Finding Aid to the Robert Clark Photographs and Papers, circa 1850-1937, 1989-2001
Coll2012-139
Kyle Morgan, 2014; Claire Forsyth, 2016.
Initial processing of this collection was funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records
Commission.
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
© 2014; 2016
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90007
askone@usc.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Title: Robert Clark photographs and papers
creator:
Clark, Robert
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2012-139
Physical Description:
4.6 Linear Feet
4 boxes
Date (inclusive): circa 1850-2003
Abstract: Photographs, papers, and organizational records of Robert Clark primarily documenting his life and travels, 1992-2003, as
well as AIDS organizations in the Illinois and Missouri area, 1991-2001. Robert Clark, a gay rights activist from the St.
Louis area, lived with his partner Tom Gibbons for over 50 years.
Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Acquisition Information
Photograph albums, VHS, and portraits donated by Alice Clifner, December 17, 2011. Other materials donated by Robert J. Clark
at an unknown time.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Kyle Morgan, 2014. Accrual processed by Claire Forsyth, 2016.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder #, or item name] Robert Clark Photographs and Papers, Coll2012-139, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, USC
Libraries, University of Southern California
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.
Biographical / Historical
Robert Clark is a gay rights activist from the St. Louis area. He lived in Los Angeles with his partner, Tom Gibbons. Gibbons
and Clark were together for more than 50 years and their domestic partnership was recognized by a certificate from the State
of California in July 2003. They also received a certificate of commendation from the Mayor of West Hollywood, who declared
July 9, 2000, to be Tom Gibbons and Bob Clark Day in the City of West Hollywood in honour of their 50th anniversary.
Scope and Contents
Photographs, papers, and organizational records of Robert Clark primarily documenting his life and travels, 1992-2003, as
well as AIDS organizations in the Illinois and Missouri area, 1991-2001. The collection includes photographs of St. Louis
area and national LGBT-related events, photographs of presumed gay or bisexual men from the turn of the 19th century, photograph
albums and VHS of Robert Clark and Tom Gibbons' lives and travels together, and home movies from the 1950s. The collection
also includes meeting minutes, reports, directories, correspondence, pamphlets, project proposals, program descriptions, financial
records, and fliers of AIDS services organizations based in Illinois, Missouri, and Ohio, 1989-2001.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in four series:
Series 1. Photographs, circa 1850-1937, 1991-2001
Series 2. Photograph albums of Tom Gibbons and Robert Clark, 1999-2003
Series 3. AIDS-related records, 1989-1999
Series 4. VHS and drawings, circa 1950-2000
Subjects and Indexing Terms
AIDS (disease) -- Patients, services for -- Illinois
AIDS (Disease) -- Patients, Services for -- Missouri -- St. Louis
Events -- United States
Gay community -- Illinois
Gay community -- Missouri -- St. Louis
Photographs
Photograph albums
Clark, Robert
Photographs
circa 1850-1937, 1991-2001
Scope and Contents
The series primarily comprises color photographic prints taken by Robert Clark of LGBT-related events, especially in Illinois,
Missouri, and Ohio, 1991-2001. The series includes two sets of black-and-white images of presumed gay and bisexual men, circa
1850-1937, and a Robert Clark portrait.
Arrangement
The series is arranged in alphabetical order.
