Finding aid of the Allen Young Papers

Loni Shibuyama
ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90007
Phone: (213) 741-0094
Fax: (213) 741-0220
Email: askone@onearchives.org
URL: http://www.onearchives.org
© 2008
ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives. All rights reserved.

Finding aid of the Allen Young Papers

Collection number: Coll2008-004

ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives

Los Angeles, California
Processed by:
Loni Shibuyama
Date Completed:
March 13, 2008
Encoded by:
Loni Shibuyama
© 2008 ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives. All rights reserved.
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.


Descriptive Summary

Title: Allen Young papers
Dates: 1975 - 1987
Bulk Dates: 1977 - 1979
Collection number: Coll2008-004
Creator: Young, Allen, 1941-
Collection Size: 3 archive boxes + 3 archive cartons + 2 oversize flat boxes (6.2 linear feet).
Repository: ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.
Los Angeles, California 90007
Abstract: Manuscripts, survey responses, correspondence, galley proofs, notes, and miscellaneous typescripts created and collected by writer, journalist and activist Allen Young. The bulk of the collection consists of materials relating to the gay male portion of The Gay Report: Lesbians and Gay Men Speak Out About Sexual Experiences & Lifestyles (1979), the first comprehensive survey of the homosexual community, which Young co-authored with writer Karla Jay. The collection also includes materials relating to the article, "The Gay Report on Sexually Transmitted Diseases," published in the American Journal of Public Health (1981), on which Young collaborated with Karla Jay, Don Barrett and William W. Darrow.
Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Access

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

Publication Rights

Researchers wishing to publish materials must obtain permission in writing from ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives as the physical owner. Researchers must also obtain clearance from the holder(s) of any copyrights in the materials. Note that ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives can grant copyright clearance only for those materials for which we hold the copyright. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain copyright clearance for all other materials directly from the copyright holder(s).

Preferred Citation

Allen Young Papers, Coll2008-004, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California.

Acquisition Information

Donor and date of gift unknown.

Processing Information

Formerly housed in boxes 103-105; 103-112; 103-113; 104-009 and 104-2. Collection processed by Loni Shibuyama, March 13, 2008.
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Biography

Allen Young was born in Liberty, New York in 1941, and spent his childhood on a poultry farm in the Catskill Mountains. An openly gay writer, journalist and activist, he earned an MA from Columbia School of Journalism and a second MA from Stanford University's Institute of Latin American Studies. He was the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship and a grant from the Inter-American Press Association, which allowed him to live and research in Brazil and Chile. Young has written on gay liberation, politics and Latin America for numerous publications, including The Advocate, Gay Sunshine, The Body Politic, Fag Rag, Christian Science Monitor, The New York Times and the New Left Review (London). He has also been a staff writer for The Washington Post and the Liberation News Service, and was once characterized by the CIA as an "infamous homosexual writer."
In 1970, Young met lesbian writer, Karla Jay, with whom he shared similar interests in the gay liberation movement. The two began a professional partnership and went on to collaborate on several projects. Together they edited a few seminal books, including Out of the Closest: Voices from Gay Liberation (1972), After You're Out: Personal Experiences of Gay Men and Lesbian Women (1975), and Lavender Culture (1978). In 1977, Young and Jay began researching and writing The Gay Report: Lesbians and Gay Men Speak Out About Sexual Experiences & Lifestyles (1979), which is described as "the first comprehensive survey of the homosexual community."
In 1973, Young moved to Royalston, in rural Massachusetts, where he has lived as a writer and antiwar and community activist. In 1983, he founded Millers River Publishing Company, which focused on publishing books of regional interests. After retiring, Young continued to be an active community advocate for protecting the farms and forests of his rural Massachusetts home. In 2004, he received the Writing and Society Award from the University of Massachusetts English Department, honoring a distinguished career of commitment to the work of writing in the world. In addition to his collaboration with Karla Jay, Young is the author of twelve other books, including Gays Under the Cuban Revolution (1981) and North of Quabbin Revisited: A Guide to Nine Massachusetts Towns (2002).
As of March 2008, Allen Young continues to live in Massachusetts.
Sources: Allen Young Papers, Coll2008-004, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California
Jay, Karla and Allen Young. The Gay Report: Lesbians and Gay Men Speak Out About Sexual Experiences & Lifestyles . New York: Summit Books, 1979.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of manuscripts, survey responses, correspondence, galley proofs, notes and miscellaneous typescripts created or collected by writer, journalist and activist, Allen Young. The collection is divided into two series: (1) The Gay Report and (2) Other Publications and Miscellaneous Material. The first series, which forms the bulk of the collection, relates to the research and publication of The Gay Report: Lesbians and Gay Men Speak Out About Sexual Experiences & Lifestyles , the first comprehensive survey of the homosexual community, based on a 1977 survey of over 5,000 gay men and lesbian women, which Young co-authored with writer Karla Jay and published in 1979. The materials relate primarily to the gay male portion of the study (the lesbian materials are in Box 22, Karla Jay Papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, New York Public Library). The second series consists of material not directly related to The Gay Report. It includes manuscripts and correspondence relating to the article, "The Gay Report on Sexually Transmitted Diseases," on which Young collaborated with Karla Jay, Don Barrett and William W. Darrow, which was published in the American Journal of Public Health in 1981, as well as The Millers River Reader, a book Young edited and published through his Millers River Publishing Company in 1987.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Gay men--Health & social issues--United States
Gay men--Sexual behavior
Homosexuality--Research--United States
Jay, Karla, 1947-
Sex surveys--United States
Sexual behavior surveys--United States
Young, Allen, 1941-

