Finding aid to the Robert F. Craig papers and photographs, 1934-2000 Coll2012.177

Finding aid prepared by Loni Shibuyama and Monica Ramsy
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California, 90007
(213) 741-0094
askone@ONEarchives.org
(c) 2013


Title: Robert F. Craig Papers and Photographs
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2012.177
Contributing Institution: ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 7.8 linear feet. 1 archive box + 1 archive binder + 6 archive shoeboxes + 2 flat archive boxes.
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1980-2000
Date (inclusive): 1934-2000
Abstract: Personal and professional papers, photographs, negatives, slides, film, audiocassettes, a videocassette, and other material from businessman, publisher, and gay activist, Robert F. Craig, 1934-2000. Perhaps best known as owner of the Los Angeles-based gay newsmagazine, Frontiers, Craig was also instrumental in organizations such as Christopher Street West, Valley Business Alliance, Lobby for Individual Freedom and Equality (LIFE AIDS Lobby), and the West Hollywood Incorporation Committee. Materials document his activism in the gay community, personal life, military service, personal relationships, travels, and businesses he operated.
creator: Craig, Robert F., 1934-2000

Biography

Robert F. Craig was a longtime gay political activist, businessman, and owner of the Los Angeles-based weekly newsmagazine, Frontiers.
Born on May 22, 1934, Craig is a Los Angeles native who attended North Hollywood High School. He served four years in the US Air Force and was assigned to the military police, before entering the University of Southern California where he majored in accounting. He ran businesses, including a flower shop and a messenger service. By the 1970s, Craig became owner of the Hayloft, a Studio City gay bar.
In 1978, Craig co-founded the Valley Business Alliance, which serves as a chamber of commerce for gay and lesbian business owners. By the 1980s, he served as president of Christopher Street West, which organizes the Los Angeles gay pride parade and festival. In 1982, Craig helped found Frontiers with Greg Carmack and Jerry Hyde. Craig eventually became the sole owner, expanding the publication from a 16-page tabloid to a 168-page magazine that had as of 2000 a circulation of more than 86,000 in Southern California, San Francisco and Las Vegas.
Shortly after starting Frontiers, Craig joined the drive to incorporate the West Hollywood neighborhood into a city, and in 1984, he was elected chairman of the West Hollywood Incorporation Committee. In 1986, Craig helped establish the Lobby for Individual Freedom and Equality (also known as LIFE AIDS Lobby) to fight in Sacramento for gay civil rights. The group successfully battled for increased AIDS funding and extension of protections under the state hate crime law to gays and lesbians.
A long time resident of the San Fernando Valley, Craig died of complications from AIDS on April 28, 2000.
Sources:
Woo, Elaine. "Robert F. Craig: Published Gay Magazine." Los Angeles Times, May 3, 2000, http://articles.latimes.com/2000/may/03/local/me-26127 (last accessed March 20, 2013).

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.

Acquisition Information

Donor and date of acquisition unknown.

Preferred Citation

[Box/folder #, or item name] Robert F. Craig Papers and Photographs, Coll2012-177, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Processing Information

Formerly boxes 103-191A, 103-191B, 103-191C, 103-191D, 103-191E, 103-364, and 103-365. Collection processed by Monica Ramsy and Loni Shibuyama, March 2013.

Scope and Content

The collection comprises personal papers, photographs, negatives, slides, film, audiocassettes, a videocassette, and other material from businessman, publisher, and gay activist, Robert F. Craig, 1934-2000. The papers include Craig's administrative records from Frontiers, LIFE AIDS Lobby, Californians Against Prop 22, and Christopher Street West. The papers also document Craig's personal life, including his education, military service, personal relationships, travels, businesses he operated, and other interests. The photographs and audiovisual material includes hundreds of photographs and negatives documenting events such as gay pride parades, LIFE AIDS Lobby fundraisers, drag queen pageants, parties; as well as his military experience and international travel. The realia includes items such as Craig's military uniform service ribbons and insignias, name badges, a Masonic Lodge apron, and Craig's leather vest from the gay bar he owned, Hayloft.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in the following series:
Series 1. Personal and professional papers
Series 2. Photographs and audiovisual materials
Series 3. Realia

