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Finding Aid to the Sidney Morris Papers, circa 1910-2004 Coll2013.070
Coll2013.070  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Separated Materials note
  • Biography
  • Acquisition
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Arrangement
  • Scope and Contents
  • Preferred Citation
  • Processing Information

  • Title: Sidney Morris papers
    Identifier/Call Number: Coll2013.070
    Contributing Institution: ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
    Language of Material: English
    Physical Description: 7.6 linear feet. 2 archive boxes + 2 archive cartons + 3 archive binders + 1 archive flat box
    Date (inclusive): circa 1910-2004
    Abstract: Essays, poetry, prose, scripts, playbills, posters, fliers, reviews, clippings, contracts, photographs, audio recordings, video recordings, correspondence, biographical information, and personal papers documenting Sidney Morris and his lovers, friends, family, theater productions, and work with the intellectually disabled, 1910-2004. Morris was a playright of roughly 50 plays, including If This Isn't Love in 1982. Morris also wrote poetry and essays, and published articles on HIV/AIDS.
    creator: Morris, Sidney, (Sidney Morris Fineberg), 1929-2002

    Separated Materials note

    Separated to the ONE periodical collection
    Cruise, v.8, no.36.
    The James White Review, Spring/Summer 2002.
    Michael's Thing, v.12, no.15, April 12, 1992.
    PWA Coalition Newsline, February 1990.
    Summer at SAGE, July-August 1993.
    Topman, v.3, no.8, June 7, 1982.
    Separated to the ONE poster collection
    Danny Grossman Dance Company featuring a new work by Danny Grossman. Premiere Dance Theatre, Toronto. March 19-23, 1996.
    Danny Grossman Dance Company photographic exhibition, 20th anniversary party. Premiere Dance Theatre, Toronto. March 25 - April 5, 1997.
    A Queer Stand-Up Comedy Extravaganza featuring Mimi Gonzalez. Women in Music Productions. Best Western Primrose Hotel, Toronto. October 18, 1997.
    Separated to the ONE audiovisual collection
    April interview with Sydney Morris. (6 audiocassettes)
    Daniel H. Conner poetry reading regarding living with AIDS and being a gay man. (VHS)
    "The Effects of the Aging Process on the Treatment of 60+ Year Old Persons with HIV/AIDS." James Lomax moderator. SAGE's Second National Conference on Aging, New York City, May 5-6, 2000. (audiocassette)
    Sydney Morris interview, time 1:29:31. (VHS)
    Separated to the ONE pin collection
    "sage" printed in gold on a black round pin.

    Biography

    Sidney Morris Fineberg, known as Sidney Morris, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1929. He first garnered notice in the theater world in 1963 with his New York production of A Gallery of Characters. Morris would write roughly 50 plays, over half of which were produced, including If This Isn't Love in 1982, his most popular work. Morris wrote poetry and essays, and published articles on HIV/AIDS. He helped support himself by teaching special education classes and drama therapy workshops. He volunteered his time to Senior Action in a Gay Environment (SAGE) and Cabrini Hospital, and was a member of the Dramatist's Guild, Poetry Society, Holocaust Generation After, and Eulenspiegel Society. Morris died after a years-long battle with AIDS in 2002. He was survived by his longtime partner, Bert Coffman.

    Acquisition

    Date and method of acquisition unknown.

    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.

    Conditions Governing Access

    The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.

    Arrangement

    This collection is arranged in the following series:
    Series 1. Literature, 1982-2002, undated
    Series 2. Personal and professional papers, 1934-2004
    Series 3. Photographs and audiovisual materials, circa 1910-2004

    Scope and Contents

    Essays, poetry, prose, and scripts written or collected by Sidney Morris; playbills, posters, fliers, reviews, clippings, contracts, photographs, audio recordings, and video recordings from Morris' theater productions; and correspondence, photographs, awards, medical records, biographical information, and personal papers documenting Morris and his lovers, friends, family, and work with the intellectually disabled, circa 1910-2004.

    Preferred Citation

    [Box/folder #, or item name] Sidney Morris Papers, Coll2013-070, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

    Processing Information

    Collection processed by Katrina Sire and Kyle Morgan, 2014.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Gay dramatists--United States
    Gay men's writings, American
    Gay theater