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Finding aid to the Jim Yousling photographs and papers, 1947-1995
Coll2012.128
Coll2012.128
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Table of contents
Title: Jim Yousling photographs and papers
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2012.128
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
8.9 linear feet.
1 archive box + 1 archive carton + 4 archive binders + 2 flat boxes
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1963-1991
Date (inclusive): 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.
creator:
Yousling, Jim, (James Milo Yousling), 1947-1995
Periodicals:
Bimbox, issue 2 (Summer 1990).
Gay Boy, volume 1, number 2.
Hollywood Star, volume 1, number 11.
In Touch, numbers 69, 94, 102.
Sin Bros., issues 4 and 5 (Spring 1990, Winter 1991).
Su Madre, 1991.
Ten Percent (May 1982, February 1983, Summer 1983).
Books:
Trinidad, David.
Pavane. Chatsworth, CA: Sherwood Press, 1981.
Yousling, Kim.
Star Image: An Analysis. Lansing, MI: Michigan State University, 1968.
Collection processed by Robert Graves and Kyle Morgan, 2012.
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
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.
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.
This collection is arranged in the following series:
Date of acquisition unknown.
Stuart Timmons papers and collections, Acc2011-048, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives.
[Box/folder #, or item name] Jim Yousling Photographs and Papers, Coll2012-128, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries,
University of Southern California
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Gay press publications
Photographs
Popular culture
Zine