Harry H. Weintraub Collection of Gay-Related Photography and Historical Documentation, 1850s-2010.
Collection Number: 7771
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
Harry H. Weintraub Collection of Gay-Related Photography and Historical Documentation, 1850s-2010.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
7771
Abstract:
Photographs ranging from formal 19th-century portraits to candid 20th-century snapshots
and Hollywood stars' studio portraits that provide a wide view of men's bodies and
gay men's lives, styles, and activities from the 1850s to 2010, plus associated scrapbooks,
greeting cards, programs from events, sound recordings, magazines, comic books, calendars,
and ephemera. Exceeding 10,000 items in total, the collection richly documents gay
male culture from many angles, featuring 1950s physique and nude photography by important
studios and artists, images of drag queens, sexual activity, men together, men in
the military, in athletics, and in dance, opera, and theater. Included are significant
photographs of men of color and about 100 images of U.S. and European lesbians and
women in drag.
Creator:
Weintraub, Harry
Bruce of Los Angeles
Quanitities:
7.3 cubic feet.
Language:
Collection material in English
Photographs ranging from formal 19th-century portraits to candid 20th-century snapshots,
Hollywood stars' studio portraits, and other genres that provide a wide view of men's
bodies and gay men's lives, styles, and activities from the 1850s to 2010, plus associated
scrapbooks, greeting cards, programs from events, sound recordings, magazines, comic
books, calendars, and ephemera. In combing flea markets and other venues for these
items, which exceed 10,000 in total, the collector looked for a wide range of images
reflecting gay culture and paid particular attention to acquiring photographs of men
of color. In the process, he also collected about 100 images of U.S. and European
lesbians and women in drag.
Prominent in the collection are physique and nude photography by Bruce of L.A., George
Platt Lynes, Luis Cuento (known as Karoll of Havana), Douglas of Detroit, Dave Martin,
Athletic Model Guild (Bob Mizer), Al Urban, Sierra Domino (Black men), Ralph Kelly,
Lon of N.Y., Russ Warner, David Alexander Studio (Black men), Third World Studio,
Champion, Colt, Target, Ritter Brothers, and others. Other strengths include photographs
of drag queens, of sexual activity and S&M (sadomasochism), and of men in the military,
in athletics, and in ballet, opera, and theater; the topic of crime; and portraits
of men together. The collection includes unique items such as the 3 volume hand-made
"Buddy's Bedside Book" created by Robert Chapman "for Robert X. McCarthy, in partial
repayment for the many pleasures I owe him, on December twenty-fifth, 1957" and hand-made
gay Christmas cards. Many photographs are deeply personal, and there are even a few
Cornell-specific items, including a photo of a man posed in the arms of the A.D. White
statue on the Arts Quad.
Periodicals include mainly physique magazines and gay erotica. Also included are
calendars, sound recordings, and gay-themed comic books.
Books cataloged individually.
Collecting Program: Human Sexuality Collection.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
Harry H. Weintraub Collection of Gay-Related Photography and Historical Documentation,
#7771. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
Collection webpage: http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/weintraub
Parts of this collection were held at CUL on deposit. They were returned to owner
Harry Weintraub in March 2021. A full listing of the materials formerly on deposit
is available on request.
Subjects:
Sadomasochism.
Bodybuilding -- Periodicals.
Gay men -- United States -- Periodicals.
Gay men -- Periodicals.
Gay erotica.
Photography of the nude -- United States.
Photography of men -- United States.
Form and Genre Terms:
Sound recordings.
Calendars.
Comic books.
Photographs.
CONTAINER LIST
Container
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Description
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Date
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Photographs
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Affectionate Men
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Box A-1 |
Small format
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Photographs
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AMG/Bob Mizer (L.A.) (Physique)
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Box A-57 |
Small format
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800 photographs
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Scope and Contents
Includes brochures/contact sheets
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Box A-67 |
Small format
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400 photographs
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Box A-77 |
Small format
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800 photographs
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|||
Scope and Contents
Includes brochures/contact sheets
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Box A-81 |
Small format
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810 photographs
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Box B-38 |
Medium format
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Photographs
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Anti-gay/Crime/Violence/Guns/Runaways/Medical/Disabled/Toreadors/Artist and Model
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Box A- 47 |
Small format
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350 photographs
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Brian, J. and Champion/Walter Kundzicz (NYC)
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Box A-72 |
Small format
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228 photographs
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Bruce of L.A./Bruce Bellas (Physique)
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Scope and Contents
Bruce Bellas (1909 – 1974) began photographing bodybuilders in Los Angeles, California
in 1947. He became known as Bruce of L.A., launched his own magazine, Male Figure,
in 1956, and is remembered as an influential photographer of the male figure.
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Box A-12 |
Small format
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450 photographs
|
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Scope and Contents
Includes 5x7 photographs
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Box A-14 |
Small format
|
||
350 photographs
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Includes 5x7 photographs
|
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Box A-18 |
Small format
|
||
353 photographs
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Includes 4x5 photographs
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|||
Box A-25 |
Small format
|
||
450 photographs
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Includes 5x7 photographs
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Box A-31 |
Small format
|
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Photographs
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|||
Scope and Contents
Includes 5x7 photographs
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Box A-32 |
Small format
|
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400 photographs
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Includes 4x5 photographs
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Box B-10 |
Medium format
|
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130 photographs
|
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Box B-16 |
Medium format
|
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52 photographs
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Box B-22 |
Medium format
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5 photographs
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Box B-25 |
Medium format
|
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104 photographs
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Box B-48 |
Medium format
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338 photographs
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Bruce of L.A./Bruce Bellas/Kensington Road (KR)
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Scope and Contents
Included here are photographs distributed during Bruce of L.A.'s lifetime, and also
by a mail order distributor Kensington Road after his death. Once postal laws against
sending male frontal nudity through the U.S. postal service were lifted, Kensington
Road was able to share with mass markets Bruce's more explicit images.
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Box A-23 |
Small format
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290 photographs
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Scope and Contents
Includes 5x7 photographs
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Box A-52 |
Small format
|
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88 photographs
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|||
Scope and Contents
Includes 5x7 photographs
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Cabinet Cards and other images of Handsome Men
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Box A-61 |
Small format
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200 photographs
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Martin, Dave (SF)
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Box B-41 |
Medium format
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117 photographs
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Box B-42 |
Medium format
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Photographs
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Military
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Box A-49 |
Small format
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Photographs
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Milo of Los Angeles/Pat Milo (Bodybuilding)
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Box B-54 |
Medium format
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Photographs
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Posing
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Box B-102 |
Medium format
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87 photographs
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Scope and Contents
Includes COMM, ID, photographs by: John Arndt (Seattle), Bob DelMonteque/Mike Diks
(Miami Beach & Hollywood), Douglas of Detroit/Douglas Juleff, E.J. Fisher Photo (L.A.),
Kris Studio/Chuck Renslow (Chicago), Quaintance, E. T. Schwarz, Al Urban (NYC & Chicago),
Your Model Service (NYC)
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Western Photography Guild/Don Whitman (Denver)
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Box B-64 |
Medium format
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Photographs
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Scope and Contents
Includes 5 & 2/8 x 6 & 7/8 sets in original envelopes, 8x10 photographs
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Box B-100 |
Medium format
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Photographs
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Scope and Contents
Includes 5 & 2/8 x 6 & 7/8 photographs
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CD 2364 | CD-2364 |
Additional images
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