Finding Aid to the Robert J. Manners Papers, 1953-2010 Coll2014.067
Cooper Moll
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources.
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90007
(213) 821-2771
askone@usc.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Title: Robert J. Manners papers
creator:
Manners, Robert J.
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2014.067
Physical Description:
5.3 Linear Feet
4 boxes, 1 carton, and 1 shoebox
Date (inclusive): 1953-2010
Abstract: This collection mainly comprises Robert Manners' correspondence, newspaper clippings, catalogs, bibliographies, administrative
records, and other material, 1953-2010. Manners was the owner and operator of the home-based gay and lesbian mail order catalog
Books Bohemian (Pasadena, California) from 1977 to 2004.
Biography
Robert J. Manners owned and operated Books Bohemian, a home-based mail order book catalog, for 27 years (1977-2004). During
his tenure as a book distributor, he corresponded with a number of incarcerated gay men who wrote him requesting gay literature.
Manners provided books free of charge to gay inmates, many of whom kept in contact for several years through letters. Manners
also corresponded with a number of gay and lesbian writers and collected their bibliographies, book reviews, and biographies.
Manners is also an activist for LGBTQ rights and interests.
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
Donated by Robert J. Manners, May 16, 2010.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder #, or item name] Robert J. Manners Papers, Coll2014-067, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Cooper Moll, September 2014.
Scope and Contents
This collection comprises Robert Manners' correspondence, newspaper clippings, catalogs, bibliographies, administrative records,
and other material, 1953-2010. The collection primarily consists of administrative records from Books Bohemian, correspondence
with gay inmates, and correspondence with gay and lesbian writers whose books he sold through the catalog.
Arrangement
This collection is divided into two series: (1) Correspondence, and (2) Administrative records and subject files.
Separated Materials
The following have been separated to the ONE Archives periodical collection:
ACLU Lesbian & Gay Rights Chapter Newsletter, 2000-2002
Amsterdam Columbia Fun Map, 1998
Barfly, 1970
BLK Magazine, 1993-1994
The Frontlines Newsletter, 2007
Gay Academic Union Los Angeles Chapter Newsletter, 1978-1981
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Newsletter, 1995
Gay & Lesbian Studies List (Bolerium Books), 2000-2002
Gay Sunshine 10th Anniversary Issue, 1980
Highways Program, 2004
Jim Kepner's Song & Dance, 1993-1997
Lambda Legal Impact Newsletter, 2007-2009
LifeLines, Project Angel Food Newsletter, 2005-2009
ONE Institute/International Gay and Lesbian Archives Bulletin, 1998
Outfest Programs, 2000-2009
Parsonage News, The, 1986
Pride Magazine, 2005
Rainbow Report, The, 1983-1987
Refining the Future of Destiny Catalog, 2007-2008
Star News, 1977
Ten Percent, UCLA's Gay Newsmagazine, 1980
UPDATE, Southern California's Gay Newspaper, 1984
"Looking for Langston" (1989) VHS has been seperated to the ONE Archives video collection.
"Elizabethan Songs & Negro Spirituals" by Bayard Rustin (circa 1952) LP has been separated to the ONE Archives record collection.
A 1993 March on Washington button has been seperated to the ONE Archives button collection.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Booksellers and bookselling
Clippings
Gay and lesbian writers
Gay prisoners
Gays in literature
Prisoners -- Correspondence
Manners, Robert J.
Books Bohemian
Correspondence
Scope and Contents
This series comprises Manners' correspondence, particularly with gay prison inmates and gay and lesbian writers. During his
tenure as a book distributor, Manners corresponded with a number of incarcerated gay men in United States prisons who wrote
him requesting gay literature. Manners provided books free of charge to gay inmates, many of whom kept in contact for several
years through letters. In addition to letters, several of the inmates shared their artwork, poetry, photographs and creative
writing, which is also included in this series. Along with his correspondence with inmates, Manners corresponded with a number
of gay and lesbian writers and collected their bibliographies, book reviews, and biographies.
Arrangement
Correspondence with prison inmates are at the beginning of this series. The remaining folders are arranged alphabetically
with miscellaneous folders at the end.
