests - Photographic Prints, Negatives, and Slides, ca.1975-ca.2000

Box 2, Folder 2

Scotty - Photographic Prints and Negatives, ca.1997

Box 7, Folder 1

Calendar, 1982

Box 7, Folder 2

Calendar with notes, 1993

Box 7, Folder 3

Correspondence and Contacts, 1996-1997

Box 7, Folder 4

Erotica Clippings, 1981-2001

Box 7, Folder 5

Family, Friends, and Personal Interests - Photographic Print, 1987

Box 7, Folder 6

Party Announcements and Fliers, 1997, 2003

Series II: LGBT Advocacy, 1967-2009

Box 1, Folder 16

Core Magazine No. 24, 1999

Box 1, Folder 17

Event Programs and Fliers, 1968-2009

Box 1, Folder 18

News Clippings, 1967-2008

Box 1, Folder 19

Slave Auction Arrest Report, 1976

Box 1, Folder 20

Slave Auction Radio Transcription, KPOL - "A Gay Old Time for LAPD," 1976

Box 2, Folder 3

Events - Photographic Prints and Photocopies, ca.1967-ca.2000

Box 7, Folder 7

Events - Photographic Negative, ca.1993

Box 7, Folder 8

News Clippings, 1976

Box 7, Folder 9

Protest Sign Template, ca.1993

Series III: Scrapbooks, ca.1970-2000

Box 1, Folder 21

Nudes and Portraits

Box 3, Folder 1

Collaged Nudes and Portraits No. 1

Box 3, Folder 2

Collaged Nudes and Portraits No. 1

Box 3, Folder 3

Collaged Nudes and Portraits No. 1

Box 3, Folder 4

Collaged Nudes and Portraits No. 1

Box 3, Folder 5

Collaged Nudes and Portraits No. 1

Box 3, Folder 6

Collaged Nudes and Portraits No. 1

Box 3, Folder 7

Collaged Nudes and Portraits No. 1

Box 3, Folder 8

Collaged Nudes and Portraits No. 1

Box 3, Folder 9

Collaged Nudes and Portraits No. 1

Box 3, Folder 10

Collaged Nudes and Portraits No. 1

Box 3, Folder 11

Collaged Nudes and Portraits No. 1

Box 3, Folder 12

Collaged Nudes and Portraits No. 1

Box 3, Folder 13

Collaged Nudes and Portraits No. 1

Box 3, Folder 14

Collaged Nudes and Portraits No. 1

Box 3, Folder 15

Collaged Nudes and Portraits No. 1

Box 3, Folder 16

Collaged Nudes and Portraits No. 1

Box 3, Folder 17

Collaged Nudes and Portraits No. 1

Box 3, Folder 18

Collaged Nudes and Portraits No. 1

Box 4, Folder 1

Collaged Nudes and Portraits No. 1

Box 4, Folder 2

Collaged Nudes and Portraits No. 1

Box 4, Folder 3

Collaged Nudes and Portraits No. 1

Box 4, Folder 4