Separated Materials

The following publications have been separated from the collection and cataloged into ONE Archives' periodicals collection or monograph library:
Advocate Collector's Edition, 20 Year Anniversary, 1987.
Being Alive, Celebrating Our Community, 1997 Spirit of Hope Awards program.
Christopher Street West, A New Gay Dawning, The Gay Pride Festival program, June 26-27, 1982.
Christopher Street West Gay Pride Celebration, Bicentennial issue July 4, 1976.
Frontiers: The Nation's Gay Newsmagazine, "A special Guide to the March on Washington," Santa Monica, CA: Mercury Capital Inc., 1993.
Nightlife Magazine, West Hollywood, CA: Data-Boy, Issue 580, February 8, 1993.
Sinatra 80 Years My Way [benefitting AIDS Project Los Angeles and Barbara Sinatra's Children's Center] program, 1995.
Stoney Awards 1997 program.
Stoney Awards 1999 program.
Super-men 80, Hollywood, California, August 24, 1980 program.
Task Force on Family Diversity, City of Los Angeles, Final Report, "Strengthening Families: a Model for Community Action," 1988.
Task Force on Family Diversity, City of Los Angeles, Transcript of Public Hearings, January 28, 1987, February 19, 1987, March 16, 1987, April 8, 1987.
The following items have been separated from the collection and added to ONE Archives' t-shirt and garments collection:
Ask Me About Life AIDS Day [white t-shirt]
Christopher Street West Los Angeles 1982; A New Gay Dawning; Bob, CSW Official [pink t-shirt]
Christopher Street West; Pride=Power '92 [hat]
Come and Celebrate; See You in 1992; Long Beach; IAL/GPC [white t-shirt]
Community Yellow Pages [yellow t-shirt]
Dive!; The Incredible Skydive For Youth Services at the LA Gay & Lesbian Center; Saturday, August 19th, 1995 [white t-shirt]
Hayloft [leather vest]
I do; Freedom to Marry [gray t-shirt]
Pioneer Days; Valley Business Alliance [blue t-shirt]
Series 16; LA 92; NAGAAA Softball World Series [gray t-shirt]
Southern California Gay & Lesbian Exposition; Expo 94 [white t-shirt]
Together in Pride [white t-shirt]
In addition, 1 bumper sticker, 5 matchbook covers and 115 buttons have been separated from the collection and placed in ONE Archives' ephemera collection.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Christopher Street West Association.
Frontiers Publishing.
Lobby for Individual Freedom and Equality.
AIDS activists--California--Los Angeles
Correspondence
Drag shows
Gay activists--California--Los Angeles
Gay pride parades
Gays in the military--United States
Photographs

 

Personal and professional papers Series 1.  1934-2000

Series Description

The personal and professional papers series, 1934-2000, comprises correspondence, manuscripts, administrative records, family-related material, notes, financial records, clippings, calendar and other materials. This series includes Craig's administrative records from organizations such as Frontiers, LIFE AIDS Lobby, Californians Against Prop 22, and Christopher Street West. The papers also document Craig's personal life, including his education, experience in the military, personal relationships, travels, businesses he operated, and other interests.

Arrangement

This series is arranged alphabetically.
Box 1, Folder 1

All-American Gigolo screenplay drafts 1981

Box 1, Folder 2

(2nd Annual) American Cinema Awards program 1984

Box 1, Folder 3

Astrological profiles 1993

Box 1, Folder 4

Birth certificates 1934

Box 1, Folder 5

Business cards and contact information Undated

Box 1, Folder 6

Californians Against Prop 102 1988

Box 1, Folder 7

Christopher Street West 1992-1993

Box 1, Folder 8

Clippings 1963,1984

Box 1, Folder 9-12

Correspondence and greeting cards 1995-1998

Box 1, Folder 13

Family-related flyers Undated

Box 1, Folder 14

Financial records 1970-1997

Box 1, Folder 15

Frontiers administrative records 1990-1999

Box 1, Folder 16

Greater LA AIDS Hospice Foundation proposal 1984

Box 1, Folder 17

Handwritten notes Undated

Box 1, Folder 18

In Memorium Ron Stone 1988

Box 1, Folder 19

Lease agreement 1991

Box 1, Folder 20-21

LIFE AIDS Lobby 1994

Box 1, Folder 22

The Lightfoot Lad storyboard 1983

Box 1, Folder 23

Messenger, delivery service and flower shop 1969-1973

Box 1, Folder 24

Military 1951-1960

Box 1, Folder 34

Name tags and identification cards Undated

Box 1, Folder 25

Other LGBT organizations 1981-1997

Box 1, Folder 26

Parks Air Force Base 1955

Box 1, Folder 27

Pet dog records 1993-1999

Box 1, Folder 28

School report cards and certificates 1941-1950

Box 1, Folder 30

Soul Survivor, script by Anthony Bruno 1986

Box 1, Folder 31

Travel records 1992-1993

Box 1, Folder 32

Weekly calendar 2000

Box 1, Folder 33

Miscellaneous 1970-1999

 

