Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Jeff Hagedorn Papers
Coll2008-006  
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Access
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Acquisition Information
  • Processing Information
  • Biography
  • Scope and Content of Collection
  • Indexing Terms

  • Descriptive Summary

    Title: Jeff Hagedorn papers
    Dates: 1979-1995
    Collection number: Coll2008-006
    Creator: Hagedorn, Jeff, 1957-1995
    Collection Size: 2 records boxes, 1 oversize box, 1 shoebox. 3.8 linear feet.
    Repository: ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.
    Los Angeles, California 90007
    Abstract: Scripts, journals, correspondence, flyers, programs, press releases, reviews, research materials, photographic negatives, publicity stills, and other materials, 1979 to 1995, relating to playwright Jeff Hagedorn, his production company, SYZYGY, and his internationally produced theatrical works and video productions.
    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 #, Jeff Hagedorn Papers, Coll2008-006, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California.

    Acquisition Information

    Collection created from materials from box 104-54; materials found in the Jeff Hagedorn, One, and SYZYGY subject files; the Jeff Hagedorn file in the Performing Arts Collection (Coll2007-016), and the Gay and Lesbian Drama Scripts Collection (Coll2008-003).

    Processing Information

    Collection processed from box 104-54; materials found in the Jeff Hagedorn, One, and SYZYGY subject files; the Jeff Hagedorn file in the Performing Arts Collection (Coll2007-016), and the Gay and Lesbian Drama Scripts Collection (Coll2008-003), by Michael C. Oliveira, April 3, 2008.
    Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

    Biography

    Jeff Hagedorn was born in Milwaukee, and attended Ripon College and the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater. He also took courses at Marquette, University of Wisconsin, Madison, and United States International University, San Diego. While he initially focused on directing, he soon realized his calling as a playwright. After relocating to Chicago, he became a founding member and resident playwright for the Lionheart Gay Theatre. In 1983, his play, One, became the first publicly produced theatrical work concerning AIDS. Hagedorn provided the play to AIDS organizations across the country as a fundraiser, and in the early years of the crisis benefit performances raised more than $50,000. He also formed a production company, SYZYGY, that went on to revive Chicago's pub theater movement with quick witted plays such as The Layman's Guide to Safe Sex. Hagedorn continued to craft seminal AIDS plays as the crisis progressed, from the desperate search for medication in Crusaders, to the challenges of testing in High Risk Romance, and "safe sex" in Should Have Been A Love Play. SYZYGY actors in Chicago performed a marathon of 11 his theatrical pieces in 12 days in 1988.
    In a search for greater opportunities, Hagedorn moved to Los Angeles, continuing his community theater work through Celebration Theatre and his production company, SYZYGY. Hagedorn’s theatrical productions were performed in over 32 cities in the United States, and internationally in Edinburgh, Manchester, and Berlin; in addition, he produced and distributed gay themed videos for a gay audience, including Jerker and Dream Man.
    Hagedorn dedicated the last years of his life to preservation of gay and lesbian history, organizing the subject files and updating the database of the International Gay and Lesbian Archives, now ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives.

    Scope and Content of Collection

    The Hagedorn collection consists of three series: (1) Writings, (2) Personal papers, and (3) SYZYGY records. The first series contains scripts, flyers, programs, publicity stills, and reviews, and other materials relating to Hagedorn's stage and video productions of theatrical works. The second series contains his resume, biographical information, correspondence, journals, and professional portfolio. The third series consists primarily of the correspondence of Hagedorn's production company, SYZYGY.

    Indexing Terms

    The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
    Hagedorn, Jeff, 1957-1995
    Jacobson, Tom
    Kuntze, Tilly S., 1952-
    McGregor, Proctor Keith, 1949-
    Thomas, Colin, 1952-
    Tradup, Troy, 1962-
    Gay dramatists
    Gay theater
    Homosexuality and theater
    Homosexuality in the theater