George Fisher papers, 1951-1990.
Collection Number: 7437

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
George Fisher papers, 1951-1990.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
7437
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.
Creator:
Fisher, George, 1938-1990.
Quanitities:
22 cubic feet.
Language:
Collection material in English

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.
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

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:

George Fisher Papers, #7437. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

Biographical / Historical

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 Scandinavian 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, from its opening in 1972 until his death. Elysian Fields specialized in out of print gay, lesbian, and bisexual fiction and non-fiction with some general sexuality books as well. Fisher traveled worldwide. He died on October 3, 1990.

SUBJECTS

Names:
Elysian Fields, Booksellers
Subjects:
Nudism.
Pedophilia.
Pornography.
Independent booksotres -- New York (N.Y.)
Homophobia.
Erotica.
Gay men -- Books and reading.
Arrest -- England -- London.
Antiquarian booksellers -- New York (N. Y.)

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Series I. Correspondence and Personal Material
Box 1 Folder 1-16
Correspondence and Personal 1957-1989
Scope and Contents
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).
Box 1 Folder 17
La Cronica Junior High School yearbooks,
1950-1952
Box 1 Folder 18
Birth announcement of Brian Richard Voelcker,
1973
Box 1 Folder 19
Photo- Fisher's Parents?
Box 1 Folder 20
Resumes/job applications
Box 1 Folder 21
Photo negatives: men at the beach (personal?)
Box 2
Correspondence and Personal 1950's-1989
Scope and Contents
Includes diplomas, legal and tax papers, some correspondence as described in box 1, and Fisher's Japan Airlines file of work related papers.
Box 38 Folder 1
The Poinsettia: Hollywood High School yearbook,
1953
Box 38 Folder 2
Democratic convention/1976 election
Box 38 Folder 3
OWL (Older Women's League) information
Box 38 Folder 4
Information on Alzheimer's disease/aging
Box 38
Erotic cards (mainly seasonal, i.e. Valentine's Day, Christmas, etc.)
Series II. Elysian Fields Booksellers Orders, Bills, Receipts, Bibliographies and Booklists
Box 3
1974-1976
Box 4
1976-1978
Box 5
1978-1980
Box 6
1980-1981
Box 7
1982-1984
Box 8
1984, 1987-1988
Scope and Contents
Includes dealers correspondence, first editions, quotes, and some straight sexuality and non-sexuality books.
Box 9
1969-1988
Scope and Contents
Special orders, tax papers, consultant fees, dealers correspondence.
Box 10
1966-1989
Scope and Contents
Bibliographies, special orders, dealers correspondence, university library orders.
Box 38 Folder 5-10
Clippings: mainly book reviews
Box 38 Folder 11
Miscellaneous clippings/information
Box 38 Folder 12
Typed book reviews/summaries (by Fisher?)
Box 38 Folder 13
Gay Academic Union materials
Box 38 Folder 14
Dealer correspondence
Box 38 Folder 15-17
Newsletters/flyers/catalogs
Box 38 Folder 18
Cliipings: book reviews
Box 38 Folder 19
Correspondence: St. Martin's Press,
1976
Box 38 Folder 20
American Book Review, Double focus on AIDS and Women in Power,
1990:May/June
Box 38 Folder 21
The New York Review of Books,
12/9/76
Box 38 Folder 22
Antiquarian Book Monthly Review,
1989:July
Box 38 Folder 23
Information on Christ and the Homosexual by Robert Wood
Box 38 Folder 24
Author correspondence
Box 38 Folder 25
Simoneau, Chantale
Series III. Lists and Catalogs
Box 11
Catalogs
1974-1990
Scope and Contents
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.
Box 12
Catalogs
1974-1990
Scope and Contents
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.
Box 13
Catalogs
1974-1990
Scope and Contents
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.
Box 41
Catalogs
1974-1990
Scope and Contents
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.
Box 42
Catalogs
1974-1990
Scope and Contents
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
Box 14
Visual Material
Scope and Contents
George Fisher Travel Slides ca. 1950's-1960's, strips of gay films, n.d.
Box 15
Visual Material
Scope and Contents
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
Box 16
Clippings and Subject Files ca. 1960-1989
Scope and Contents
Includes various topics, sexual and non-sexual.
Box 17
Subject File
Scope and Contents
Includes legal briefs, and small books of poetry and other prose.
Box 18 Folder 1-9
Clippings and Subject File
Scope and Contents
Includes Legal briefs.
Box 18 Folder 10
Becoming a People...a 4,000 year gay and lesbian chronology by Jim Kepner
Box 18 Folder 11
Informational flyer on "A Black and White Ball", NYC,
1988
Box 39
London Arrest Scrapbook (contains numerous clippings)
Series VI. Manuscripts
Box 19
Manuscripts
Scope and Contents
Typescript prose fictions (pornographic), gay and heterosexual, including a manuscript by James John Proferes.
Series VII. Artwork
Artwork
Scope and Contents
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.
Box 21
Artwork
Box 22
Artwork
Box 23
Artwork
Box 24
Artwork
Box 25
Artwork
Box 26
Artwork
Box 27
Artwork
Box 28
Artwork
Box 29
Artwork
Box 30
Artwork
Box 31
Artwork
Box 32
Artwork
Box 33
Artwork
Box 34
Artwork
Box 35
Artwork
Box 36 Folder 1
Artwork and correspondence,
1962-1967
Scope and Contents
Guild Press ( Fizeek Art Quarterly), DC, and Media Arts, NYC. Artists: Martin Parent, "Zip", Michael Priggins, Robin
Box 36 Folder 2
Artwork and correspondence,
1965-1967
Scope and Contents
Guild Press, artists: Pat, Jox, Steve Masters, John Matthews
Box 36 Folder 3
Artwork and correspondence,
1962-1966
Scope and Contents
Guild Press, artists David Mills, George Miller, Nerol
Box 36 Folder 4
Artwork and correspondence, Guild Press,
1963
Box 36 Folder 5
William M. Maclane Studios artwork
Box 36 Folder 6
William M. Maclane Studios artwork
Box 36 Folder 7
Etienne artwork
Box 36 Folder 8
Artwork and correspondence,
1962-1965
Scope and Contents
Guild Press, artists Ralph Smith, Lawrence Smith, Larry Tippin, CT
Box 36 Folder 9
Artwork and correspondence,
1962-1968
Scope and Contents
Guild Press, artists Robert Payne, "Zip", Martin Parent
Box 36 Folder 10
Grecian Guild Pictorial clipping,
April 1962
Box 37
Layout materials
Scope and Contents
Layout material for various publications on various themes, including heterosexuality, lesbianism, gay male sexuality, phallic development, and sadomasochism.