Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Callahan (John) papers
Coll2022-008
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
ONE Archives at the USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Title: John Callahan papers
Creator:
Callahan, John F.
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2022-008
Physical Description:
8.67 Linear Feet
7 boxes.
Date (inclusive): 1930-2013
Abstract: John Callahan was an activist, educator, actor, producer, director, and co-founder of the gay and bisexual rap group Age of
Consent. His collection, 1930-2013, consists of personal papers, theatrical production materials, teaching materials, photographs,
and audio recordings for Age of Consent.
Language of Material:
English
.
John Callahan was an activist, educator, actor, producer, and director. He was born in Massachusetts on February 2, 1945 to
Aurelia Jeanne Sousa Callahan while his father, John F. Callahan, was stationed in Burma during World War II. Callahan grew
up in Chelmsford, Massachusetts and attended Chelmsford High School, State College at Lowell, and the University of Denver.
After graduating college, he taught theatre at Alice Lloyd College and Foxborough High School.
Callahan married Donna Sprague after college, the couple had a daughter, Lisa. They divorced several years later.
Callahan moved to Los Angeles in 1980, where he took a job in the legal department of Getty Oil Company. In 1981, Callahan,
along with collaborator David Hughes, founded Age of Consent, "the world's first gay and bisexual rap group". Callahan was
a member of Age of Consent for three years before deciding to move on and become more involved in the Los Angeles theatre
community. He became the artistic director for Celebration Theatre and also worked with several other theatrical and performing
arts associations in Los Angeles.
Callahan met and married Bradley Rader in 1987, the two were together for 27 years before Callahan's passing in 2013 from
prostate cancer.
References: https://ageofconsentrap.com/, https://www.facebook.com/john.f.callahan/
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Brad Rader, 2013.
[Box/folder #, or item name] John Callahan Papers, Coll2022-008, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California.
Collection processed by Beth McDonald, 2022. Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the California
State Library.
The collection, 1930-2013, is primarily comprised of records and materials related to Callahan's work in theatre as an actor,
producer, and teacher. It includes production materials for plays, including scripts, programs, publicity, cast lists, and
photographs. The collection also contains personal records and materials belonging to both of his parents, yearbooks, photographs,
ephemera, and audio recordings from Callahan's rap group Age of Consent.
The collection is arranged into four series: 1) Records and Documents; 2) Photographs; 3) Media; 4) Realia and Ephemera
Age of Consent Collection, Coll2014-024; Celebration Theatre Collection, Coll2007-017
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Bands (Music) -- Gays
Experimental theater -- California -- Los Angeles -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Gay theater
Homosexuality and theater
Homosexuality in the theater
Performing Arts
Plays (performed works)
Rap (Music) -- Homosexuality
Age of Consent
Celebration Theatre (Los Angeles, CA.)