The Claude Schwob papers document the scientist’s professional, personal and erotic life. Schwob (1910-2000) was a research nuclear chemist who worked on the Manhattan Project. After his time in New Mexico, he relocated to San Francisco and worked at the U.S. Naval Radiological Defense Lab. He was one of the nation’s leading experts on radiation. On the personal side, Schwob befriended, took nude photographs of, and mentored many men. About half of the collection consists of prints of these photographs.

Claude Schwob (June 16, 1910-July 24, 2000) was born in New York and grew up in France. He received his B.S. M.S. and doctorate in Chemistry from Fordham University in 1931, and taught at the University’s St. Peter’s College. He enlisted in the U.S. Army during WWII. He volunteered for the Chemical Warfare Service (soon renamed the Chemical Corps) and worked on the Manhattan Project at the University of Chicago and Los Alamos, New Mexico. He taught at Chicago’s Carnegie Institute of Technology until 1947. In 1948, he applied for a position at the U S. Naval Radiological Defense Lab in San Francisco, where he spent the remainder of his professional life. He became one of the nation’s foremost experts on radiation and the focus of his work was safe ways of detecting, preventing, and responding to radiation exposure. According to his obituary in the B.A.R., Schwob loved San Gregorio beach, the Russian River, the pool at the Oasis, beautiful men and photography. He supported programs for homeless gay youth, such as Hospitality House. During much of his adult life, Schwob collected or took photographs of nude men and accumulated a large number of these prints. According to the donor of his papers (who owned a used magazine store), Schwob continued to be sexually active until close to his death at age 90.

1 carton, 7 boxes, 1 rolled item (in oversize box), 1 oversize folder (5 Linear Feet)

Collection is open for research. The erotica in this collection may only be viewed by researchers age eighteen and over and it is made available for educational and research purposes.