Related Material

Allen Young Papers, Wisconsin Historical Society Archives, http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00520  (last accessed, December 1, 2009).
Karla Jay Papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, New York Public Library, http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/spe/rbk/faids/jay.html  (last accessed, March 13, 2008).

Box: 1 : 1 - 22 ; 2 : 1 - 22 ; 3 : 1 - 62 ; 4 : 1 - 7 ; 5 : 1 - 6 ; 6 : 1 - 9 ; 7 : 1 - 20 ; 8 : 1 - 20

Series 1.  The Gay Report 1976 - 1984

Physical Description: 6 linear feet.

Series Scope and Content

This series contains material related to the research and publication of The Gay Report: Lesbians and Gay Men Speak Out About Sexual Experiences & Lifestyles . It is divided into three subseries: (1) The Gay Report [book], (2) Sexuality Survey and (3) Correspondence.
Box: 1 : 1 - 8 ; 5 : 1 - 3 ; 6 : 1 - 9 ; 7 : 1 - 20 ; 8 : 1 - 20

Subseries 1.1.  The Gay Report 1976 - 1979

Physical Description: 2.9 linear feet

Subseries Scope and Content

This subseries includes manuscripts, galley proofs, publicity materials, and notes directly related to the publication of The Gay Report. The bulk of the materials consists of the chapters written by Young himself. Most of the notes are those of Don Barrett, a social-science computer specialist who tallied the questionnaire results in 1978.
Box 1 : 1

"Sex Book" Prospectus circa 1976 - 1977

Box 1 : 2 - 7

Manuscripts circa 1978

Box 1 : 2

Chapter One Draft circa 1978

Box 1 : 3

[Chapter 7] "The Social Lives of Gay Men" circa 1978

Box 1 : 4

[Chapter 15] "Gay Male Fantasies and Masturbation" circa 1978

Box 1 : 5

[Chapter 17] "Gay Male Hang-ups and Anxieties" circa 1978

Box 1 : 6

Miscellaneous Draft Pages circa 1978

Box 1 : 7

Appendix circa 1978

Box 5 : 1 (oversize)

Don Barrett's Coding Instructions 1977

Box 5 : 2 (oversize)

Don Barrett's Notes 1978

Box 6 : 1 - 9 ; 7 : 1 - 20 ; 8 : 1 - 20 (oversize)

Galley Proofs 1978

Box 1 : 8

Advance Uncorrected Proof 1979

Box 5 : 3 (oversize)

