Kight (Morris) Papers and Photographs

Biographical Documents 1962-2003

Physical Description: [18 folders + 4 records boxes, 1 shoe box, 2 flat boxes]

Scope and Content

The Biographical Series contains files related to the life and time of Morris Kight. The Biographical Documents file consists of miscellaneous personal records. Documents related to his speaking engagements, events, endorsements, and honors are contained in the Fliers and Programs files. The "Dissidents" folder documents the unauthorized forwarding of Kight's mail to Clifton, New Jersey. Concerned about the preservation of his legacy, Kight copied clippings, fliers and other documents and mailed them to a number of gay and lesbian archives across the country, this became known as "The Project." The Texas Christian University file documents his school visit and speaking engagement.

Box 1, Folder 1

Awards, Proclamations, and Resolutions 1971-2003

Box 11, Folder 2

Awards, Proclamations, and Resolutions (oversized) 1979-2003

Box 1, Folder 2-3

Biographical Documents 1972-2003

Physical Description: [2 folders]

Box 11, Folder 1

Biographical Documents (oversized) 2003

Box 10

Business Cards Collected circa 1975-2000 bulk

Box 9, Folder 12-22

Clippings 1962-2003, undated

Physical Description: [11 folders]

Box 18

Clippings (ovesized) 1963

Note

Citizen-News Front page articles on "Sexual Deviants" in Hollywood February 04, 1963-February 14, 1963 and a Heard Examier image of "Seven Men booked on charge of impersonating women at nightclub."

Box 11, Folder 3

Clippings (oversized) 1978-2003 bulk

Box 1, Folder 23

"Dissidents" L.A. Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center (LAGLCSC) 1975-1984

Box 1, Folder 4

Documentary and Film 1997-1999

Box 1, Folder 5

Family 1962-1997

Box 1, Folder 6

Fliers circa 1972-1999

Box 1, Folder 7

Interview Typescripts 1974-2001

Box 13-18

Plaques and Trophies 1979-2002

Plaques and Trophies

Kight received awards from the following organizations: AIDS Healthcare Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, Being Alive/People with AIDS Action Coalition, California State Assembly, Christopher Street West, City of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, Elections Committee of the County of Orange (ECCO), Gay and Lesbian Issues Committee - United Teachers Los Angeles, Gay Asian Pacific Support Network, Imperial Court of Los Angeles, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club, Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride, Inc., Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Heritage Society, Metropolitan Community Church Los Angeles, National Association of Social Workers California Chapter, National Conference of Gay/Lesbian Public Officials, Northeast Los Angeles Gay-Lesbian Pride Committee, Palm Springs Gay Veterans, San Diego Lesbian & Gay Pride, Southern Californians for Democratic Action, Stonewall Democratic Club, The City Council of the City of West Hollywood and the West Hollywood Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board, The Hollywood/Highlands Democratic Club, The Privy Council & 29th Reign of the Royal Court de Santa Monica, The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, The Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research, United States Mission, Valley Business Alliance, and Van Ness Recovery House

Box 1, Folder 8-9

Programs 1975-2000

Box 1, Folder 10-13

"The Project" 1995-2003

Physical Description: [4 folders]

Box 1, Folder 14

Texas Christian University 1997-2000

Box 1, Folder 15

Writings circa 1974-2000

Correspondence 1964-2001

Physical Description: [44 folders]

Arrangement Note

The series is arranged alphabetically by folders and not by item. A few correspondents are group together within the alphabetically folders.

Scope and Content

The Correspondence Series includes memorial service cards along with traditional correspondence. The alpha files are followed by files of chain letter, hate mail and anonymous mail. The First Name Only files contain correspondents that could not be identified by last name. Photographs included with correspondence are located in the Photograph Series.

Box 1, Folder 16-22

A-B 1971-2001

Physical Description: [7 folders]

Box 11, Folder 4

A (oversized) 1991

Box 2, Folder 1-16

C-M 1971-2001

Physical Description: [16 folders]

Box 3, Folder 1-17

M-Z 1964-1999 bulk

Physical Description: [17 folders]

Box 3, Folder 18

Chain Letters 1978-1984

Box 3, Folder 19

First Name Only 1967-1996 bulk

Box 4, Folder 1

First Name Only 1972-1999

Box 4, Folder 2

Hate Mail & Anonymous Mail 1983-1985

Notes and Annotated Documents circa 1975-2000

Physical Description: [30 folders]

Scope and Contents

The Notes and Annontated Documents Series includes samples of his lists, notes, and outlines. The series also includes his typescript annotations concerning various notes, lists, ephemera, and realia. In the interest of preserving his legacy he sent the archives a number of "Memorandums for: Archives." Kight's annotations and memorandums documents his reflections on events and people.

