David R. Kessler papers
Finding aid created by GLBT Historical Society staff using RecordEXPRESS
GLBT Historical Society
2023
989 Market Street, Lower Level
San Francisco, California 94103
(415) 777-5455
reference@glbthistory.org
http://www.glbthistory.org/
Title: David R. Kessler papers
Dates: 1972-1993
Collection Number: 1993-24
Creator/Collector:
Kessler, David R.
Extent: 7 cartons (7 linear feet)
Repository:
GLBT Historical Society
San Francisco, California 94103
Abstract: This collection documents the professional and political life of David Rudolph Kessler, M.D. (born April 1, 1930 - died November
24, 2022). The collection contains a small amount of correspondence, speeches and lectures regarding homosexuality and psychiatry,
materials relating to Dr. Kessler’s professional and political activities, and numerous subject files on the AIDS epidemic
and other topics related to the LGBT community in San Francisco.
Language of Material: English
Collection is open for research.
Funding for processing this collection was provided by the National Historical Publications Commission (NHPRC) and the Council
on Library and Information Resources (CLIR).
[Identification of item]. David R. Kessler papers. Collection Number: 1993-24. GLBT Historical Society
Gift of David R. Kessler in November 1993.
Biography/Administrative History
David R. Kessler, M.D. (born April 1, 1930 - died November 24, 2022) was the first elected president of the San Francisco-based
gay doctors organization—Bay Area Physicians for Human Rights (BAPHR). After completing his medical degree and residency
at Yale, he served on the faculty in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco Medical School.
He was also on the staff of the Langley-Porter Institute from 1962 until his retirement in 1986. Dr. Kessler was past president
of the Gay and Lesbian Caucus of the American Psychiatric Institute and served on the board of directors for the NAMES Project
and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. In 1991-1992 Dr. Kessler endowed the David R. Kessler Lecture award at the Center
for Lesbian and Gay Studies (CLAGS) at the City University of New York. Dr. Kessler's partner, Steven Del Re, died of complications
from AIDS in 1986.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection documents the professional and political life of David R. Kessler, M.D. The collection contains a small amount
of correspondence, speeches and lectures regarding homosexuality and psychiatry, materials relating to Dr. Kessler’s professional
and political activities, and numerous subject files on the AIDS epidemic and other topics related to the LGBT community in
San Francisco. The papers reflect Dr. Kessler’s research on homosexual relationships within the context of psychiatry and
include writings by prominent gay authors and also papers by Charles W. Socarides and Harold M. Voth, who fought against the
removal of homosexuality from the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-III. The collection contains very little personal
material. The collection is divided into six Series: Correspondence; Speeches and Lectures; Professional and Political Activities;
AIDS Subject Files; General Subject Files; and Writings by Others.
GSSO Linked Terms: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/GSSO_000521; http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/GSSO_001813; http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/GSSO_000374
AIDS (disease)
Health
Gay men