Photograph albums of West Street Beach gay volleyball, 1973-1975

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Summary

Creators:

Abstract:

This collection comprises three albums of photographs taken and assembled by Jerry Minnucci and given to Robert Major documenting a group of gay volleyball players between 1973 and 1975 in Laguna Beach, California. The photographs are chiefly of men playing volleyball on West Street Beach and socializing in other locations. None of the men are identified by name.

Extent:

1.6 Linear Feet (3 boxes)

Language:

English .

Preferred citation:

Photograph albums of West Street Beach gay volleyball. MS-R110. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection comprises three photograph albums assembled by Jerry Minnucci and given to Robert Major. The albums document a group of gay volleyball players between 1973 and 1975 in Laguna Beach, California. The photographs are chiefly of men playing volleyball on West Street Beach and socializing in other locations. None of the men are identified by name. The original photographs were cut into small squares and pasted to the photograph albums by Minnucci, creating a mosaic effect.

Biographical / historical:

West Street Beach has been a popular recreation and meeting place for Southern California gays and lesbians since 1972. The volleyball group represented in the albums played from 1972 to circa 1988. The courts, nets, and balls were supplied by the players, many of whom came from Los Angeles on weekends. The core group of players consisted of 30 to 50 men, many of whom later died of AIDS.

Jerry Minnucci worked for the American Broadcasting Corporation in the publicity department. Minnucci photographed the players and assembled the photograph albums as gifts for Robert Major.

Robert Major was the sponsor of a gay volleyball group who called themselves the "Majorettes" and played at the West Street Beach in Laguna Beach, California. The volleyball court was later named after Major.

Acquisition information:

Gift of Stuart Baron, 2003.

Custodial history:

The albums were given to Stuart Baron upon the death of Robert Major.

Processing information:

Processed by Audrey Pearson, 2007.

Over time, many of the photograph pieces became detached. During processing these were pasted back into place. The albums were unbound and individual pages sleeved in mylar to prevent the loss of any pieces.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in chronological order.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Gays and sports -- California -- Laguna Beach.
Volleyball -- California -- Laguna Beach -- Photographs.
Gay men -- California -- Laguna Beach -- Social life and customs -- Photographs.
Gay men -- California -- Laguna Beach -- Photographs.
Photographic prints -- California -- Orange County.
Names:: Major, Robert

Access and use

Restrictions:: The collection is open for research.
Terms of access:: Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.