Arrangement Note

The notes folders are arranged by title and then chronologically. The Annotated documents and Memorandums are arranged by the date of the annotation.

Box 8, Folder 3-5

Notes circa 1975-2000

Physical Description: [3 folders]

Box 11

Annontated Ephemera and Realia circa 1975-1990 bulk

Box 8, Folder 6-21

Annotated Notes 1972-1984, undated

Physical Description: [16 folders]

Box 9, Folder 1-2

Annotated Notes 1985-1998

Physical Description: [2 folders]

Box 9, Folder 3

Annotated Receipts 1970-1985

Box 9, Folder 4-11

Memorandum for Archives 1974-1985, undated

Physical Description: [8 folders]

McCadden Place / Morris Kight Collection Records 1977-2000

Physical Description: [20 folders]

Scope and Content

The McCadden Place / Morris Kight Collection Series documents the growth of Kight's art collection. Fliers and invitations make up the bulk of the files concerning various events and exhibits of the collection. The series also includes records such as collection catalogs, inventories, and exhibit information. The Donald William Saban photographs of McCadden Place are located in the photograph series. The North Martel Avenue files consist of the legal records concerning Kight's residence at the property.

Box 7, Folder 4-5

McCadden Place Events 1977-1987

Physical Description: [2 folders]

Box 7, Folder 6-7

1447 North Martel Avenue 1993-1995

Physical Description: [2 folders]

Box 7, Folder 8-12

Mc Cadden Place Collection 1984-2000

Physical Description: [5 folders]

Box 12

Mc Cadden Place Collection Signs (oversized) circa 1990

Physical Description: [6 items]

Box 7, Folder 13

Pink Triangle 1983-1985

Box 7, Folder 14

McCadden Place Collection Catalog 1984

Box 7, Folder 15-19

McCadden Place Collection Inventory 1992-1993

Physical Description: [5 folders]

Box 7, Folder 20

Donations to Collection 1993-1998

Box 7, Folder 21

Text for Exhibit Captions / Labels circa 1993

Box 8, Folder 1

Exhibit Captions / Labels circa 1990

Box 8, Folder 2

Foundation / Grant Research 1994-1999

Organization, Event, and Subject Files 1971-2001 bulk

Physical Description: [64 folders]

Arrangement Note

The first four folders contain Kight's press release and memorandums on variety of topics printed on his letter head. The remainder of the series is arranged alphabetically by the name of the organization, event, or topic. Only the First Tuesday and the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations folders are arranged at the item level.

Scope and Content

The Organizations, Events, and Topics Series consists primarily of fliers along with agendas, meeting notes, and correspondence. The best documented organizations include Aid for AIDS; First Tuesday, a moving collaborative space to coordinate Los Angeles lesbian and gay events; and the Los Angeles Commission on Human Relations. The series also contains topical files for the Human Right Coalition and Police Commission / Review Board files, which document a number of precursor organizations. The California and Los Angeles and the Progressive Organizations files consist of scarcely documented organizations. The final topical file, Radio and Television, documents the media's stereotypical portrayal of gays and lesbians and the communities reaction to the Marcus Welby episode, "Outrage" (1974, ABC); America's Secret Shame (1977, KHJ); Gay Power, Gay Politics (1980, CBS) and other broadcasts. Aside from Morris Kight Press Releases & Memorandums files, the remaining folders document events and organizations.

