Richard Meeker Better Angel fan mail
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of Better Angel fan mail, 1933-1938, written to Richard Meeker, the pseudonym of Forman George Brown, 1901-1996. Brown wrote the first novel to place homosexuality in a positive light. The collection also includes a verse to Brown's partner, Richard "Roddy" Brandon, written for Brandon's birthday and their 50th anniversary.
Dates
- Creation: 1933-1976
Creator
- Meeker, Richard (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish 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.
Biographical Note
Forman George Brown authored the autobiographical novel Better Angel using the pseudonym Richard Meeker. Better Angel would be one of the first novels to place homosexuality in positive light. It was published during the "Pansy Craze" of the early 1930s. The novel was re-published in 1989 and 1995.
Brown, his partner Richard "Roddy" Brandon, and his cousin Harry Burnett founded the Yale Puppeteers, a traveling marionette troupe during the 1920s. They settled in Hollywood, and together they created the Turnabout Theater, which used trolley car seats that were turned during intermission. The first act was their marionette show performed at the back of the theater. A second act with vaudeville entertainers took place on the main stage in the front of the theater. The theater closed in 1956, a victim of the growing popularity of television.
Brandon died in 1985, Burnett died in 1993, and Brown died 2 days after his 95th birthday in 1996.
Extent
0.1 Linear Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Fan mail, 1933-1938, to Richard Meeker, pseudonym of Forman George Brown, 1901-1996, the author of the autobiographical novel, Better Angel. The novel was one of the first works to place homosexuality in a positive light. Brown, his partner, Richard "Roddy" Brandon, and his cousin, Harry Burnett, were founders the Yale Puppeteers and later the Turnabout Theater in Hollywood, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Date and method of acquisition unknown.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Michael C. Oliveira, October 2014.
Subject
- Brandon, Richard "Roddy" (Person)
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Richard Meeker Better Angel Fan Mail
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Michael C. Oliveira
- Date
- (c) 2014
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- 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
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles California 90007 United States
(213) 821-2771
askone@usc.edu