Box 1, Folder 1
Book dispute (Gatesville, Texas)
2004
Box 1, Folder 2
"Cobra," gay inmate at Miami Correctional Facility
2003-2004
Box 1, Folder 3
Jeffery C., gay inmate at Oshkosh Correctional Facility
2004-2005
Box 1, Folder 4
T. Eastin, gay inmate at Putnamville Correctional Facility
1996-1999
Box 1, Folder 5
James H., gay inmate at Oshkosh Correctional Facility
2004
Box 1, Folder 6
Daniel H., gay inmate
2004-2006
Box 1, Folder 7
David M., gay inmate at Pelican Bay State Prison
1994
Box 1, Folder 8
Ron M., gay inmate at Oregon State Prison
1998-2000
Box 1, Folder 9
Bill N.; "Biographical Journey (in his own words)"
1977-2004
Box 1, Folder 10
Savann N., gay inmate at Southport Correctional Facility
2004-2005
Box 1, Folder 11
David P., transgender inmate
2004-2005
Box 1, Folder 12
Eric P., gay inmate at East Oregon Correctional Facility
1996-1998
Box 1, Folder 15
Scott R.; artwork and writing
c. 2003-2008
Box 1, Folder 13-14
Scott R., gay inmate at New Jersey State Prison
2003-2008
Box 1, Folder 16
Scott R., gay inmate at Utah State Prison
2000
Box 1, Folder 17
Jose S., gay inmate at Southport Correctional Facility
2003-2005
Box 1, Folder 18
Thad S., gay inmate at Pennsylvania State Prison
1998-2004
Box 1, Folder 19
Kurt W., gay inmate at Pleasant Valley State Prison
2004-2005
Box 1, Folder 20
Alquin Images (Amsterdam)
1986-2000
Box 1, Folder 24
Wade L. Beasley
1992-2004
Box 1, Folder 25
Marion Zimmer Bradley
1983-1990
Box 3, Folder 10
A Different Light Bookstore correspondence and clippings
1982-2000
Box 1, Folder 28
Michael Foubert
1993-2008
Box 1, Folder 29-30
GLBT booksellers and publishers
1979-2000
Box 1, Folder 32
Barbara Gittings
1978-2007
Box 1, Folder 34
James Graham, Attorney at Law
1987-2007
Box 2, Folder 18
Independent Woman Books, Christine Pattee correspondence
1980-1983
Box 1, Folder 38
Mstislav Knyazev
1994-2003
Box 1, Folder 39
William A. Koelsch
1993-2001
Box 1, Folder 42
Jesse Monteagudo (Lambda passages)
1985-2003
Box 1, Folder 43
Edward Paolella
1982-1989
Box 1, Folder 49
Books Bohemian, miscellaneous
1978-2005
Box 1, Folder 50
Miscellaneous
circa 1978-2006
Administrative records and subject files Series 2
Scope and Contents
This series comprises newspaper clippings, catalogs, bibliographies, administrative records, and other materials created and
collected by Robert Manners for his company Books Bohemian and his personal interests. Manners' collection of newspaper clippings
pertain to a variety of LGBTQ rights issues, AIDS, and LGBTQ arts. This series also includes catalogs from gay and lesbian
booksellers and publicity material from LGBTQ advocacy groups. Note that correspondence pertaining to the operation of Books
Bohemian may also be found in Series 1: Correspondence.
Arrangement
Administrative records and catalogs from Books Bohemian are at the beginning. The remaining folders are arranged alphabetically.
Box 2, Folder 1
Books Bohemian, administrative records
1977-2005
Box 5, Folder 1-4
Books Bohemian catalogs
1976-2004
Box 2, Folder 2
American Civil Liberties Union
2000-2002
Box 3, Folder 7
W.H. Auden clippings
1975-2007
Box 2, Folder 4
Albert Beach, artist's publicity
circa 1991-1993
Box 3, Folder 8
Betty Berzon, Ph.D., clippings
2001-2007
Box 2, Folder 5
Bibliographies, lesbian
1994-1999
Box 2, Folder 7
Boy Scouts of America and gay rights clippings
1991-2006
Box 2, Folder 8
Edward Carpenter clippings
circa 1844-1929
Box 3, Folder 9
Celebration Theater clippings
1999-2006
Box 2, Folder 9
Tee A. Corinne press release and book list
1993-1994
Box 2, Folder 10
Gay Academic Union
1978-1983
Box 2, Folder 11
Gay Academic Union 5 (conference), "Who We Are"
1978
Box 2, Folder 12
Gay Academic Union 6 (conference), "The Challenge of the 80's: Our Changing Gay and Lesbian Culture"
1979
Box 2, Folder 13
Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services (GLASS)
1996-2008
Box 2, Folder 14
GLBT arts clippings
1956-2006
Box 3, Folder 11-13
GLBT books and authors clippings
1968-2009
Box 3, Folder 14-15
GLBT general clippings
1975-1977
Box 3, Folder 19
GLBT outside the United States clippings
1990-2001
Box 3, Folder 16-18
GLBT people clippings
1953-2010
Box 3, Folder 20-21
GLBT religion and politics clippings
1977-2008
Box 2, Folder 15
Giovanni's Room, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1978
Box 2, Folder 16
Haldeman-Julius Publications
circa 1985
Box 2, Folder 19-22
Institute for the Study of Human Resources
1994-2008
Box 2, Folder 23
June L. Mazer Lesbian Collection
1992-2009
Box 2, Folder 26
The Leslie-Lohman Gallery updates and invoices
1977-1979
Box 2, Folder 27
"Male Homosexuality in English Literature from 1850 to 1900"
1970
Box 2, Folder 28
March on Washington (binder)
1993
Box 4, Folder 2
March on Washington clippings
1993
Box 2, Folder 30
Michael Grey Michaud cards, art, poems, and essays
1990-2014
Box 2, Folder 29
Mirror News clippings
1955-1957
Box 4, Folder 3-16
Motion pictures (A-Z) clippings
1994-2008
Box 4, Folder 17-21
Motion picture and theater clippings
1956-2010
Box 2, Folder 31
The Naiad Press
1990-1993
Box 4, Folder 22
Outfest clippings
1992-2009
Box 2, Folder 34
Jerry Packard, bookseller
1977-1978
Box 2, Folder 35
Reynolds Price clippings and writings
1993-2009
Box 2, Folder 37
Project Angel Food annual reports
2005-2009
Box 2, Folder 38
Reader's catalogs
circa 1988-1993
Box 2, Folder 39
Mary Renault, "The Friendly Young Ladies"
1984
Box 2, Folder 40
Adrienne Rich clippings
1997
Box 2, Folder 42
Doug Sadownick clippings
1989-2007
Box 2, Folder 43
May Sarton clippings
circa 1988-1989
Box 2, Folder 44
Society for Senior Gay and Lesbian Citizens
1982-1987
Box 2, Folder 45
Straight book review
2004
Box 4, Folder 23
Rufus Wainwright clippings
2007-2009
Box 4, Folder 24
Miscellaneous clippings
circa 1950-2006
Box 2, Folder 49
Miscellaneous flyers, pamphlets, and brochures
1970-2006