Finding aid to the Harold Fairbanks papers and photographs, 1905-2011 Coll2016-009
Scott Reed
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
© 2016
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90007
askone@usc.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Title: Harold Fairbanks papers and photographs
creator:
Fairbanks, Harold, 1935-2014
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2016-009
Physical Description:
15.8 Linear Feet
17 boxes.
Date (inclusive): 1905-2011
Abstract: Correspondence, photographs, manuscripts, clippings, diaries, audiocassettes, and other material documenting the life, family,
and professional career of Harold Fairbanks (1935-2014), a Los Angeles-based journalist and film critic who wrote for the
Advocate, Update, Entertainment West, and Newswest.
Arrangement
The collection is divided into four series:
Series 1. Newspaper administrative records
Series 2. Personal papers
Series 3. Spence family papers
Series 4. Audiocassettes
Biographical / Historical
Harold Fairbanks was born George McKay Spence in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1935. He attended the State University of Iowa (approx.
1954-1958) where he was involved in film programming on campus. He moved to Los Angeles in 1959 where he began a career in
film, working as a projectionist, film programmer for schools, booker in a film exchange, film editor, technician, and publicist.
In addition, he helped produce two low-budget features. He assumed the name Harold Fairbanks for his career in journalism.
He worked as a movie reviewer for the Advocate, where he often reviewed gay erotic films; and then became the Entertainment
Editor for Newswest (1975-1977). In the 1980s, Fairbanks began writing obituaries while a staff writer for Update, bringing
a more journalistic approach by interviewing friends and survivors rather than relying on biological family who would often
exclude details of homosexuality and AIDS from the obituary ("AIDS Obituaries: The Newspaper Quilt [draft]," by Karen Ocamb,
LA Times Sunday Magazine). Fairbanks died in 2014.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
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 David C. Allen, May 6, 2016.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder #, or item name] Harold Fairbanks Papers and Photographs, Coll2016-009, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives,
USC Libraries, University of Southern California.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Scott Reed, 2016.
Scope and Contents
This collection includes administrative records, correspondence, press kits, drafts, clippings, sound recordings, and photographs
from Fairbanks' career as a staff writer for publications such as Newswest and Update. Personal records include correspondence
with friends Robert Arthur and Olin Wood, as well as early childhood records and photographs acquired from his family. The
collection also includes materials from Fairbanks' parents and grandparents (on the maternal side), such as family photographs,
correspondence, and diaries.
Separated Materials
The following newsletters have been separated to ONE's newsletter collection:
Florida Gay Liberation News, Issue #19-20 (1977).
Rainbow Project NoHo Newsletter [Project Rainbow North Hollywood], July 2004.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
AIDS activists -- California -- Los Angeles
Duluth (Minn.)
Film criticism
Gay newspapers
Journalism and motion pictures
Motion pictures and gay men
Newspaper administrative records Series 1
Scope and Contents
This series includes organizational records, correspondence, press kits, drafts, clippings, and photographs from Fairbanks'
career as a staff writer for publications such as Newswest and Update. The bulk of this series is photographs published in
Newswest or Update. This series also includes several files of drafts and research material for obituaries published in Update.
Arrangement
Photographs are at the beginning, followed by administrative records. The series is arranged alphabetically.
