Jim Yousling photographs and papers, 1947-1995, bulk Bulk, 1963-1991

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Summary

Creators:
Yousling, Jim, (James Milo Yousling), 1947-1995
Abstract:
This collection consists of artwork, photographs, manuscripts, correspondence, notes, press material, clippings, magazine layouts, private journals, and publications collected and/or created by Jim Yousling, 1947-1995, bulk 1963-1991. Materials include photographs, manuscripts, and press materials gathered and/or created during his editorship of In Touch magazine; personal papers, artwork, and photographs; and photographs produced out of Yousling's Phantom Studios.
Extent:
8.9 linear feet. 1 archive box + 1 archive carton + 4 archive binders + 2 flat boxes
Language:
Preferred citation:

[Box/folder #, or item name] Jim Yousling Photographs and Papers, Coll2012-128, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of artwork, photographs, manuscripts, correspondence, notes, press material, clippings, magazine layouts, private journals, and publications collected and/or created by Jim Yousling, 1947-1995, bulk 1963-1991. The collection includes photographs, manuscripts, press materials, and other subject file records on the musicians, entertainers, models, and publishers covered during his editorship of In Touch magazine from 1981-1985. The collection also consists of personal and professional artwork including Yousling's Hell Kitty comic, personal papers and photographs, and photographs and negatives produced out of Yousling's Phantom Studios.

Biographical / historical:

James Milo Yousling, better known as Jim, was born January 28, 1947, in Washington, Iowa, son of John Leland Yousling and Leona Pauline Huston. He grew up in Elkhart, Indiana, and Sycamore, Illinois. He earned a bachelor’s degree in graphic design/communications from Michigan State University in 1969 and received a master’s degree in film studies from the University of Southern California in 1971. He spent the bulk of his professional career employed in graphic and art design for publishing and entertainment companies.

Yousling is perhaps best known for his position as editor-in-chief of the gay men’s magazine In Touch from 1981-1985. Under his editorship, the magazine turned from its previous incarnation of news features amidst nude pictorials, to a more colorful and vibrant format that spotlighted pop culture figures. The magazine focused on the growing Los Angeles and New York punk rock and underground scenes while maintaining the nude male pictorials that attracted many buyers to the magazine.

Yousling served as an art director for Larry Flynt Publications and the Apparel News Group. As a freelance graphic designer and artist, Yousling also created the Hello Kitty spoof comic strip, Hell Kitty; designed advertisements for Los Angeles-based nightclubs and performers; and designed record-cover artwork for musical acts such as Concrete Blonde, Apache Dancers and The Slaves. In the mid-1980s, he also founded Phantom Studios, a producer of nude male photographs that were sold and printed in various magazines.

Jim passed away from AIDS-related complications on January 1, 1995.

Acquisition information:
Date of acquisition unknown.
Processing information:

Collection processed by Robert Graves and Kyle Morgan, 2012.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in the following series:

Series 1. Papers and works of art, 1947-1995

Series 2. Photographs, 1978-1989, undated

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections 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.

Preferred citation:

[Box/folder #, or item name] Jim Yousling Photographs and Papers, Coll2012-128, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Location of this collection:
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90007, US
Contact:
(213) 821-2771
askone@usc.edu
Website