Finding aid of the Beowulf Thorne Papers
Josué Hurtado
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society
657 Mission Street, Suite 300
San Francisco, California 94105
Phone: (415) 777-5455
Fax: (415) 777-5576
Email: info@glbthistory.org
URL: http://www.glbthistory.org/
© 2006
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society. All rights reserved.
Finding aid of the Beowulf Thorne Papers
Collection number: 2003-10
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society
San Francisco, California
- Processed by:
- Josué Hurtado
- Date Completed:
- April 2005
- Encoded by:
- Rebekah Kim
© 2006 The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Beowulf Thorne Papers
Dates: 1964-1999
Collection number: 2003-10
Creator:
Thorne, Beowulf
Collection Size:
4.0 linear feet
2 manuscript boxes, 2 cartons, 1 oversized box
Repository:
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society
San Francisco, California 94105
Abstract: Beowulf Thorne (Jack Henry Foster) was a political activist on issues affecting PWAs (people with AIDS). He was one of the
founders, with Tom Shearer, of the humor magazine, Diseased Pariah News (DPN). He used his skills as a writer, editor, and
graphic artist on the magazine. The collection documents the operations, both commercial and artistic of DPN, as well as the
work of Oakland's Condom Resource Center.
Physical location: Stored at the Archives of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society in San Francisco, California.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
Collection open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright to unpublished manuscript materials has been transferred to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Beowulf Thorne Papers, 2003-10, The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society.
Acquisition Information
Donated to the Library by Daniel Bao on April 3, 2003.
Biography
Beowulf Thorne (born Jack Henry Foster) was born in San Diego on November 6, 1964. He attended Stanford University. A political
activist regarding issues affecting PWAs (People with AIDS), he was one of the founders, along with Daniel Bao and Tom Shearer,
of the PWA humor magazine Diseased Pariah News (DPN). He used both his skills as a writer-editor and as a graphic artist
in creating and publishing DPN. A total of eleven issues of Diseased Pariah News were published from 1990 to 1999.
Beowulf Thorne passed away from complications relating to AIDS on May 8, 1999, the second co-founder to pass away from AIDS
(Tom Shearer and passed away after the second issue of DPN was published). Thorne was memorialized in the final issue of
DPN in an irreverently titled piece of which he would have approved: "Dang! Our Founder and Guiding Light Died."
Scope and Content of Collection
Few personal papers are included in this collection. It's primarily focus is on Thorne's experience as a person with AIDS
(PWA). This collection mostly consists of the textual and graphic records of Diseased Pariah News. An additional series relates
to Oakland's Condom Resource Center, headed by director Daniel Bao, who worked closely with DPN.
The series is organized into 5 series:
- Series 1. Personal, 1964-1998
- Series 2. Diseased Pariah News, 1990-1999
- Series 3. Zines, 1990-1997
- Series 4. Condom Resource Center, 1990-1998
- Series 5. Photos/Artwork, 1989-1992
- Series 5. Photos/Artwork, 1989-1992
- Series 6. Objects, undated, 1990
Series 1. Personal, 1964-1998
This series consists of personal documents and other effects of Beowulf Thorne such as his passports, birth certificate, personal
notes on his estate, and articles he wrote for POZ Magazine, a magazine for and about people living with HIV. There are also
personal photographs in this series.
Series 2. Diseased Pariah News, 1990-1999
This series contains materials relating to the Thorne's magazine Diseased Pariah News. All eleven issues of the magazine
are included as well as background materials and other items related to publishing the magazine such as drafts of articles,
artwork and photographs. Also found in this series are reviews of the magazine and articles in other publications about DPN.
Finally there are correspondence files containing letter to the editors requesting back issues, subscriptions, or expressing
opinions about the magazine.
