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Neil Edwards Photography Collection
Coll2007-003  
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Table of contents What's This?

Collection Contents

Box: 1-13

Series 1. Photographic Works by Neil Edwards circa 1964-circa 1969

Physical Description: 12 ring-binder boxes + 1 oversize box (1.9 linear feet); 474 photograhs, 3910 slides (including 231 stereoscopic slides), and 2 negatives.

Scope and Content

This series consists of work known or believed to be produced by Neil Edwards. Edwards released his work primarily in photographic prints and slides, which were usually sold in photosets or slidesets of 5 or 6. These photos and slides were usually identified with a rubber stamp by model name and photoset number and sequence number (e.g. on a slide, the stamp "Marty Stewart 4-5" would indicate this was the fifth image in the fourth slideset of model Marty Stewart). Sample images sent to potential buyers would be stamped with the model's name and the letter "S." Edwards also produced a large number of "bonus" slides of his models. In most cases, these would be identified as above, but with the model's name and a letter and digit sequence such as "X-4." These slides often were more sexually explicit, showing a model masturbating or having sex with another model, and were probably either produced solely for Edwards' own benefit or quietly sold to buyers that Edwards felt he could trust. No mention of these "bonus" slides is ever made in Edwards' regular catalogs or advertisements.
At some point during Edwards' period of strongest productivity, he purchased the rights to photographs produced by a studio called Starfire Studios, and began distributing their work with his own "Neil Edwards" stamp. With little identification given between Starfire's work and Edwards', it is unclear if any of Starfire's photographs may be incorrectly credited to Edwards within this collection.
Edwards also produced slide images of vacations and other trips he took. A few notable destinations and other images in his collection include: a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans (date unknown); Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, Munich, and Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany; Brussels, Belgium; China and Hong Kong; Luray Caverns, Virginia; Flushing Meadows, New York, and London; as well images of the flags of thirty-five gay motorcycle clubs.
The series comprises 4 ring-binder boxes of photographic prints, ranging in size from 2" x 3" Polaroids to 8" x 10" prints, and 1 oversize box of 11" x 14" prints; 7 ring-binder boxes of 2" x 2" slides; 1 ring-binder box of stereoscopic slides; and several folders of paper materials pertaining to his photography business, including model and employment releases signed by Edwards and/or his models and employees; notes maintained by Edwards on his models, including vital statistics, critical descriptions of models' attributes, impressions Edwards had of their model potential, who may have referred them to Edwards, etc.; a small amount of correspondence to and from Edwards; and brochures and catalogs for Edwards' studio and Starfire Studios.
Box 1-4, 13

Photographs circa 1964-circa 1969

Box 1

Models: Alexander - Brett Evans

Physical Description: 48 sheets; 90 images
Box 2

Models: Trate Farrell - Garry Marshall

Physical Description: 52 sheets; 101 images
Box 3

Models: Peter Martin - Ricky Stevens

Physical Description: 63 sheets; 121 images
Box 4

Models: Jerry Sullivan - Dennis Williams

Physical Description: 50 sheets; 87 images, plus 44 polaroids of unidentified models (sheets 45-49) and 2 5" x 4" color negatives of Erik Neilson (sheet 50)
Box 13

Oversize (11' x 14'') and mounted prints

Physical Description: 31 photographs
Box 5-12

Slides circa 1964-circa 1969

Box 5

Models: Ted Adams - Alex Cokos

Physical Description: 24 sheets; 467 slides
Box 6

Models: Rick Collins - Chuck Hammel

Physical Description: 30 sheets; 589 slides
Box 7

Models: Ken Harding - Alan Mason

Physical Description: 24 sheets; 471 slides
Box 8

Models: Don McCauley - Tony Primavera

Physical Description: 28 sheets; 529 slides
Box 9

Models: Ed Randall - Marty Stewart

Physical Description: 27 sheets; 535 slides
Box 10

Models: Marty Stewart - Ronnie Williams

Physical Description: 28 sheets; 560 slides
Box 11

Stereoscopic slides. Models: Rupe Baillard - Mat Talley

Physical Description: 24 sheets; 231 slides
Box 12 : 1-4

Models identified by a single name only

Physical Description: 4 sheets; 75 slides
Box 12 : 5-27

Vacation slides

Physical Description: 23 sheets; 418 slides
Box 12 : 28-29

Gay motorcycle club flags

Physical Description: 2 sheets; 35 slides
Box: 14-19

Series 2. Photographic Works by Others circa 1950-circa 1970

Physical Description: 6 ring-binder boxes (1.1 linear feet); 420 photographs, 909 slides, and 108 playing cards.

