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Hodges (Robert R.) Papers
MS.R.117  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Access
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Acquisition Information
  • Custodial History
  • Processing History
  • Historical Background
  • Collection Scope and Content Summary
  • Collection Arrangement

  • Contributing Institution: Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
    Title: Robert R. Hodges papers
    Creator: Hodges, Robert R.
    Identifier/Call Number: MS.R.117
    Physical Description: 1.3 Linear Feet (1 box and 1 oversize folder)
    Date (inclusive): 1963-1994
    Date (bulk): 1977-1983
    Abstract: This collection comprises the papers of Robert R. Hodges, professor emeritus of English and Comparative Literature at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) and activist in the gay liberation movement in Southern California and nationally in the 1970s and 1980s. His papers include minutes and other administrative material from national and Los Angeles chapter meetings of the Gay Academic Union (GAU), a variety of GAU newsletters, and other materials relating to scholarly conferences held by the GAU. His papers also contain a small quantity of research files, as well as files relating to the Orange County chapter of the Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club (a gay political group), the Modern Language Association (MLA) Gay Caucus, gays in the military and the ROTC on CSU campuses (ca. 1990-1992), activism against the Briggs Initiative (Proposition 6), and other gay issues on the CSUF campus. Also included are letters from Hodges to his life partner, Charles Hensley.
    Language of Material: English .

    Access

    The collection is open for research.

    Publication Rights

    Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

    Preferred Citation

    Robert R. Hodges papers. MS-R117. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.
    For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

    Acquisition Information

    Gift of Robert R. Hodges, 2004 and Howard Seller, 2023.

    Custodial History

    Robert Hodges gave his papers to Barbara Muirhead and Dick Hitt for use in the Historical Orange County Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Time Line Project, with the intent that they be donated to the UC Irvine Libraries Department of Special Collections and Archives.

    Processing History

    Processed by William Landis, 2004. Finding aid created by Audrey Pearson, 2007. Updated by Zoe MacLeod, 2023.

    Historical Background

    Robert R. Hodges is a professor emeritus of English and Comparative Literature at California State University, Fullerton, who was active in the gay liberation movement in Southern California and nationally in the 1970s and 1980s. He was a charter member of the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Western Gay Academic Union (GAU) in 1976 and served on the national Board of Directors for the GAU as a representative of the Los Angeles chapter.
    Hodges received his B.A. from Valparaiso University, his M.A. from University of Missouri, and his Ph.D. from Stanford University. He was interested in gay themes in 20th-century English and American literature and focused on the work of Joseph Conrad. Hodges published The Dual Heritage of Joseph Conrad (The Hague: Mouton) in 1967.
    GAU was founded in New York City in 1973 to promote the collection and dissemination of scholarly information about gays, and to help end discrimination against gays in colleges, universities, and elsewhere. Membership was composed of academic administrators, faculty, staff, and students. GAU grew over time to include local chapters. The national organization held annual conferences on topics related to gays in the academy and published a quarterly newsletter. The organization was disbanded in 1984.

    Collection Scope and Content Summary

    This collection comprises the papers of Robert R. Hodges, professor emeritus of English and Comparative Literature at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) and activist in the gay liberation movement in Southern California and nationally in the 1970s and 1980s. His papers include minutes and other administrative material from national and Los Angeles chapter meetings of the Gay Academic Union (GAU), a variety of GAU newsletters, and other materials relating to scholarly conferences held by the GAU. His papers also contain a small quantity of research files, as well as files relating to the Orange County chapter of the Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club (a gay political group), the Modern Language Association (MLA) Gay Caucus, gays in the military and the ROTC on CSU campuses (ca. 1990-1992), activism against the Briggs Initiative (Proposition 6), and other gay issues on the CSUF campus. Also included are letters from Hodges to his life partner, Charles Hensley.

    Collection Arrangement

    This collection is arranged in alphabetical order by subject or document type.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Clippings -- 20th century.
    Letters -- California -- Orange County -- 20th century.
    Ephemera -- 20th century
    Gay liberation movement -- California -- History -- Sources
    Newsletters -- 20th century.
    Correspondence
    Gay men--California--Orange County--Social life and customs.
    California State University, Fullerton -- Faculty
    California State University, Fullerton -- Archives
    Hodges, Robert R. -- Archives
    Gay Academic Union -- Archives