Publicity 1977 - 1979

Box: 1 : 9 - 22 ; 2 : 1 - 22 ; 3 : 1 - 62 ; 4 : 1 ; 5 : 4 - 6

Subseries 1.2.  Sexuality Survey 1977

Physical Description: 2.9 linear feet

Subseries Scope and Content

This subseries comprises the gay male and lesbian sexuality surveys and the responses collected from over 4,000 gay men and 1 lesbian woman (the majority of the lesbian portion of the study is not included in this collection). The 1977 questionnaire, which provided the data for The Gay Report, is divided into two parts: "Part One" is the short answer section of the survey, and "Part Two" is the long answer, or essay, section. The "Part Two" responses are arranged by Respondent number (#E5000 – 9961) or by survey question numbers (Question #1 – 26).
Box 1 : 9

Gay Male Questionnaire 1977

Box 1 : 10

Lesbian Questionnaire 1977

Box 5 : 4 - 6 (oversize)

Gay Male Survey Part One Responses 1977

 

Gay Male Survey Part Two

Box 1 : 11 - 22 ; 2 : 1 - 20

Respondents 1977

Box 1 : 11

#E5000 - 5099 1977

Box 1 : 12

#E5100 - 5199 1977

Box 1 : 13

#E5200 - 5299 1977

Box 1 : 14

#E5300 - 5399 1977

Box 1 : 15

#E5400 - 5499 1977

Box 1 : 16

#E5500 - 5550 1977

Box 1 : 17

#E5551 - 5599 1977

Box 1 : 18

#E5600 - 5650 1977

Box 1 : 19

#E5651 - 5699 1977

Box 1 : 20

#E5700 - 5799 1977

Box 1 : 21

#E5800 - 5850 1977

Box 1 : 22

#E5851 - 5899 1977

Box 2 : 1

#E5900 - 5950 1977

Box 2 : 2

#E5951 - 5999 1977

Box 2 : 3

#E6000 - 6099 1977

Box 2 : 4

#E6100 - 6199 1977

Box 2 : 5

#E6200 - 6250 1977

Box 2 : 6

#E6251 - 6299 1977

Box 2 : 7

#E6300 - 6350 1977

Box 2 : 8

#E6351 - 6399 1977

Box 2 : 9

#E6400 - 6450 1977

Box 2 : 10

#E6451 - 6499 1977

Box 2 : 11

#E6500 - 6599 1977

Box 2 : 12

#E6600 - 6650 1977

Box 2 : 13

#E6651 - 6699 1977

Box 2 : 14

#E6700 - 6760 1977

Box 2 : 15

#E6761 - 6799 1977

Box 2 : 16

#E6800 - 6850 1977

Box 2 : 17

#E6851 - 6899 1977

Box 2 : 18

#E6900 - 6921 1977

Box 2 : 19

#E7600 - 9961 1977

Box 2 : 20

Not Numbered 1977

Box 2 : 21 - 22 ; 3 : 1 - 62

Survey Questions 1977

Box 2 : 21

#1 and #10 - Miscellaneous 1977

Box 2 : 22

#2 - General comments on sex acts 1977

Box 3 : 1

#2 (a, b) - Anal 1977

Box 3 : 2

#2 (a, b) - Anal intercourse 1977

Box 3 : 3

#2 (a, b) - Anilingus (Rimming) 1977

Box 3 : 4

#2 (a, b) - Fellatio 1977

Box 3 : 5

#2 (a, b) - Fingerfucking 1977

Box 3 : 6

#2 (a, b) - Kissing 1977

Box 3 : 7

#2 (a, b) - Manual stimulation 1977

Box 3 : 8

#2 (a, b) - Rubbing 1977

Box 3 : 9

#3 - Male genitals 1977

Box 3 : 10

#4 (19a) - Sado-masochism 1977

Box 3 : 11

#4 (19b) - Bondage and discipline 1977

Box 3 : 12

#4 (19c) - Humiliation 1977

Box 3 : 13

#4 (19d) - Talking dirty 1977

Box 3 : 14

#4 (19e) - Jocks, underwear 1977

Box 3 : 15

#4 (19f) - Boots, leather 1977

Box 3 : 16

#4 (19m, n) - Threesomes, orgies 1977

Box 3 : 17

#4 (19p) - Masturbation during phone call 1977

Box 3 : 18

#6 - Hang-ups 1977

Box 3 : 19

#7 - Importance of sex 1977

Box 3 : 20

#8 - Love and emotion 1977

Box 3 : 21

#9 - Funny and scary 1977

Box 3 : 22

#9 - Rape 1977

Box 3 : 23

#11 - Gay men socialism 1977

