Guide to the George Fisher Papers,
1951-1990

Collection Number: 7437

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library

Contact Information:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
2B Carl A. Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-3530
Fax: (607) 255-9524
rareref@cornell.edu
http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
Compiled by:
Phil McCray
Brenda Marston
Andrea Hektor
Date completed:
October 1991

September 2003
EAD encoding:
Peter Martinez, May 2001
Andrea Hektor, Sept. 2003
Sara McDermott, June 2009

© 2001 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
George Fisher papers, 1951-1990
Collection Number:
7437
Creator:
George Fisher, 1938-1990
Quantity:
22 cubic ft.
Forms of Material:
Manuscripts, photographs, drawings.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
Elysian Fields, Booksellers, business records, 1974-1988, including orders, invoices, bills, mail order forms, special order correspondence. bibliographies and catalogs; also, personal correspondence, a clipping and subject file, photo prints, original erotic and pornographic manuscripts, erotica and pornographic artwork, including drawings and photographs.
Language:
Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

George Alan Fisher, born January 6, 1938, in Los Angeles, worked for a number of airlines in the cargo traffic section, export and import, first in California, then from ca. 1965-1967 in Copenhagen for a Scandanavian airline, SAS, and then for 23 years at JFK airport in New York City for Japan Airlines. He retired in June 1990. Under the name Ed Drucker, he ran Elysian Fields, Booksellers, since its opening in 1972. Elysian Fields specializes in out of print gay, lesbian, and bisexual fiction and non-fiction with some general sexuality books as well. Fisher traveled worldwide. He died October 3, 1990.
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

The George Fisher Collection consists of personal correspondence, including many letters from his mother, several letters to and from Fisher describing his many travels abroad, and numerous postcards received by Fisher from friends around the world. The records of Elysian Fields include accounts, bills, brochures, advertisements, mail order forms, invoices, orders, dealer orders and queries especially pertaining to special orders and first editions, bibliographies and lists of books and reprints, Elysian Fields catalogs and other book and pornographic catalogs, a clipping file, a small subject file, audiotapes, slides, photoprints, and negatives. The collection also includes erotic and pornographic original manuscripts, and a large collection of original erotic and pornographic artwork, including layouts, drawings, charcoal sketches, photographs, and proofsheets; there is a small amount of correspondence pertaining to the artwork.
SUBJECTS

Names:
Elysian Fields Booksellers.

Subjects:
Antiquarian booksellers--New York (State).
Gay men--Books and reading.
Erotica.
Pornography.
Pedophilia.
Nudism.
INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:
George Fisher Papers, #7437. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
SERIES LIST

Series I. Correspondence and Personal Material Boxes 1-2,38
Series II. Elysian Fields Booksellers Orders, Bills, Receipts, Bibliographies Boxes 3-10,38
Series III. Lists, Catalogs Boxes 11-13, 41-42
Series IV. Photoprints, Slides, Audiotapes Boxes 14-15
Series V. Clippings and Subject Files Boxes 16-18,39
Series VI. Manuscripts Boxes 19-20
Series VII. Artwork Boxes 21-37
CONTAINER LIST