Box 2, Folder 25
AIDS agency Christmas potluck
1993
Box 2, Folder 26
AIDS interfaith memorial service, Southern Illinois
1993
Box 2, Folder 27
Drag queen Halloween benefit for People with AIDS (PWA), Illinois
1995
Box 2, Folder 28
Drag show benefit for Southern Illinois AIDS patients
1991
Box 2, Folder 29
Fight the Right Conference, Cincinnati
1993
Box 2, Folder 30
Gay People with AIDS (PWA)/HIV+ support group's Christmas party, Illinois
1992
Box 2, Folder 31
Gays & Lesbian Association of SIUE Students
1993
Box 2, Folder 33
March on Washington, GLBTQ veterans
2000
Box 2, Folder 34
Names Quilt, St. Louis
1991
Box 2, Folder 35
People with AIDS (PWA) gay couple, Southern Illinois
1994
Box 2, Folder 36-37
Presumed gay and bisexual men
circa 1850-1937
Box 2, Folder 38
Queer Halloween party, Illinois
1991
Box 5, Folder 2
Robert Clark portrait
undated
Box 2, Folder 39-43
St. Louis pride parade
1996-2001
Box 2, Folder 45
Stonewall 25th Anniversary March on the United Nations
1994
Robert Clark and Tom Gibbons photograph albums
1990-2003
Scope and Contents
This series contains the photograph albums of Robert Clark and Tom Gibbons, 1992-2003, including photographs and ephemera
documenting their lives and travels. This series also includes a certificate of their domestic partnership and a certificate
of commendation on their 50th anniversary from the Mayor of West Hollywood.
Arrangement
This series is arranged in chronological order.
Box 1, Folder 10-13
Chicago
October - November 1996
Box 1, Folder 14
Assorted photographs
1996
Scope and Contents
This file includes a volunteer appreciation document from the California Medical Center, a playbill for the play "Making Porn,"
postcards and papers from travel to Nevada, a wedding invitation, a graduation photograph of Robert Clark's niece, photographs
of Bill Clinton's visit to Monrovia High School, and pictures of Clark and Gibbons' garden.
Box 1, Folder 15-17
Oahu, Hawaii - Tibey Eisen's 75th birthday
1997
Box 2, Folder 7-10
50th anniversary
June 2000 - July 2003
Scope and Contents
This file includes a certificate of commendationn from the Mayor of West Hollywood and a certificate of domestic partnership.
AIDS-related records
1989-1999
Scope and Contents
Meeting minutes, reports, directories, correspondence, pamphlets, project proposals, program descriptions, financial records,
fliers, and other informational materials collected by Robert Clark about AIDS services organizations and doctors based in
Illinois and Missouri, 1989-1999.
Arrangement
The series is arranged in alphabetical order.
Box 2, Folder 11
All Individuals Deserve Support, Faith Community Supports People with AIDS (PWA)
1997
Box 2, Folder 12
American Red Cross HIV/AIDS Education, African American and Latino
1996
Box 2, Folder 13
Bethany Place, AIDS service organization in Bellville, Illinois
1993-1999
Box 2, Folder 14
Embrace Inc., fundraising activities for AIDS organizations
1995
Box 2, Folder 15
Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA), Illinois
1994-1996
Box 2, Folder 16
Illinois HIV Health Fraud Information Network
1998
Box 2, Folder 17
Illinois Office of Rehabilitation Services Pertaining to AIDS
1989-1999
Box 2, Folder 18
Jewish Task Force for AIDS, St. Louis
1995
Box 2, Folder 19
Jon D. Kaiser (physician specializing in AIDS)
1998
Box 2, Folder 20
Metro St. Louis HIV Health Services Planning Council
1997-1999
Box 2, Folder 21
Positive Voices Committee, greater St. Louis area
1994
Box 2, Folder 22
St. Clair/Madison County HIV Care Consortium, Metro East AIDS Task Force
1996-1999
Box 2, Folder 23
St. Louis AIDS Network
1994-1995
Box 2, Folder 24
St. Louis and Southern Illinois AIDS organizations
1992
VHS and drawings
circa 1950-2000
Scope and Contents
This series contains VHS tapes and portraits, 1950-2000, of Robert Clark and Tom Gibbons. It includes their 50th anniversary
video, footage from travels in Russia, and home movies from the 1950s of social gatherings and travels. This series also
contains a drawing a Tom Gibbons.
Box 4, Item 1
Home movies VHS
circa 1950
Scope and Contents
The tape includes a label marked: Bob Clark; Tom Gibbons; Flo Leon-Leeann; Doris Wolff; Penny; Dorothy; Betty; Sophie; Tony
R.; Doris.
Box 4, Item 3-4
Bob & Tom's 50th anniversary VHS
2000
Box 4, Folder 1
Drawing of Tom Gibbons
1966
