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Finding aid to underground erotic graphics and literature collection
Coll2012.180
Coll2012.180
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Table of contents
Title: Underground Erotic Graphics and Literature collection
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2012.180
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
2.9 linear feet.
2 archival boxes + 1 archival carton
Date (inclusive): 1940-1980
Abstract: An artificial collection of unauthored erotic literature and art (graphics) believed to have been created between 1940 and
1980. The theme of these works is almost exclusively homosexual, although there are some rare instances of bisexual and heterosexual
encounters with gay overtones. The bulk of this collection consists of photocopied materials, however there some original
typesets and original copies of literature and graphics.
This collection is arranged in the following series:
Series 1. Private Collections
Series 2. Individual Graphics and Literature
In its current form, gay male erotica is believed to have started about the time of World War II. Thought to be instigated
by the homoerotic subtext of groups of young men serving together in uniform, the slight liberalization of sodomy laws, the
rise of gay publications, the Kinsey report, and the emergence of gay political groups such as the Mattachine Society, gay
erotica began to weave its way into the national culture. Already available from foreign sources, social conservatism in the
United States forced authors into the underground. As a result, many erotic short stories and graphics are untraceable back
to their original authors.
In the 1950s, Supreme Court rulings on censorship and the opening up of first amendment rights created a significant shift
in authorship and publication of gay erotica from Europe to the United States. More pulp periodicals were being produced and
a resultant increase in published erotica was observed. Authors such as Eldon Barnard, Phil Andros, Dirk Vandon, and Richard
Amory wrote prolifically and their material could be found in magazines and books available at newsstands. The social stigma
associated with this subject matter loosened more in the post-Stonewall era and a litany of authors took advantage of this
new found freedom to increase the pornographic content of their material.
Although the storylines of erotica in this era are extremely diverse, most stories fall into a specific genre. The protagonist
is usually young and inexperienced and finds himself subject to the sexual whims of an authoritative male figure such as a
policeman, military member, cowboy, or older family member. The young man is unsure of his budding homosexuality and feels
assured by the senior figure that their activities are a normal, if not a secretive, part of life.
Sources
Miller, Edmond. (1995).
Erotica and Pornography. Essay retrieved from the GLBTQ encyclopedia available online.
Sheppard, Simon. (2007).
Homosex: Sixty Years of Gay Erotica. Carroll and Graf, publishers. New York.
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Walker Erotica Collection, 2002-01, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society, San Francisco, California.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections 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.
Date and method of acquisition unknown.
Box #, folder #, Explicit Underground Graphics and Literature, Coll2012.180, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries,
University of Southern California
This collection was created from various subject files and minor accessions housed at ONE. Collection processed by Erick Hawkins,
November 2012.
The majority of the works consist of text-only erotic short stories believed to be authored between 1940 and 1980. These stories
were either grouped with private collections or were singularly maintained. Duplication among private collections or between
private collections and individually listed graphics and stories should be expected. Most of the literature and graphics are
photocopied from original sources, however some original prints and rewrites are noted where found. Also in this collection
are short graphic stories, hand-drawn illustrations, and erotic comics and poems.
Apricot, poetry by Scott Giantvalley. Edition 32/500 of Sean Series III,
JO, artwork by Sean.
Edition 12/500 Sean Series IV,
Sean's Gladiators, artwork by Sean.
Stories without titles are listed by the first line of the story and are indicated by quotation marks. Untitled graphics are
listed by subject matter.