Box 4, Folder 3-6

Morris Kight Press Releases & Memorandums 1976-1999

Physical Description: [4 folders]

Box 4, Folder 7-10

Aid for AIDS 1982-1998

Physical Description: [4 folders]

Box 4, Folder 11

Asian / Pacific Lesbian & Gay Organization 1980-1981

Box 4, Folder 12

Black and White Men Together 1985

Box 4, Folder 13

California and Los Angeles Organizations 1978-1985

Box 4, Folder 14-17

California Democratic Committee (CDC) 1976-1982

Physical Description: [4 folders]

Box 4, Folder 18-19

Christopher Street West (CSW) 1976-1998

Physical Description: [2 folders]

Box 5, Folder 1

Christopher Street West (CSW) 1976-1998

Box 5, Folder 2

Coors Beer Boycott 1978-1998

Box 5, Folder 3

Cruising and Windows, motion pictures 1980

Box 5, Folder 4-5

First Tuesday 1976-1987

Physical Description: [2 folders]

Box 5, Folder 6

Easter Russell French v. Morris Kight (1977) 1982-1983

Box 5, Folder 7

Friends of Morris Kight 1994-1997

Box 5, Folder 8

Gay and Lesbian Olympics Vistors Hospitality Committee 1983-1984

Box 5, Folder 9

Governor's Task Force on Civil Rights 1980-1982

Box 5, Folder 10

Hollywood Redevelopment Project 1977-1985

Box 5, Folder 11

Human Rights Coalition 1977-1982

General

Includes California Human Rights Advocates and Coalition for Human Rights documents

Box 5, Folder 12

Humanist Association 1993-1998

Box 5, Folder 13

Jobs with Peace Initiative 1983-1984

Box 6, Folder 7

L.A. Gay Community Services Center 1996

Box 5, Folder 14-21

Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations 1975-1984

Physical Description: [8 folders]

Box 6, Folder 1-6

Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations 1984-2002

Physical Description: [6 folders]

Box 12

Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations poster (oversized) 1994

Box 6, Folder 8

Lieutenant Governor Commission for ONE California 1999-2001

Box 6, Folder 9

March on Sacramento 1979-1981

Box 6, Folder 10

March on Washington, D.C. 1978-1993

Box 6, Folder 11

Moscone - Milk Memorial Committee, Los Angeles 1978

Box 6, Folder 12

National New Orleans Memorial Fund (UpStairs Lounge Fire) 1973-1976

Box 6, Folder 13-14

No on Briggs Initiative Committee (Proposition 6) 1977-1979

Physical Description: [2 folders]

Box 6, Folder 15

Old / Older / Senior / Elder Lesbian / Gay Advocates 1992-1996

Folder 6, Folder 16

Police Commission / Review Board 1975-1998

Box 6, Folder 17-18

Progressive Organizations (non-LGBT) 1971-2001

Box 6, Folder 19

Radio and Television 1972-1984

Box 6, Folder 20

Stonewall 25 Organizing Committee 1992-1994

Box 6, Folder 21-23

Stonewall Democratic Club Los Angeles (SDC) 1975-1999 bulk

Physical Description: [3 folders]

Box 7, Folder 1-2

War Resisters International / League 1974-2002

Physical Description: [2 folders]

Box 7, Folder 3

We Are Everywhere 1978-1984

Photographs circa 1920-2002 bulk

Kight (Morris) photographs, sample

view online item

Physical Description: [8 clamshell box-binders]

Arrangement Note

The photographs are arranged in series of images from the same roll when possible; they are not arranged within the binders chronlogicallly or by event in the binder.

Scope and Content

The Photograph Series contains photographs Kight annotated, images he received in correspondence, and photographs of himself and others at various events. The photographs of events document award presentation ceremonies, birthdays, pride parades, speaking engagements, and the Matthew Shepard memorial in West Hollywood. There are a couple of early photographs of Kight and his siblings, along with photographs of his brother, John Lewis Kight, later in life. The series also includes Donald William Saban's photographs of the interior and exterior of McCadden Place. The Other People and Places photographs contain images of friends collected or given to Kight, along with building exteriors. The exteriors include his residence at McCadden Place and 909 West Adams Boulevard, before ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives relocated to the property. Later in life Kight posed for a number of photograph portraits, along with these images are a small number of press photographs of Kight at various events.

box-binder 19

Annontated Photographs 1976-1989

box-binder 19

Correspondence with Photographs 1971-2002

box-binder 20-22

Event Photographs 1977-2002 bulk

box-binder 20

Family Photographs circa 1920-2000

box-binder 23

McCadden Place by Donald William Saban 1984

box-binder 24

Other People and Places 1974-circa 1995

box-binder 25

Portrait and Press Photographs 1978-2002 bulk

box-binder 26

Pride Parades Photographs 1982-1999 bulk