Photographs and audiovisual material Series 2. 1955-2000

Series Description

The photographs and audiovisual material series, 1955-2000, comprises photographs, negatives, slides, audiocassettes, 16mm film reels and a videocassette. This series includes hundreds of photographs and negatives documenting events such as parties, drag queen pageants, gay pride parades, LIFE AIDS Lobby fundraisers; as well as his military experience, home life, and international travel. Many of these photographs appear to have been taken by Craig's partner, Joel. This series also includes audiocassettes from a Gay Press Association conference, as well as amateur home movies.

Arrangement

Material in this series are grouped by format. Photographs, negatives and slides are at the beginning of this series, followed by audiocassettes, film and a videocassette.
Box 2-6

Photographs, negatives and slides 1955-2000

Scope and Contents note

Many of the photographs appear to have been taken by Craig's partner, Joel, and many of the descriptions written on the photograph envelopes are written in French.
Box 3

Birthday parties circa 1990-2000

Box 3

Christmas 1996, undated

Box 9

Robert Craig circa 1970-2000

Box 3

Dentist circa 1990-2000

Box 3

Drag pageants, coronations circa 1990-2000

Box 3

Drag performances and events, unidentified 1996, undated

Box 3

Frontiers office and unidentified social event circa 1990-2000

Box 4

Gay and lesbian pride parades

Box 4

Christopher Street West Los Angeles pride parade 1996

Box 4

Christopher Street West Los Angeles pride parade, Trilogy photos 1996

Box 4

Christopher Street West Los Angeles pride parade, gay and lesbian marriage circa 1990-2000

Box 4

Long Beach Gay Pride 1996, undated

Box 4

Paris, France pride parade 2000

Box 2

Robert Craig at gay pride parades circa 1970-2000

Box 4

Unidentified pride event circa 1990-2000

Box 3

Halloween Night circa 1990-2000

Box 3

Leather party circa 1990-2000

Box 3

Life AIDS Lobby circa 1990-2000

Box 3

General, events 1996, undated

Box 3

Bonaventure Hotel circa 1990-2000

Box 3

People of [Life AIDS Lobby] circa 1990-2000

Box 3

San Francisco circa 1990-2000

Box 2

Military March 1955

Box 2

Pearson-Moffatt wedding 1970

Box 3

Stonewall Democratic Club event 1996

Box 5

Barbra Streisand impersonator 1988

Box 5

Travel and vacation circa 1990-2000

Box 2, 6

Miscellaneous circa 1980-2000

 

Audiocassettes 1983, undated

Item AC1820-AC1823

Gay Press Association Convention 1983

Box 7

[Untitled audio recording of answering machine message] Undated

Box 7

Film (16mm) 1959-1961

Box 7

Barbeque 1960

Box 7

Connection De Malay 1959

Box 7

De Molay Day at Disneyland 1959

Box 7

My gout day

Box 7

Shrine dance 1960

Box 7

Swim party at Howard Faddis's 1959

Box 7

[Untitled] August 1960

Box 7

[Untitled] November 1960

Box 7

[Untitled] June 1961

Box 7

Untitled videocassette (VHS-C) circa 1982-2000

 

Realia Series 3. circa 1950-1993

Series Description

The realia series, circa 1950-1993, includes items such as Craig's military uniform service ribbons and insignias, name badges, a Masonic Lodge apron, and Craig's leather vest from the gay bar he owned, Hayloft.

Arrangement

This series is arranged alphabetically.
Box 8

Christopher Street West Festival Games medal 1983

Box 8

Christopher Street West name tag: Bob Craig Undated

Box 8

Christopher Street West pens 1983, 1988

Box 8

Christopher Street West wristwatch Undated

Box 10

Hayloft leather vest Undated

Box 8

March on Washington media badge 1993

Box 8

Military and ROTC ribbons, insignias and dog tag circa 1950-1960

Box 9

North Hollywood Lodge No. 542, [Free & Accepted Masons] apron 1958

Box 8

Pioneer Days Country Fair ribbon 1982

Box 8

Pioneer Days staff ribbon circa 1982