Date
Description
Container
Series I. Correspondence and Personal Material
Correspondence and Personal 1957-1989
 Box 1 Folder 1-16
Includes correspondence between Fisher and his parents, pertaining to his wide travel in Europe. Fisher's relationship with his mother is particularly documented. There are many postcards from friends throughout the world. There are letters from epistolary correspondents, frequently to Fisher's Provincetown post office box, of an erotic nature (with a specialty of J/O and A/F letters).
La Cronica Junior High School yearbooks, 1950-1952
Box 1 Folder 17
Birth announcement of Brian Richard Voelcker, 1973
Box 1 Folder 18
Photo- Fisher's Parents?
 Box 1 Folder 19
Resumes/job applications
 Box 1 Folder 20
Photo negatives: men at the beach (personal?)
Box 1 Folder 21
Correspondence and Personal 1950's-1989
 Box 2
Includes diplomas, legal and tax papers, some correspondence as described in box 1, and Fisher's Japan Airlines file of work related papers.
The Poinsettia: Hollywood High School yearbook, 1953
Box 38 Folder 1
Democratic convention/1976 election
 Box 38 Folder 2
OWL (Older Women's League) information
 Box 38 Folder 3
Information on Alzheimer's disease/aging
 Box 38 Folder 4
Erotic cards (mainly seasonal, i.e. Valentine's Day, Christmas, etc.)
Box 38
Series II. Elysian Fields Booksellers Orders, Bills, Receipts, Bibliographies and Booklists
1974-1976
 Box 3
1976-1978
 Box 4
1978-1980
 Box 5
1980-1981
 Box 6
1982-1984
 Box 7
1984, 1987-1988
 Box 8
Includes dealers correspondence, first editions, quotes, and some straight sexuality and non-sexuality books.
1969-1988
 Box 9
Special orders, tax papers, consultant fees, dealers correspondence.
1966-1989
 Box 10
Bibliographies, special orders, dealers correspondence, university library orders.
Clippings: mainly book reviews
 Box 38 Folder 5-10
Miscellaneous clippings/information
 Box 38 Folder 11
Typed book reviews/summaries (by Fisher?)
 Box 38 Folder 12
Gay Academic Union materials
 Box 38 Folder 13
Dealer correspondence
 Box 38 Folder 14
Newsletters/flyers/catalogs
 Box 38 Folder 15-17
Cliipings: book reviews
 Box 38 Folder 18
Correspondence: St. Martin's Press, 1976
Box 38 Folder 19
American Book Review, Double focus on AIDS and Women in Power, 1990:May/June
Box 38 Folder 20
The New York Review of Books, 12/9/76
Box 38 Folder 21
Antiquarian Book Monthly Review, 1989:July
Box 38 Folder 22
Information on Christ and the Homosexual by Robert Wood
Box 38 Folder 23
Author correspondence
 Box 38 Folder 24
Simoneau, Chantale
 Box 38 Folder 25
Series III. Lists and Catalogs
1974-1990
Catalogs
 Box 11-13, 41-42
Catalogs, brochures, advertisements, fliers, lists, and mail solicitations of an erotic or pornographic nature; also, Elysian Fields catalogs, and a small number of straight sexuality catalogs and non-erotic book catalogs.
Series IV. Photoprints, Slides, Audiotapes
Visual Material
 Box 14
George Fisher Travel Slides ca. 1950's-1960's, strips of gay films, n.d.
Visual Material
 Box 15
George Fisher Travel Slides c. 1950's-1960's, erotic and pornographic photographs, including ca. Victorian era, famous personalities, stylized motif, and physique
Series V. Clippings and Subject File
Clippings and Subject Files ca. 1960-1989
 Box 16
Includes various topics, sexual and non-sexual.
Subject File
 Box 17
Includes legal briefs, and small books of poetry and other prose.
Clippings and Subject File
 Box 18 Folder 1-9
Includes Legal briefs.
Becoming a People...a 4,000 year gay and lesbian chronology by Jim Kepner
Box 18 Folder 10
Informational flyer on "A Black and White Ball", NYC, 1988
Box 18 Folder 11
London Arrest Scrapbook (contains numerous clippings)
Box 39
Series VI. Manuscripts
Manuscripts
 Box 19
Typescript prose fictions (pornographic), gay and heterosexual, including a manuscript by James John Proferes.
Series VII. Artwork
Artwork
 Box 21-35
Erotic and pornographic drawings, charcoal sketches, photographs, layouts, dustjackets, proofsheets; a large number of sexual motifs are represented; includes a small amount of correspondence pertaining to the artwork.
Artwork and correspondence, 1962-1967
Box 36 Folder 1
Guild Press ( Fizeek Art Quarterly), DC, and Media Arts, NYC. Artists: Martin Parent, "Zip", Michael Priggins, Robin
Artwork and correspondence, 1965-1967
Box 36 Folder 2
Guild Press, artists: Pat, Jox, Steve Masters, John Matthews
Artwork and correspondence, 1962-1966
Box 36 Folder 3
Guild Press, artists David Mills, George Miller, Nerol
Artwork and correspondence, Guild Press, 1963
Box 36 Folder 4
William M. Maclane Studios artwork
 Box 36 Folder 5
William M. Maclane Studios artwork
 Box 36 Folder 6
Etienne artwork
 Box 36 Folder 7
Artwork and correspondence, 1962-1965
Box 36 Folder 8
Guild Press, artists Ralph Smith, Lawrence Smith, Larry Tippin, CT
Artwork and correspondence, 1962-1968
Box 36 Folder 9
Guild Press, artists Robert Payne, "Zip", Martin Parent
Grecian Guild Pictorial clipping, April 1962
Box 36 Folder 10
Layout materials
 Box 37
Layout material for various publications on various themes, including heterosexuality, lesbianism, gay male sexuality, phallic development, and sadomasochism.