Series 3. Zines, 1990-1997
This series consists of other zines collected by Thorne. These publications had a similar irreverent approach to the AIDS
crisis
Series 4. Condom Resource Center, 1990-1998
This series contains materials produced by the Condom Resource Center (CRC) in Oakland. Thorne worked very closely with this
organization, helping create artwork and other content for their safe sex campaigns. Included in this series are examples
of some of Thorne's artwork as well as photographs. There are also several publications put out by the CRC such as several
versions of the Condom Educator's Guide.
Series 5. Photos/Artwork, 1989-1992
This series consists of the photographs and other artwork created by Beowulf Thorne. His skills as a photographer and an
artist are illustrated by these items.
Series 6. Objects, undated, 1990
This series contains ephemera from Diseased Pariah News and other organizations.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
AIDS
San Francisco (Calif.)
Persons With AIDS
AIDS Activists
Graphic Artists
Related Material
Diseased Pariah News(Periodical)
Collection Contents
Series 1. Personal
1964-1998
Physical Description:
11 folders
Scope and Content Note
This series consists of personal documents and other effects of Beowulf Thorne such as his passports, birth certificate, personal
notes on his estate, and articles he wrote for POZ Magazine, a magazine for and about people living with HIV. There are also
personal photographs in this series.
Box: Folder 1: 1
Birth Certificate, passport, vaccination record
1964-1988
Box: Folder 1: 4
Article submitted to POZ on living with Lymphoma
1988
Box: Folder 1: 5
Notes for POZ article on Collateral Damage
1998
Box: Folder 1: 6
Notes for POZ article on Depression
1996
Box: Folder 1: 7
Notes for POZ article on Suicide
1997
Box: Folder 1: 8
Tienanmen week at Stanford
1991
Box: Folder 1: 11
"A Certain Undisclosed Location in Long Beach"
Series 2. Diseased Pariah News
1990-1999
Physical Description:
45 folders
Series Description
This series contains materials relating to the Thorne's magazine Diseased Pariah News. All eleven issues of the magazine
are included as well as background materials and other items related to publishing the magazine such as drafts of articles,
artwork and photographs. Also found in this series are reviews of the magazine and articles in other publications about DPN.
Finally there are correspondence files containing letter to the editors requesting back issues, subscriptions, or expressing
opinions about the magazine.
Box: Folder 1: 23
Notes for a story: "A Brief History of Malaysia"
Box: Folder 1: 25
Submitted by Edward Zold
1997
Box: Folder 1: 26
Annotated draft of articles for issue #11
1989
Box: Folder 1: 27
"Nutrition and PWAs from AIDS Patient Care"
1988
Box: Folder 1: 28
Nutrition and Recipes
1987-1994
Box: Folder 1: 29
"Pseudo Intellectual Stuff from the Halls of Academe"
1996
Box: Folder 1: 30
"Vague Ideas for DPN"
1992
Box: Folder 1: 31 - 2: 15
Box: Folder 2: 4
Paper Merit Badges for DPN Buttons
Box: Folder 2: 19
Bay Guardian's Best of the Bay Award to DPN
1996
Box: Folder 2: 21
Postcards and Christmas Card Printed by DPN
1991
Box: Folder 2: 22
Letters from Fans
1991-1999
Box: Folder 2: 23
Letters from Prisoners Requesting Free Subscriptions
1997-1998
Box: Folder 2: 24
Letters Requesting Back Issues
1997-1999
Series 3. Zines
1990-1997
Physical Description:
4 folders
Scope and Content Note
This series consists of other zines collected by Thorne. These publications had a similar irreverent approach to the AIDS
crisis.
Box: Folder 2: 27
Factsheet Five: Zine Reader
1997
Box: Folder 2: 28
GAWK Newsletter (Gay Artists and Writers Kollective), #4-6
1990
Box: Folder 3: 1
HardWear: The Art of Prevention, Hugh Rigby and Susan Leibtag
1994
Series 4. Condom Resource Center
1990-1998
Physical Description:
14 folders
Scope and Content Note
This series contains materials produced by the Condom Resource Center (CRC) in Oakland. Thorne worked very closely with this
organization, helping create artwork and other content for their safe sex campaigns. Included in this series are examples
of some of Thorne's artwork as well as photographs. There are also several publications put out by the CRC such as several
versions of the Condom Educator's Guide.
