Description
Personal papers, writings, theater production records, publicity material, correspondence, photographs, negatives, slides,
and other material, circa 1920-1995, from Ken Dickmann. Materials document Dickmann's life as an Air Force veteran, writer,
performer, director, publicist, and gay activist in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Hawaii. The collection includes his published
and unpublished articles related to theater and film criticism and issues in the gay community; material from his work in
theater and public relations; and extensive photographs documenting his family and friends, theater and publicity career,
drag performances, travel, and gay and lesbian communities in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Hawaii. Also included are the
correspondence and writings of Dickmann's friend Ron Romovich.
Background
Writer and publicist Kenneth Harold Dickmann was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on March 27, 1942. After high school in the
midwest, he served for four years in the United States Air Force until he received a dishonorable discharge when it was revealed
that he was gay. However, he successfully challenged and overturned his dishonorable discharge status.
Restrictions
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.