William A. Rhoads Nude Male photographs

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: Coll2008-026

Staff Only

Scope and Content of Collection

The collection consists of nude photographs of males, and in one instance of a male-female couple, most apparently picked up hitchhiking along the Pacific Coast Highway on the northward journey from Santa Monica to Santa Barbara. Approximately a third of the models are identified, and their photographs dated; a list of these models is available with the collection, but for privacy reasons they are identified in this finding aid only by initials. The remaining photographs are not identified, and are not dated. An account by Joseph Carrier of the circumstances under which the photographs were taken is included with the collection. Between Rhoads' death and the acquisition of the collection by ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives many of the prints and virtually all the negatives in the original collection were damaged beyond repair by high humidity; many of the surviving photographs are heavily warped.

Dates

Creation: circa 1975-1981

Creator

Rhoads, William A. (Person)

Access

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

Publication Rights

Publication of images in this collection is restricted until 2061.

Biography

William A. Rhoads earned a PhD in botany, and worked for defense contractor EG&G (Egerton, Germeshausen, and Grier), Inc., studying the effects of radiation on plants for the Atomic Energy Commission. He spent his weekends in a small house he owned near Venice Beach, but lived weekdays in Goleta, where EG&G's Santa Barbara Operations were based. He died of congenital heart disease in the early 1980s.

Source: Letter from Joseph Carrier to Gregory L. Williams. August 3, 2006.

Extent

1.25 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Nude photographs of male hitchhikers on Pacific Coast Highway between Santa Monica and Santa Barbara taken by amateur photographer William A. Rhoads, circa 1975-1981.

Custodial History

Upon Rhoads' death, following instructions left to the executor of his estate, all his photographs were given to Joseph Carrier, who donated the collection to ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives in June 2006.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Joseph Carrier, June 2006.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Michael P. Palmer, June 3, 2008.

Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.