Box 3, Folder 1
Activists demonstration at UCLA Law School
Undated
Box 2, Folder 13
Anderson, Scott, and others
Undated
Box 3, Folder 2
Art auction in Santa Monica
Undated
Box 2, Folder 11
Blueboy project photographs
Undated
Box 9, Folder 1
Book signing for unidentified author, contact sheet
Undated
Box 2, Folder 12
Born to Raise Hell photographs
Undated
Box 3, Folder 4
Candlelight vigil
Undated
Box 3, Folder 5
Century City Hotel, Los Angeles Police Department violence
Undated
Box 3, Folder 6
Clinton (Bill)-Gore (Al) campaign
Undated
Box 2, Folder 14
Daddy Dearest photographs
Undated
Box 3, Folder 8
Demonstration at Senator John Seymour's office
Undated
Box 17, Folder 6
The Dirtiest Show in Town publicity photographs and flyer
1972
Box 2, Folder 15
Drifter and miscellaneous photographs
Undated
Box 2, Folder 7
Erotic film photographs
Undated
Box 2, Folder 40-45
Erotic photographs
Undated
Box 17, Folder 7
Erotic photographs
Undated
Box 6, Folder 4
Erotic photographs, photocopies
Undated
Box 2, Folder 8
Events photographs
Undated
Box 3, Folder 10
Festival after parade
Undated
Box 3, Folder 11
Festival Saturday night
Undated
Box 3, Folder 12
Forbidden Letters
Undated
Box 3, Folder 13
Fundamentalist vs. [Queer Nation] demonstration
Undated
Box 2, Folder 22
Gage, Joe, films photographs
Undated
Box 2, Folder 16
Gay business people and businesses photographs
Undated
Box 2, Folder 17
Gay events and organizations photographs
Undated
Box 2, Folder 9
Gay men photographs
Undated
Box 2, Folder 10
Gay people and supporters
Undated
Box 2, Folder 18
Gay pride celebrations photographs
Undated
Box 2, Folder 19
Greek Lightning photographs
Undated
Box 2, Folder 20
Hard Hat photographs
Undated
Box 2, Folder 21
Jaundice photographs
Undated
Box 2, Folder 33
Kight, Morris, photographs
Undated
Box 2, Folder 23
Latinos Unidos photographs
Undated
Box 2, Folder 24
The Light from the Second Window photographs
Undated
Box 3, Folder 40
March on Sacramento
Undated
Box 2, Folder 25-26
Miscellaneous photographs
Undated
Box 6, Folder 10
Miscellaneous photographs
Undated
Box 6, Folder 3
Photocopies of images at Academy Film Archive of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences
Undated
Box 2, Folder 27
Mr. Blackwell photographs
Undated
Box 2, Folder 28-29
Negatives and contact sheets
Undated
Box 3, Folder 27
New panel dedication ceremony at Hollywood United Methodist Church
Undated
Box 3, Folder 28
News for Tennessee
Undated
Box 3, Folder 36
Connie Norman's arrest at Los Angeles demonstration
Undated
Box 2, Folder 30
Nude beach demonstration photographs
Undated
Box 10, Folder 2-6
Obituary photographs
Undated
Box 3, Folder 46-54
Photographs for articles
Undated
Box 3, Folder 55
Photoshoots and events
Undated
Box 2, Folder 31
Political photographs
Undated
Box 2, Folder 32
Raw Country; Tuesday Morning Workout photographs
Undated
Box 2, Folder 34
Religious photographs
Undated
Box 2, Folder 35
Roundabouts photographs
Undated
Box 3, Folder 56
Saturday, softball, festival, Valerie
Undated
Box 2, Folder 36
Seattle photographs
Undated
Box 2, Folder 37
Sextool photographs
Undated
Box 2, Folder 38
So Long Blue Boy and other erotic films photographs
Undated
Box 2, Folder 39
Sports photographs
Undated
Box 3, Folder 57
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Century Plaza
Undated
Box 3, Folder 58
Washington inaugural
Undated
Box 8, Folder 1
Administrative records and mailing lists
1975-1976
Box 17, Folder 5
Advertisement layouts
Undated
Box 10, Folder 1
AIDS-related documents
1985-1996
Box 17, Folder 2
Robert Arthur/Arthaud article draft
Undated
Box 9, Folder 4
Batey, Frank and Betty, case clippings
1984-1995
Box 8, Folder 2-3
Batey, Frank and Betty, case clippings and transcripts
1984-1995
Box 8, Folder 4
Calendar and notes
1955-1964
Box 6, Folder 5
Green Carnation Newspapers, Inc. records
1975
Box 6, Folder 7
"Hickory Sticks" column, Grant County Independent
Undated
Box 6, Folder 8
Lesbian Tide letter and photograph
1977
Box 9, Folder 9
LA Weekly controversy
1984
Box 17, Folder 4
Men of the Century poster
Undated
Box 6, Folder 11-21
Newswest records and correspondence
1976-1978
Box 8, Folder 6
Personal and classified ads
1977
Box 8, Folder 5
Roberts, Rob, correspondence
1993
Box 17, Folder 9-10
Update advertisements, proofs, records
1981-1983
Box 8, Folder 7
Update advertisements, proofs, records
1989-1992
Box 8, Folder 9
Update miscellaneous records
1986-2001
Box 4, Folder 1-25
Update obituaries A-H
1987-2000
Box 5, Folder 1-26
Update obituaries J-Z
1988-1992
Box 9, Folder 13
Update obituary layouts and photographs
Undated
Box 6, Folder 23
Update press passes
1982-1987
Personal papers and photographs Series 2
Scope and Contents
This series comprises personal correspondence, photographs, and other documents spanning Fairbanks' lifetime. It includes
personal papers, as well as early childhood records and photographs acquired from his family.
