Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Gregg Strom papers
- Dates:
- 1981-1993
- Abstract:
- The collection consists of business and legal documents pertaining to Greg Strom's gay erotica company Bryx International, as well as legal and tax documents relating to Strom's personal affairs, 1981-1993. Strom was a bodybuilder and model for gay erotica, most notably for his own company Bryx International.
- Extent:
- 1.0 linear foot. 3 archive cartons
- Language:
- Preferred citation:
-
[Box/folder #, or item name] Gregg Strom Papers, Coll2012-161, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection consists of business and legal documents pertaining to Greg Strom's gay erotica company Bryx International, as well as legal and tax documents relating to Strom's personal affairs, 1981-1993. Business and legal documents include invoices, ad clippings, and business name trademark research. Strom's personal materials include tax files from 1990-1993, legal documents pertaining to the purchase and sale of his Los Angeles home, and legal documents relating to his name change.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Gregg Strom was born Eugene Emery Tichy on May 24, 1955, in Portland, Oregon, to Michael and Anna Tichy. From 1973-1974, he studied Electrical Engineering at Portland State University, and from 1974-1978 he studied at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo in pursuit of the same degree. Although he did not finish his degree, Strom started working professionally in the radio and television electronics industry in 1973 and branched out into the computer field soon after. He remained connected to the computer industry for much of the rest of his life.
An amateur bodybuilder and out gay man in his personal life, Strom attracted the attention of the gay erotica industry upon his arrival in California. In 1978 he made his first appearances as a nude model in gay publications such as Colt Studio’s Colt Men magazine series and Action Male magazine. He would soon appear in such notable gay adult publications as Mandate, Drummer and Honcho.
As early as 1979 Strom took control of his image and began marketing erotic materials featuring himself and other models. From his own amateur publications such as Cheap and Scritext, Strom quickly became an established presence on the gay erotica market. In the early 1980s, he formed the company Basic Brawn and began selling photographs and videotapes via ads in magazines such as In Touch for Men and the Advocate. In 1983, Strom changed the company’s name to Bryx International. He also formed less successful businesses, including a health studio and personal training venture in 1984 and a model/escort business known as Bryx’s Bucks in 1985.
In 1985 he had his name legally changed from Eugene Emery Tichy to Gregg Strom. Unhappy with the legal status of gays and lesbians in the United States, Strom often looked into leaving the country. In 1982 he inquired about moving to Canada, but abandoned that effort, and in 1992, he moved to Amsterdam, albeit briefly.
Gregg Strom died, cause unknown, on September 6, 2006.
- Acquisition information:
- Donated from the estate of Gregg Strom, April 25, 2008.
- Processing information:
-
Collection processed by Robert Graves, 2012.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- Gay erotica
Legal documents
Male models
About this collection guide
- Sponsor:
- Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
- Date Prepared:
- © 2012
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2012-12-11T15:53-0800
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
- Terms of access:
-
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections 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.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Box/folder #, or item name] Gregg Strom Papers, Coll2012-161, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
- Location of this collection:
-
909 West Adams BoulevardLos Angeles, CA 90007, US
- Contact:
- (213) 821-2771