Contributing Institution: Special Collections & Archives

Title: Vern L. Bullough Papers

Creator: Bullough, Vern L., 1928-2006

Creator: Bullough, Bonnie, 1927-1996

Identifier/Call Number: SC.VLB

Extent: 179.17 linear feet

Extent: 4.2 Gigabytes

Date (inclusive): 1829-2007

Date (bulk): 1966-2006

Abstract: Dr. Vern Bullough was an historian, sexologist, nursing researcher, author, and teacher, as well as a husband and father. While this collection touches on all of these facets of the man, its focus is primarily on his research and writing in the field of sexology. Particularly well represented are the subjects of human sexuality, homosexuality, transsexuality, women (biology, gender, politics), and prostitution. The collection also documents Bullough's social, civic, and political advocacy including his run for the California State Assembly, work with the ACLU, and within the LGBTQ Community.

Language of Material: French, English, German, Chinese, Swedish

Vern L. Bullough (1928-2006) was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He served briefly in the US Army immediately following World War II before returning to school and marrying his high school sweetheart Bonnie in 1947 (1927-1996). He received his BA in history at the University of Utah (1951) and his MA and PhD at the University of Chicago (1951 and 1954 respectively.) Bonnie, a nurse by profession, completed her bachelor's degree and began teaching classes in public health (with a focus on human sexuality) by 1955. She earned her master's degree in Nursing from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) followed by an MA and Ph.D. in Sociology.

Vern and Bonnie had two sons (David, 1954 and James, 1956), the oldest dying tragically when hit by a car during the Bullough's 1967 Fulbright year in Egypt. They expanded their family further through adoption: an American-born Korean boy named Steven (1958), a mixed-raced African American/Caucasian girl named Susan (1961), and an African American boy named Michael (1966).

Vern was an Associate Professor of History at Youngstown University from 1954-1959 before moving his family to the San Fernando Valley where he taught from 1959-1980. During much of this time, Bonnie held a faculty position in the School of Nursing at UCLA. In 1982, she was offered a deanship at the School of Nursing at State University of New York (SUNY) Buffalo. The couple decided to accept and Vern received a teaching position in the history department at SUNY College Buffalo, where he later served as dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences.

As an historian, Vern authored such titles as Man in Western Civilization and Deterrence in Military History but he also worked extensively with his wife. Many of their co-authored or co-edited works dealt with nursing or human sexuality. Their credits include Cross Dressing, Sex, and Gender; Women and Prostitution: A Social History; and The Emergence of Modern Nursing. This collaboration with Bonnie spurred Vern on to pursue a degree in nursing. He earned that degree from California State University Long Beach in 1981 and later taught human sexuality courses at several universities including SUNY Buffalo, UCLA, and the University of Southern California.

Vern was active both professionally and personally. He was a member of several professional organizations, including the Society for the Scientific Study of Sex, Medieval Academy, American Historical Association, American Nursing Association, Sexuality Education and Information Council of the United States (SECICUS), and the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT). He was also the co-founder the now defunct Center for Sex Research at CSUN with Dr. James Elias. Vern worked as society officers, on several committees, and organized several lectures, workshops, and conferences, and presented several academic papers. Personally, he was active in local politics, running for California State Assembly in 1970, was a founding member of the Fair Housing Council of the San Fernando Valley, and was active in the ACLU in Youngstown, Los Angeles, and Buffalo.

After Bonnie's death in 1996 Vern formed a domestic partnership with former colleague Gwen Brewer, member of the CSUN English Department, in 1998.Vern passed away June 21, 2006.

Dr. Vern Bullough was an historian, sexologist, nurse, researcher, author, teacher, husband, and father. While the collection touches on all these facets of the man, its focus is primarily on his research and writing in the field of sexology. Particularly well represented are the subjects of human sexuality, homosexuality, transsexuality, women (biology, gender, politics), and prostitution. The collection also documents Bullough's social, civic, and political advocacy including his run for the California State Assembly in 1970, work with the ACLU, and within the LGBT Community. The collection has been divided into three major series: Personal Files (1942-2007), Professional Files (1829-2006) which has been further divided into seven subseries, and Advocacy (1928-2006), which has been divided into five subseries.

Series I, Personal Files (1942-2007), includes materials regarding his family and education. The latter consists primarily of class notes and research papers written by Bullough. The materials dating from the late 1970s to the early 1980s are specific to his nursing degree.

