Robert J. Manners papers
Scope and Contents
This collection comprises Robert Manners' correspondence, newspaper clippings, catalogs, bibliographies, administrative records, and other material, 1953-2010. The collection primarily consists of administrative records from Books Bohemian, correspondence with gay inmates, and correspondence with gay and lesbian writers whose books he sold through the catalog.
Dates
- Creation: 1953-2010
Creator
- Manners, Robert J. (Creator, 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.
Biography
Robert J. Manners owned and operated Books Bohemian, a home-based mail order book catalog, for 27 years (1977-2004). During his tenure as a book distributor, he corresponded with a number of incarcerated gay men who wrote him requesting gay literature. Manners provided books free of charge to gay inmates, many of whom kept in contact for several years through letters. Manners also corresponded with a number of gay and lesbian writers and collected their bibliographies, book reviews, and biographies. Manners is also an activist for LGBTQ rights and interests.
Extent
5.3 Linear Feet (4 boxes, 1 carton, and 1 shoebox)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection mainly comprises Robert Manners' correspondence, newspaper clippings, catalogs, bibliographies, administrative records, and other material, 1953-2010. Manners was the owner and operator of the home-based gay and lesbian mail order catalog Books Bohemian (Pasadena, California) from 1977 to 2004.
Arrangement
This collection is divided into two series: (1) Correspondence, and (2) Administrative records and subject files.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Robert J. Manners, May 16, 2010.
Separated Materials
The following have been separated to the ONE Archives periodical collection:
ACLU Lesbian & Gay Rights Chapter Newsletter, 2000-2002
Amsterdam Columbia Fun Map, 1998
Barfly, 1970
BLK Magazine, 1993-1994
The Frontlines Newsletter, 2007
Gay Academic Union Los Angeles Chapter Newsletter, 1978-1981
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Newsletter, 1995
Gay & Lesbian Studies List (Bolerium Books), 2000-2002
Gay Sunshine 10th Anniversary Issue, 1980
Highways Program, 2004
Jim Kepner's Song & Dance, 1993-1997
Lambda Legal Impact Newsletter, 2007-2009
LifeLines, Project Angel Food Newsletter, 2005-2009
ONE Institute/International Gay and Lesbian Archives Bulletin, 1998
Outfest Programs, 2000-2009
Parsonage News, The, 1986
Pride Magazine, 2005
Rainbow Report, The, 1983-1987
Refining the Future of Destiny Catalog, 2007-2008
Star News, 1977
Ten Percent, UCLA's Gay Newsmagazine, 1980
UPDATE, Southern California's Gay Newspaper, 1984
"Looking for Langston" (1989) VHS has been seperated to the ONE Archives video collection.
"Elizabethan Songs & Negro Spirituals" by Bayard Rustin (circa 1952) LP has been separated to the ONE Archives record collection.
A 1993 March on Washington button has been seperated to the ONE Archives button collection.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Cooper Moll, September 2014.
Subject
- Books Bohemian (Organization)
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Robert J. Manners Papers, 1953-2010
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Cooper Moll
- Date
- © 2014
- 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 Council on Library and Information Resources.
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