Scope and Content

This series consists of photographs and slides produced by other photographers and collected by Edwards. Like many other physique photographers, Edwards was also a collector of gay erotic photographs and slides produced by others. Included are: 4 ring-binder boxes of photographic prints, ranging in size from 2" x 3" to 8" x 10", as well as 2 decks of playing cards featuring nude male models; and 2 ring-binder boxes of 2" x 2" slides and unmounted slide ransparencies. Studios and well-known photographers represented in the series include Athletic Model Guild, Bruce of Los Angeles, Champion Studios, Calafran Enterprises, Jay Mitchell, and Times Square Studio. Identifiable nude models represented include Rudolf Nureyev, Burt Lancaster, Ray Fuller, and Jim Stryker. The series also includes photographic or slide reproductions of drawings by erotic artists such as Conrad, whose work Edwards distributed.
Box 14-17

Photographs circa 1950-circa 1970

Box 14

Photographer, studio or model name identified

Box 14 : 1

Perkins Agency

Physical Description: 1 sheet; 1 photograph
Box 14 : 2-21

Athletic Model Guild (AMG)

Physical Description: 20 sheets; 79 photographs
Box 14 : 22-32

Bruce of Los Angeles

Physical Description: 11 sheets; 41 photographs
Box 14 : 33-34

Jean Ferrero

Physical Description: 2 sheets; 5 photographs
Box 14 : 35

Jim Stryker (model)

Physical Description: 1 sheet; 1 photograph
Box 14 : 36-44

Erotic drawings by Conrad of Neil Edwards Studios

Physical Description: 9 sheets; 18 photographic reproductions
Box 14 : 45-56

Erotic playing cards

Physical Description: 12 sheets; 2 decks (108 cards), 1 action, 1 solo
Box 15-17

Unidentified

Box 15

Unidentified photographs

Physical Description: 47 sheets; 52 photographs
Box 16

Unidentified photographs

Physical Description: 42 sheets; 127 photographs
Box 17

Unidentified photographs

Physical Description: 57 sheets; 96 photographs
Box 18-19

Slides circa 1950-circa 1970

Box 18

Photographer, studio or model name identified

Physical Description: 21 sheets; 366 slides
Box 19

Unidentified

Box 19 : 1-22

Mounted slides

Physical Description: 22 sheets; 427 slides
Box 19 : 23-30

Unmounted slides

Physical Description: 7 sheets; 113 slides
Box 20-25

Series 3. Printed Matter circa 1950-circa 1970

Physical Description: 6 archives boxes (2.3 linear feet).

Scope and Content

This series contains printed materials collected by Edwards. These include 7 bound volumes of magazines, including complete runs of the magazines The Young Physique from 1958 to 1966, Demi-Gods from 1961 to 1963, and Muscleboy from 1963 to 1966 (the first and last of these magazines published Edwards' work, as well as ads for his mail order service, beginning in 1964); 44 issues of magazines and other publications; wall calendars for 1966 and 1967 that include brief notes from Edwards on appointments during those years; erotic drawings by unidentified artists; numerous gay erotic short stories by unidentified authors; a gay dating service questionnaire; and scrapbook collages of nude men compiled by Edwards.
Box 20-22

Periodicals (bound)