Box 3 : 24

#13 (a, b, c) - Lover, relationship 1977

Box 3 : 25

#13 (d, e) - Single life 1977

Box 3 : 26

#14 - Role play 1977

Box 3 : 27

#15 - Type, characteristics for lover 1977

Box 3 : 28 - 29

#16 - Meeting men 1977

Box 3 : 30

#17 - Self image 1977

Box 3 : 31 - 32

#19 - Coming out 1977

Box 3 : 33 - 34

#20 - Telling others, secrecy 1977

Box 3 : 35

#21 - Telling about being gay 1977

Box 3 : 36

#22 - Oppression 1977

Box 3 : 37

#23 - Politics 1977

Box 3 : 38

#24 - Feminism 1977

Box 3 : 39

#25 (a) - Celibacy, asexuality 1977

Box 3 : 40

#25 (b) - Sex with women 1977

Box 3 : 41

#25 (c) - Bisexuality 1977

Box 3 : 42

#25 (d) - Marriage 1977

Box 3 : 43

#25 (d) - Gay marriage 1977

Box 3 : 44

#25 (e) - Children 1977

Box 3 : 45

#25 (f) - Drugs 1977

Box 3 : 46

#25 (g) - Transvestism 1977

Box 3 : 47

#25 (h) - Transsexualism 1977

Box 3 : 48

#25 (i) - Therapy 1977

Box 3 : 49

#25 (j) - Suicide 1977

Box 3 : 50

#25 (k) - Race, class, age difference 1977

Box 3 : 51

#25 (l) - Aging 1977

Box 3 : 52

#25 (n) - Pornography 1977

Box 3 : 53

#25 (o) - Sexual jealousy 1977

Box 3 : 54

#25 (p) - Monogamy 1977

Box 3 : 55

#25 (q) - Quarrels 1977

Box 3 : 56

#25 (r) - Violence 1977

Box 3 : 57

#25 (s) - Prison 1977

Box 3 : 58

#25 (t) - Religion 1977

Box 3 : 59

#25 (u) - Incest 1977

Box 3 : 60

#25 (v) - Residence 1977

Box 3 : 61

#26 - Overall opinion of survey 1977

Box 3 : 62

Miscellaneous Responses (found loose) 1977

Box 4 : 1

Lesbian Survey Response 1977

Box: 4 : 2 - 7

Subseries 1.3.  Correspondence 1977 - 1984

Physical Description: 0.2 linear feet.

Subseries Scope and Content

This subseries comprises correspondence, in particular, with Karla Jay and Summit Books (Simon & Schuster), as well as correspondence related to the 1977 distribution of the sexuality survey and general comments or inquiries regarding Young and Jay’s research for The Gay Report.
Box 4 : 2 - 4

General 1977 - 1979

Box 4 : 5

Jay, Karla 1977 - 1984

Box 4 : 6

Summit Books (Simon & Schuster) 1977 - 1979

Box 4 : 7

Survey Distribution 1977

Box: 4 : 8 - 12 ; 5 : 7

Series 2.  Other Publications and Miscellaneous Material 1975 - 1987

Physical Description: 0.2 linear feet.

Series Scope and Content

This series includes material not directly related to The Gay Report. The bulk of the series consists of correspondence and manuscripts relating to "The Gay Report on Sexually Transmitted Diseases," a 1981 article for the American Journal of Public Health, written by Young in collaboration with Karla Jay, Don Barrett and William W. Darrow.
Box 4 : 8

Affidavit of Karla Jay in Gay Student Services vs. Texas A&M University 1983

Box 4 : 9 - 10

"The Gay Report on Sexually Transmitted Diseases" 1979 - 1983

Box 4 : 9

Manuscripts 1979 - 1983

Box 4 : 10

Correspondence 1979 - 1983

Box 4 : 11

"Homosexuality Goes to School" National Public Radio transcript April 1976

Box 4 : 12

The Millers River Reader. Ed. Allen Young. Massachusetts: Millers River Publishing Company, 1987.

Box 5 : 7 (oversize)

Miscellaneous Material 1975 - 1977