Finding aid of the Stephan D. Michael Papers
Loni Shibuyama
ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90007
Phone: (213) 741-0094
Fax: (213) 741-0220
Email: askone@onearchives.org
URL: http://www.onearchives.org
© 2008
ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives. All rights reserved.
Finding aid of the Stephan D. Michael Papers
Collection number: Coll2008-045
ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives
Los Angeles,
California
- Processed by:
- Loni Shibuyama
- Date Completed:
- June 27, 2008
- Encoded by:
- Loni Shibuyama
© 2008 ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives. All rights reserved.
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant
from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Stephan D. Michael papers
Dates: 1960-1994
Bulk Dates: 1990-1994
Collection number: Coll2008-045
Creator:
Michael, Stephan D., 1960-1994
Collection Size: 3 archive cartons + 2 oversize
flat archive cartons. 3.6 linear feet.
Repository:
ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.
Los Angeles, California 90007
Abstract: Diaries, correspondence, legal papers, medical
records, financial records, textiles, memorabilia, audiotapes, scrapbooks,
photographs, notes and miscellaneous typescripts of Stephan D. Michael, who
documented the last years of his life before dying of AIDS in 1994, at the age
of 34. The materials document Michael's childhood in Japan; his relationship
with his estranged family as well as past lovers; his financial troubles
relating to his medical bills; and his final years attending the University of
Washington while dealing with the circumstances of his HIV-positive
status.
Languages: Languages represented in
the collection: English
Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access
restrictions.
Publication Rights
Researchers wishing to publish materials must obtain permission in
writing from ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives as the physical owner.
Researchers must also obtain clearance from the holder(s) of any copyrights in
the materials. Note that ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives can grant
copyright clearance only for those materials for which we hold the copyright.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain copyright clearance for
all other materials directly from the copyright holder(s).
Preferred Citation
Box #, folder #, Stephan D. Michael Papers, Coll2008-045, ONE National
Gay and Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Jane May, April 7, 1994.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Loni Shibuyama,
June 27, 2008.
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the
National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Biography
Stephen Michael Emily was born in Missouri on June 25, 1960; the son of
Donald, a Lutheran missionary, and Jean Emily. In the early 1960s, the family
moved to Japan, where Stephen was raised until the age of 14. The family
returned to the United States and lived in San Francisco, where Stephen
eventually attended San Francisco State University and the Academy of Art
College. By the 1980s, Stephen's relationship with his family was strained, and
he legally changed his name to Stephan Michael in 1981. He continued to live in
San Francisco where he worked in various retail jobs.
By the 1990s, Stephan Michael contracted the HIV virus. Having never
earned a college degree, he moved to Seattle, Washington, where he attended the
University of Washington and lived with his partner, Eric Phillips. Throughout
the rest of his life--with the support of Phillips and a woman named Jane May
(whom he refers to as "Aunt")--he attended college classes while living with
the circumstances of his HIV-positive status. In December 1993, he received his
Bachelor's degree from the University of Washington. Less than a year later,
Stephan Michael died of AIDS on November 2, 1994 in Seattle.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection contains diaries, scrapbooks, correspondence, legal
papers, financial records, medical records, textiles, memorabilia, audiotapes
and miscellaneous material from Stephan D. Michael. The bulk of the material
documents the final five years of his life (1989 - 1994), during which he
attended the University of Washington while living with the effects of his
HIV-positive status. The collection is divided into two series: (1) Personal
Papers and (2) Memorabilia, Textiles and Miscellaneous Material.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the library's online public access catalog.
AIDS (Disease)
Diaries
Gay men
Michael, Stephan D.,
1960-1994
Separated Material
The following book has been transferred to the ONE National Gay &
Lesbian Archive library collection: Tony Kushner,
Angels in America, 1993.
Box: 1 : 1 - 12 ; 2 : 1 - 5 ; 3 : 1 - 2 ;
4 : 1 - 2 (Oversize)
Series 1.
Personal Papers
1970-1994
Physical Description: 2.3 linear feet.
Series Scope and Content
This series comprises correspondence, date books, diaries,
scrapbooks, legal papers, medical records, financial records, photographic
negatives and miscellaneous material. Each of the scrapbooks contains notes,
correspondence, clippings, drawings, typescripts and photographs, with some
photographs dating back to Michael's childhood. Notably, this series includes
diaries documenting Michael's daily battle with AIDS; correspondence with Jane
May and with his lover, Eric Phillips; Michael's petition to file for
bankruptcy (1990), which includes medical bills for his AIDS treatment; and
Michael's Last Will and Testament.
Box 1 : 1 - 4
Correspondence
1991 - 1993
Box 2 : 5
"Melody of Life"
1993 -
1994
Box 1 : 5
German 341: Franz Kafka, University of
Washington
Fall Quarter 1992
Box 1 : 6
Income Tax Return Material
1986 - 1992
Box 1 : 7
Information About AIDS
Undated
Box 1 : 8
Last Will and Testament for Stephan Michael
1992 - 1994
Box 1 : 9
Medical Examiner / Coroner's Register Forms
1991
Box 1 : 10
Petition for Bankruptcy and Related Material
1990
Box 3 : 1 - 2 ; 4 : 1 - 2
(Oversize)
Scrapbooks
circa 1970 -
1994
Box 3 : 1
"Alaska Airlines / Vienna Noise Choir"
1991 -
1993
Box 4 : 1
(Oversize)
"Born-Again Pagan"
circa 1970 -
1994
Box 4 : 2
(Oversize)
"Queerify America"
1993 -
1994
Box 3 : 2
"Vienna Noise Choir"
1989 -
1993
Box 1 : 11
Stephan Michael v. Mark Cross, Inc. Charge of
Discrimination and Related Material
1990 - 1991
Box 1 : 12
Photographic Negatives
Undated
Box: 2 : 6 ; 3 : 3 - 5 ; 5
: 5
Series 2.
Memorabilia, Textiles and Miscellaneous Material
circa 1960 -
1993
Physical Description: 1.3 linear feet.
Series Scope and Content
This series comprises books, an amulet, audiotapes, a keychain, a
handkerchief, a baptismal suit and a stuffed animal bear with sewn patches and
other memorabilia. Some of these items are memorabilia from Japan, where
Michael grew up, or from Korea, where Jane May resided in the 1990s.
Angels in America, Part One: Millennium
Approaches
by Tony Kushner
1993
Box 5 : 2
Baptismal Suit and Blanket, Lutheran Church Clergy
Family
circa 1960
Box 5 : 3
Handkerchief (Japan)
Undated
Box 2 : 6
[Japanese language book]
Undated
Box 3 : 3 - 5
Michael Channeling Audiotapes
1991 - 1993
Physical Description: 3 audiocassettes.
Box 5 : 5
Stuffed Animal (Bear) with Patches
1971