Box 20 : 1

Young Physique, vol. 1, no. 1 - vol. 2, no. 5 1958-1960

Box 20 : 2

Young Physique, vol. 2, no. 6 - vol. 3, no. 5 / Demi-Gods, vol. 1, nos. 1-5 1961

Box 20 : 3

Young Physique / Demi-Gods 1962

Box 21 : 1

Young Physique / Muscleboy 1963

Box 21 : 2

Young Physique / Muscleboy 1964

Box 22 : 1

Young Physique / Muscleboy 1965

Box 22 : 2

Young Physique / Muscleboy 1966

Box 23-24

Unbound magazines and publications

Box 23 ; 1

Basic Approach to Drawing the Male Nudist , no. 6 circa 1965

Box 23 : 2

Basic Approach to Drawing the Nude, v. 4, Body Builders circa 1965

Box 23 : 3

Butch, no. 2 1965

Box 23 : 4

Butch, no. 3 1965

Box 23 : 5

Butch, no. 4 1966

Box 23 : 6

Champ, no. 2 March 1961

Note

Page 5/6 damaged
Box 23 : 7

David, vol. 2, no. 10 August-September 1972

Box 23 : 8

Gay, no. 2 circa 1965

Box 23 : 9

Golden Boys, no. 1 1967

Box 23 : 10

Golden Boys, no. 2 1967

Box 23 : 11

Golden Boys, no. 3 1967

Box 23 : 12

Golden Boys, no. 4 1967

Box 23 : 13

Golden Boys, no. 5 1968

Box 23 : 14

Golden Boys, no. 6 1968

Box 23 : 15

Golden Boys, no. 7 1968

Box 23 : 16

Golden Boys, no. 8 1968

Box 23 : 17

International Nudist Sun, no. 1 1964

Box 23 : 18

International Nudist Sun, no. 2 1964

Box 23 : 19

International Nudist Sun, no. 3 1964

Box 23 : 20

International Nudist Sun, no. 4 1964

Box 23 : 21

International Nudist Sun, no. 5 1964

Box 23 : 22

International Nudist Sun, no. 6 1964

Box 23 : 23

International Nudist Sun, no. 7 1964

Box 23 : 24

International Nudist Sun, no. 8 1964

Box 23 : 25

International Nudist Sun, no. 9 1965

Box 23 : 26

International Nudist Sun, no. 10 1965

Box 23 : 27

International Nudist Sun, no. 11 1965

Box 23 : 28

International Nudist Sun, no. 12 1965

Box 23 : 29

Leather Men, no. 1 1969

Box 24 : 1

Like, Young, no. 2 1967

Box 24 : 2

Like, Young, no. 3 1967

Box 24 : 3

Male Classics Annual 1965

Box 24 : 4

Male Nudist Portfolio, no. 4 1966

Box 24 : 5

Male Nudist Portfolio, no. 5 1966

Box 24 : 6

Male Nudist Portfolio, no. 6 1966

Box 24 : 7

Manpower!, no. 1 1969

Box 24 : 8

Physique Pictorial, vol. 11, no. 2 November 1961

Box 24 : 9

Physique Pictorial, vol. 13, no. 4 May 1964

Box 24 : 10

Physique Pictorial, vol. 15, no. 3 June 1966

Box 24 : 11

Stud, no. 2 1967

Box 24 : 12

Stud, no. 3 1967

Box 24 : 13

Tiger, no. 1 1965

Box 24 : 14

Timaárcus Studio Drawings, no. 1, Impressions of "Song of the Loon" 1967

Box 24 : 15

Tomorrow's Man, vol. 14, no. 9 August 1966

Box 24 : 16

Wonder Boy, no. 5 circa 1960-1965

Box 25

Papers and other materials

Box 25 : 1

Brochures and catalogues - Neil Edwards and Starfire Studios circa 1964-circa 1969

Box 25 : 2-3

Correspondence 1965 1968

Box 25 : 2

Bernard Brandt (a.k.a. Ernie larson) to Neil Edwards 1965

Box 25 : 3

Neil Edwards to Jeff Sammons (model scout) 1968

Box 25 : 4

Model and employment releases 1964-1969

Box 25 : 5

Notes on models circa 1964-circa 1969

Box 25 : 6

Calendars 1966-1967

Box 25 : 7

Erotic drawing by unknown artist of sailor at glory hole circa 1950-circa 1970

Box 25 : 8-30

Erotic fiction (unless otherwise indicated author unidentified) circa 1950-circa 1970

Box 25 : 8

"Angelo"

Physical Description: 41 pages
Box 25 : 9

"Bail-out"

Physical Description: 11 pages
Box 25 : 10

"Bobby and the Devil"

Physical Description: 17 pages
Box 25 : 11

"The Confession of a French Stenographer"

Physical Description: 8 pages
Box 25 : 12

"Dear Denny", by Phil

Physical Description: 4 pages
Box 25 : 13

"Dear Phil", by Denny

Physical Description: 2 pages
Box 25 : 14

"Dear Steve", by Donald

Physical Description: 3 pages
Box 25 : 15

"Dear Tom", by Jack

Physical Description: 7 pages
Box 25 : 16

"Everyone is Jewish When You're In Love"

Physical Description: 5 pages, text includes erotic drawings
Box 25 : 17

"Incest"

Physical Description: 2 pages, text includes erotic drawings
Box 25 : 18

"Interlude on an express"

Physical Description: 3 pages
Box 25 : 19

"Intimate Interviews", by Raklph A. Storm

Physical Description: 23 pages
Box 25 : 20

"The Marines and the Situation"

Physical Description: 2 pages
Box 25 : 21

"My Eighteenth Summer"

Physical Description: 2 pages; 7 copies
Box 25 : 22

"One Autumn Afternoon", by Jeff (?)

Physical Description: 18 pages
Box 25 : 23

"Peaches and Cream"

Physical Description: 9 pages
Box 25 : 24

"The Perils of Hitch-hiking"

Physical Description: 5 pages
Box 25 : 25

"Saturday Trips", by Jeff (?)

Physical Description: 23 pages
Box 25 : 26

"Telephone Linemen"

Physical Description: 9 pages
Box 25 : 27

"Two Lands and a Lake"

Physical Description: 23 pages
Box 25 : 28

Untitled ["Barry and Dudley met..."]

Physical Description: 9 pages
Box 25 : 29

Untitled ["It had been a rather wild..."]

Physical Description: 4 pages
Box 25 : 30

Untitled ["When John came home..."]

Physical Description: 3 pages
Box 25 : 31

Greeting cardss 1960-1970

Box 25 : 32

Humor: "Gay Word Describtions [sic]" circa 1960

Box 25 : 33

Humor: "Songs That Mother Never Taught US" circa 1960

Box 25 : 34

Man-to-Man dating service questionnaire circa 1970

Box 25 : 35

Scrapbook photo collages circa 1960-circa 1970