Box: Folder 3: 3
Corrected Draft and Layout of Condom Educator's Guide
ca. 1991
Box: Folder 3: 4
Condom Educator's Guide
ca. 1991
Box: Folder 3: 5
Condom Educator's Guide, Version Two
ca. 1994
Box: Folder 3: 6
Artwork Related to Condom Educator's Guide, Version Two
ca. 1994
Box: Folder 3: 7
Photos for Condom Educator's Guide, Version 2
Box: Folder 3: 8
Official Condom Tester Catalog
1990
Box: Folder 3: 9
National Condom Week Booklet
1997-1998
Box: Folder 3: 10
ondom Primer. # 1 and 2
1988-1990
Box: Folder 3: 12
Captain Condom's Original Party Pack Booklet
1991
Box: Folder 3: 14
Artwork Related to CRC Poster and Handbook
1997-1998
Box: Folder 3: 15
Artwork Related to CRC Organizer
1991
Series 5. Photos/Artwork
1989-1992
Physical Description:
24 folders
Scope and Content Note
This series consists of the photographs and other artwork created by Beowulf Thorne. His skills as a photographer and an
artist are illustrate by these items.
Box: Folder 3: 20
Biffy with Lube Bottles
1991
Box: Folder 3: 21
Cranky and Dusty Fellating Unseen Spirits
1989
Box: Folder 3: 22
Voyage of Dysfunctionality; Tommy Jo's Last Trip Home
1990
Box: Folder 3: 23
Biffy Doing Rain Dance with Proper Prophylaxis
Box: Folder 3: 24
Biffy's Publicity Pix: Nezz. Fezz,and Lezz
1990
Box: Folder 3: 25
Greetings from Greater Slobovia (for GAWK #5)
1989
Box: Folder 3: 26
Cranky, Humpy and Sleazy for DPN Xmas Card
1991
Box: Folder 3: 28
Strange but True; Odd Bits of Tom Shearer
Box: Folder 3: 29
What's Wrong with This Picture? (unsolicited snapshots from fans)
Box: Folder 4: 1-9
Artwork (oversized box, 20" x 16" x 3.5")
Box: Folder 4: 2
Drawings of Dinosaurs / Monsters
Box: Folder 4: 3
Drawings of Various Subjects
Box: Folder 4: 5
Source Artwork Related to Conceptual Ideas
Box: Folder 4: 6
Un-mounted Posters, Covers, Photo, and Miscellaneous
Box: Folder 4: 7
Mounted DPN Covers (#4, 6, 7, 8,9)
Box: Folder 4: 8
Mounted Drawings: Panels of Captain Condom, Other Mounted Art
Box: Folder 4: 9
Mounted Drawings: Modes of Transportation
Series 6
Objects
undated, 1990
Physical Description: 1 box
Series Description
This series contains ephemera from Diseased Pariah News and other organizations.
Box: Folder 6
9 "T Cell 100 (One Hundred) or Less" buttons, undated
Box: Folder 6
6 "Kiss Me! I'm a Diseased Pariah" buttons, undated
Box: Folder 6
2 "Porn Potato likes that!" buttons designed by Beowulf Thorne, 1990
Box: Folder 6
21 miscellaneous buttons, undated
Box: Folder 6
1 Stanford AIDS Education Project's Fourth Annual Great Condom Rating Contest pamphlet with condoms, 1990
Box: Folder 6
1 "Kiss Me! I'm a Diseased Pariah" t-shirt, undated
Box: Folder 6
1 Diseased Pariah News t-shirt, 1990
Box: Folder 6
1 Captain Condom Fan Club t-shirt, undated
