Jeannie O'Connor AIDS Self-Portraits Collection, 1989, 1992-1995

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Summary

Creators:
O'Connor, Jeannie
Abstract:
The collection consists of negatives, contact sheets, proof prints, Polaroid prints, and oversized prints of self-portraits made at several San Francisco Bay Area AIDS and HIV-positive care facilities. The subjects included people with AIDS and HIV, as well as staff members, volunteers, and their families.
Extent:
1 box (3 binders of 462 negatives and contact sheets; 8 silver gelatin proof prints (8 x 10-inches); 5 archival pigment proof prints (8 x 10-inches); 8 Polaroid (4 x 5-inches) Type 55 positives) + 2 black and white proof prints (16 x 20-inches) (in 1 oversized folder).
Language:
Collection materials are in English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Jeannie O'Connor AIDS Self-Portraits Collection (GLC 196), LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Background

Scope and content:

In 1989 and from 1992-1995, O'Connor received California Arts Council grants to bring art to several AIDS and HIV-positive care facilities. She developed a process whereby her subjects could control the shutter release and were therefore in control of the portrait taken. The photographs include people with AIDS and HIV, their families, and the staff members and volunteers at the various centers. The locations include: Hospitality House (San Francisco), Rest Stop (San Francisco), The Center for AIDS Services (Oakland), Unity Church (Richmond), and Shanti House (San Francisco). There are about a dozen photos taken at Jeannie O'Connor's studio at Nexus Art Collective in Berkeley.

O'Connor notes that "the very first rolls were taken with a medium format camera in 1989 at Hospitality House SF. These led me to think about how I might approach the portrait in a different way, so that each sitter had more control over the process. The 4x5 camera and the Polaroid film allowed for the picture to be seen instantaneously, and encouraged everyone to participate. The long shutter release really leveled the playing field by allowing each person to control the timing of the shutter release."

Biographical / historical:

Jeannie O'Connor is an Oakland-based artist and photographer. She received a B.A. in Art (1967) and an M.A. in Painting (1969) from the University of California, Berkeley.

Acquisition information:
Purchased by the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, October 2018.
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into 2 series: Series 1. Prints (arranged by format); and, Series 2. Negatives and Contact Sheets (arranged chronologically, and then by location).

Physical location:
Collection is stored onsite.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is available for use during San Francisco Historical Photographs hours (Tuesdays 1-5 pm, Thursday 1-5 pm, Saturdays 10-12, 1-5).

Terms of access:

Copyright retained by Jeannie O'Connor. Outside of fair use, all permissions are to be handled by O'Connor.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Jeannie O'Connor AIDS Self-Portraits Collection (GLC 196), LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
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