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically.
Box 8, Folder 12-17
Arthaud (Arthur), Robert, correspondence and photographs
2004-2011
Scope and Contents
Contents include papers, correspondence, and photographs from close friend Robert Arthaud (1925-2008), who worked as a film
actor under the name Robert Arthur in 1940s and 1950s in Hollywood. Arthur, a gay man, was closeted at the time of his acting
career and later moved to Washington to start an insurance business and join the Log Cabin Republicans. Wood and Arthur wrote
each other regularly. Fairbanks often wrote articles about Arthur's career and later published Arthur's memoir posthumously.
Box 9, Folder 2-3
Arthaud (Arthur), Robert, papers
Undated
Box 7, Folder 11
Baby photographs
1935-1938
Box 7, Folder 1
Baby records, tooth, hair
1935
Box 7, Folder 2
Childhood crafts and memorabilia
1942-1955
Box 7, Folder 4
Correspondence, young George to parents
1942
Box 6, Folder 22
Correspondence and photograph
Undated
Box 7, Folder 6
Film showings in college
1954-1958
Box 15, Item 1
George McKay Spence photograph album
1935-1939
Box 16, Item 1-2
"Georgie" silhouettes, by John Van Bibben
1938
Physical Description: 2 framed silhouettes.
Box 6, Folder 26
Hampe, Larry I. datebook
1982
Box 9, Folder 8
Hudson Avenue eviction
1980
Box 6, Folder 6
Hudson Avenue Tenant Association
1980
Box 8, Folder 8
Miscellaneous personal papers
1956-2011
Box 8, Folder 18-25
Wood, Olin, correspondence and photographs
1974-1977
Scope and Contents
This file includes correspondence between Fairbanks and a University of Wisconsin at Madison undergraduate named Olin Woods.
Also included in the file are erotic photographs, as well as posters and ephemera related to Wood's involvement with the Camp
Randall film society, which in 1974 was considered by the university newspaper to be the first campus organization in the
country dedicated to screening "male, homosexually oriented films" including erotica.
Spence family papers and photographs Series 3
Scope and Contents
This series comprises papers and photographs from the Spence and Hagen (maternal grandparents) families. The photographs
span the first half of the 20th century and document the family in Duluth, Minnesota. The series also includes a high school
yearbook, illustrations, certificates, diaries, and correspondence.
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically.
Box 6, Folder 24-25
Family photographs
circa 1917-1960
Box 7, Folder 19-22
Family photographs
circa 1917-2000
Box 9, Folder 6
Family photographs, greeting cards
1917-2011
Box 17
Mounted fine photography
Undated
Box 17, Folder 1
Photograph negatives
Undated
Box 17
Portrait of unidentified couple
Undated
Physical Description: Unframed canvas.
Box 12, Folder 1-5
Spence family photographs
circa 1905-1980
Box 17, Folder 8
Spence family photographs
Undated
Box 16, Item 3
The Spences photograph album
Undated
Box 17
Diplomas and licenses
1917-1919
Box 7, Folder 3
Hagen, Ludwig L., correspondence
1947
Box 7, Folder 13
Hagen, Ludwig L., financial records
1919
Box 6, Folder 28
Hagen, Ludwig L., funeral
1947
Box 7, Folder 14
Hagen, Mary, death certificate
1959
Box 7, Folder 7-10
Hagen, Mary, funeral
1959
Box 7, Folder 12
Spence, Gladys (Hagen), correspondence
1920
Box 13, Item 1-13
Spence, Gladys (Hagen), diaries
1977-1992
Physical Description: 13 diaries.
Box 16, Item 4
Spence, Gladys (Hagen), Red Wing High School Yearbook
1917
Audiocassettes 4
circa 1975-1995
Scope and Contents
This series contains audiocassettes, primarily used to record phone conversations, events, and meetings as resources for articles
and obituaries.
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically.
Item AC3423
AIDS charity controversy interview
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Interview about a controversy surrounding an AIDS charity event.
Item AC3438
AFA meeting recording
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
AIDS charity organization meeting recording.