Series II, Professional Files, consists of seven subseries which constitute the bulk of the collection. Office files (1951-2006), Subject files (1837-2006), Writing (1956-2006), Related Works (1829-2005), Refereed Manuscripts and Grant Proposals (1967-2006), Professional Organizations and Conferences (1953-2006), and Teaching (1967-2000). Office Files consist of business correspondence including that with publishers not previously filed with associated publication, book announcements and reviews of Bullough's work, grant proposals in which he was named investigator or consultant, and legal materials for cases in which he lent his name to support adjudication or was asked to be a witness. This series also includes materials peripheral to Bullough's teaching pedagogy including correspondence with universities and their governance, and information regarding labor unions and their activities. Materials are arranged alphabetically. Subject Files consists of topical research and subject files. These include varied topics of interest related to the research and writing of the Drs. Bullough. Particularly well represented are cross-dressing, homosexuality, transsexuality, women (biology, gender, politics), and prostitution. These are arranged alphabetically. Writing consists of Monographs, including drafts of several books (co)written and/ or (co)edited by Bullough. Files may also include relevant correspondence, some research material, and requests for revision. Works include encyclopedia, bibliographies, and other editions edited or complied by Bullough. Note that in some cases not all entries were included in the final version of the work. Material is arranged alphabetically, first by title of the work. Book Chapters and other Contributions includes contributions to books other than those (co)written or (co)edited by Bullough. These contributions include full chapters, encyclopedia entries, introductions, and forewords. Also included is relevant correspondence that Dr. Bullough had filed with his drafts and/or completed contributions. Journal and Magazine Articles includes research material, drafts, correspondence, revision requests, published and unpublished articles, and reprints and are arranged alphabetically by title. Speeches and Paper Presentations consists of the text of speeches and paper presentations, and often includes relevant correspondence. Note that in some cases the presentation may not be present. These are arranged alphabetically by title. Book Reviews includes drafts, correspondence, and published reviews written by Bullough. Related Works consists of manuscripts not written by either of the Bulloughs. These materials are relevant to the fields within which the Bulloughs worked; however, it is unclear as to how they found their way into the collection. Refereed Manuscripts and Grant Proposals consists of manuscripts and grant proposals on which Bullough was asked to comment by publisher or funding agency. Materials are arranged alphabetically by title. Professional Organizations and Conferences include Historical Associations, consisting of materials related to his membership and involvement in organizations such as the American Historical Society and the Medieval Institute. Medical and Nursing Associations houses materials related to his involvement with organizations such as the American Nursing Association and the Sexuality Education and Information Council of the United States. Center for Sex Research at CSUN, materials primarily refer to either the 1995 or the 1997 International Congress on Gender, Cross Dressing, and Sex Issues (Van Nuys, California and King of Prussia, Pennsylvania respectively) or the 1997 International Conference on Prostitution (Van Nuys, California) and include paper proposals, registration information, and other planning documents. Bullough was co-chair for the 1995 conference. Materials from each conference have been kept together and are arranged alphabetically within those units. Society for the Scientific Study of Sex, includes materials relevant to Bullough's role within the organization including but not limited to his service as a Society officer, including President and as a member of the Awards and Publications Committees. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject. Teaching consists of course syllabi, tests, reading lists, and lecture notes for classes taught by Bullough. These are arranged alphabetically by course title. Materials also include handouts that may have been used for multiple classes. These are interfiled with the course materials, alphabetically by title. Student work, rosters, and grade books have been removed from the collection.

Series III, Advocacy, consists of five subseries: American Civil Liberties Union (1953-2005), Humanism (1951-2006), LGBTQ Organizations (1951-2005), Political Issues and Campaigns (1952-2006), and Other Advocacy and Civic Organizations (1928-2006). The American Civil Liberties Union materials consists of administrative records such as those from the Board of Directors and various committees as well as working files concerning issues on which the organization took a stance, such as The United States Postal Service investigation techniques, Comstock Laws, and the Pledge of Allegiance. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject. Humanism includes material related to his advocacy with such organizations and the American Humanist Association, The Ethical Cultural Society, and the Universalist Unitarian Church and is arranged alphabetically. LGBTQ Organizations consists of materials from several organizations, the most well represented being the Committee on Gay and Lesbian History. Materials are arranged alphabetically. Political Issues and Campaigns covers political causes Bullough was involved in including, but not limited to political campaigns (his own as well as those he supported or showed an interest in) and Proposition 14 (1964) regarding the Rumsford Fair Housing Act (1963) and are arranged alphabetically by subject. Other Advocacy and Civic Organizations is a small series containing materials from organizations such as the American Red Cross and Planned Parenthood and is arranged alphabetically.

Series I: Personal Files, 1942-2007

Series II: Professional Files, 1829-2006

    Subseries A: Office Files, 1951-2006

    Subseries B: Subject Files, 1837-2006

    Subseries C: Writing, 1956-2006

        Subseries 1: Monographs, 1957-2006

        Subseries 2: Book Chapters and other Contributions, 1970-2005

        Subseries 3: Journal and Magazine Articles, 1956-2006

        Subseries 4: Speeches and Paper Presentations, 1963-2006

        Subseries 5: Book Reviews, 1964-2006

    Subseries D: Related Works, 1829-2005

    Subseries E: Refereed Manuscripts and Grant Proposals, 1967-2006

    Subseries F: Professional Organizations and Conferences, 1953-2006

        Subseries 1: Historical Associations, 1953-2006

        Subseries 2: Medical and Nursing Associations, 1958-2006

        Subseries 3: Center for Sex Research at CSUN, 1975-2003

        Subseries 4: Society for the Scientific Study of Sex, 1967-2006

    Subseries G: Teaching, 1967-2000

Series III. Advocacy, 1928-2006

    Subseries A: American Civil Liberties Union, 1953-2005

    Subseries B: Humanism, 1951-2006

    Subseries C: LGBTQ Rights Organizations, 1928-2006

    Subseries D: Political Issues and Campaigns, 1952-2006

    Subseries E: Other Advocacy and Civic Organizations, 1950-2006

12/09/1993. 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006

April Feldman, 2018

The collection is open for research use.

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

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Vern L. Bullough. 12/09/1993. 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006