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David Greene photographs and papers

 Collection — Box: 1-2
Identifier: Coll2013-011

Scope and Content

The collection primarily comprises 34 8x10 and 11x14 black-and-white photographic prints taken by photographer David Greene, 1974-1983. The photographs include nine images used in Greene's exhibition titled Shameless, six images used in Gay Sunshine Press publications, eighteen images published in his 2011 book Shameless, and one unattributed image. The collection also includes Harmodius in Exile poetry, a Harmodius in Exile diary, and an article on the Shameless exhibit from Vector magazine, October 1974.

Dates

  • Creation: 1974-1983

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

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

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish images or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries 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.

Biography

David Greene attended the University of Michigan, where he wrote and directed a feature length film, Pamela and Ian (1971), concerning a bisexual love triangle. After graduating, he relocated to San Francisco and founded the Gay Artist and Writers Kollective (GAWK). He went on to photograph men and women who challenged gender stereotypes. Fifty of his photographs were exhibited in a show titled Shameless. For the exhibit, Greene photographed mostly friends in their own homes between February and August 1974. The subjects are "shameless" in living as gay men embracing a genderfuck identity. The show opened in Berkeley, California in 1974 with more than 200 people attending, most in drag. The exhibition then traveled to San Francisco in 1975 as Andy's Donuts, Center of the Universe. The exhibition subsequently traveled as Shameless to New York (1976), Chicago (1978), and Zurich (1979). Greene photographed a series of images for the book Men Loving Men published by Gay Sunshine Press (1977). Greene published photographs in Gay Sunshine Journal in the Spring and Summer 1974 issues. As of 2012, Greene has published four books, Unmentionables: A Novel (2010), Shameless (2011), Photographs (2012), and Detonate (2012). As of 2013, he lived in Chicago with his spouse, painter James Stephens. (Source: "Bio," Books by David Greene, accessed August 29, 2013, http://www.davidjgreene.com/.)

Extent

2.3 Linear Feet (2 flat archive boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection primarily comprises 34 8x10 and 11x14 black-and-white photographic prints taken by photographer David Greene, 1974-1983, some used for his exhibition titled Shameless and others published in his 2011 book Shameless. The subjects are "shameless" in living as gay men or transgender women embracing an openly queer or genderfuck identity.

Arrangement

Textual materials are listed first, followed by photographic prints.

Acquisition

The date and method of acquisition for the nine 8x10 photographic prints from the Shameless exhibit is unknown.

The 11x14 photographic print of Tea Time, Three Revolutionaries, San Francisco was a gift of Ian Stulberg.

All other photographs and manuscripts were donated by David Greene on February 27, 2014.

Related Archival Materials

Box 85, folder 2, Men Loving Men, photographs by David Greene 1977, Gay Sunshine records, Coll2011-011, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Michael C. Oliveira, 2013. Accrual processed by Kyle Morgan, 2015.

Title
Finding aid to the David Greene Photographs and Papers, 1974-1983
Status
In Progress
Author
Michael C. Oliveira, Kyle Morgan
Date
© 2013, 2015
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English.
Sponsor
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Repository Details

Part of the ONE Archives at the USC Libraries, University of Southern California Repository

Contact:
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles California 90007 United States
(213) 821-2771