Item AC3445
APLA award ceremony and press conference
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Side A: APLA award ceremony recording. Side B: Press conference for AIDS related policy making federation.
Item AC3448
APLA benefit
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Side A: Empty. Side B: APLA benefit recording.
Item AC3441
APLA meeting and research interviews
1992
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Side A: Recording of APLA meeting, 11-18-92. Side B: Research phone calls concerning potential AIDS quarantine land.
Item AC3453
Award ceremony
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Award ceremony recording for an AIDS organization.
Item AC3435
Black's Beach interview
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Recording of interview regarding initiative/campaign for Black's beach in San Diego and the cruising culture that exists there.
Item AC3455
Captain Cunningham and vice squad
1987
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Label reads: "Capt Cunningham NE-LAPD 3-17-87". Also includes interview, obituary research, and phone calls about vice squad.
Item AC3419
Conversation continued
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Continued interview from AC3418
Item AC3447
Craig Corbett interview
1987
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Phone call with Craig Corbett, widower of Frank Batey, following his death and the removal of their son from his Palm Springs
home (1987). Also includes related research phone calls.
Item AC3422
Eddie Murphy recording, interview
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Television recording of a homophobic Eddie Murphy stand-up routine regarding AIDS. Also includes recorded phone conversation.
Item AC3456
Erotic film industry interviews
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Label reads: "GED Payne Jack Devean". Includes interviews with erotic film industry producer.
Item AC3425
Film actor interview
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Interview with erotic film actor.
Item AC3437
Filmmaker interview
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Interview with German filmmaker about S/M films
Item AC3418
Interview
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Recorded interview with film industry professional.
Item AC3424
Interviews
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Side A: Continued interview from AC3423. Side B: Interview with former closeted film actor.
Item AC3436
Interview and meeting recording
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Side A: Interview with erotic filmmaker, phone call about West Hollywood city council. Side B: Continued interview, recording
of meeting.
Item AC3417
Interviews and television recording
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Side A: Phone interview with friend Dick who moved East after diagnosed with colon cancer. Fairbanks offers to print upcoming
obituary, written by Dick. Research calls and phone conversations, television recording about ARC. Side B: Angry voicemail
from family member of deceased.
Item AC3421
Interview with Jack Pierce and Robert Chesley
1991
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Side A: "Jack Pierce re Karl Ellis 8-30-91". Side B: Interview with Robert Chesley.
Item AC3442
Interview with Rick Davidson
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Interview with Rick Davidson about town council and metro squad.
Item AC3420
Music
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Music and recorded background noise.
Item AC3432
Music and woman's voice
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Side A: music recordings. Side B: Recording of a girl reading and a woman's narration.
Item AC3434
Music and woman's voice
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Contains woman's narration similar to AC3432. Handwritten label reads "To my darling Helen"
Item AC3450
Music and woman's voice
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Music as well as voice narration of woman's voice found on two other tapes in series.
Item AC3428
News recordings and voicemail
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Side A: Recording of TV news. Side B: Recording of television and angry voicemail.
Item AC3426
Organizational meeting recording
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Recording of organizational meeting, including Fairbanks as participant.
Item AC3444
Pat Warren and research calls
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Side A: Label reads "Pat Warren #1 UCLA 2/25/76". Side B: Obituary voicemail, calls about Palm Springs and controversy surrounding
AIDS charity honor to Joan Rivers.
Item AC3431
Phone calls
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Phone conversation about controversial statements about gays and AIDS by comedian Eddie Murphy.
Item AC3446
Phone calls
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Side A: Conversations with colleague about Update and getting reimbursement money owed to Fairbanks. Side B: Fundraising controversy
for ATLA (?).
Item AC3430
Phone calls and award ceremony
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Side A: Phone call about Batey case and awards ceremony recording. Side B: Phone calls about traveling AIDS memorial quilt
and donations.
Item AC3427
Police Task Force meeting
1988
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
"Police Task Force Meeting @ CCSC 02/04/1988"
Item AC3454
Ron Taylor and Michael Daniels obituary
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Side A: (Damaged or recorder over) label reads "Ron Taylor 3-3-90". Side B: Michael Daniels obituary.
Item AC3451
Silver Lake safety meeting
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Recording of meeting regarding the safety of gay people in the Silverlake neighborhood.
Item AC3440
Tech support call
Undated
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Recording of tech support hotline call.
