H. Lynn Womack papers, 1945-1994
Collection Number: 7441

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
H. Lynn Womack papers, 1945-1994
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
7441
Abstract:
The H. Lynn Womack papers include business records of the Guild Press, the Guild Book Service, the Grecian Guild, the Potomac News Company, and Village Books and Press, all of an erotic and pornographic nature. Also, correspondence with Richard Schlegel and others, gay periodicals, manuscripts of erotic and pornographic stories, and an extensive collection of pornographic mail order catalogs.
Creator:
Womack, H. Lynn, 1923-1985.
Quanitities:
5 cubic feet.
Language:
Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

H. Lynn Womack (1923-1985) was a headmaster of a boys' school in the 1940s and then a professor of Philosophy at George Washington University. In 1952, he bought the small company Guild Press, and as publisher, editor, and distributor, turned it into a profitable gay publishing company with numerous affilated enterprises. The United States Postal Service tried to stop the circulation of MANUAL, TRIM, and GRECIAN GUILD PICTORIAL, but he took them to court and won the case on appeal in the U.S. Supreme Court (Manual Enterprises Inc. v. J. Edward Day) in 1962. This ruling changed the definintion of obscenity and its relationship to gay pornography.

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Series I. of the H. Lynn Womack papers consists of correspondence, business records, newspaper clippings, and briefs, transcripts, and records of court cases pertaining to pornography and obscenity; also, manuscripts, correspondence, and photographs pertaining to the Guild Book Service and its affiliated enterprises, including the Guild Press, Potomac News Company, Central Sales, the Grecian Guild, Village Books, Village Press, and Media Arts. Included is the correspondence of the editors of these enterprises, including Rick Sampson, Ronnie Anderson, J.J. Proferes, and Ralph Church. Additional Guild Press records from Womack's estate include correspondence between Womack and various photographers and publishers including Randolph Benson of Trim magazine, model releases and related publication papers, photographic negatives and proofs of pictures published in various Womack magazines, and transparencies of similar material. Also, seals for Potomac Associates (1958) and Howell Academy for Boys, Inc. (1945). Series II. is an extensive collection of pornographic mail order catalogues, brochures, advertisements, and other mailings.

PROVENANCE

Gift of George Fisher.
Series I. Womack and Guild Book Service Files Boxes 1-2, 5-9
Series II. Mail Order Catalogs and Advertisements Boxes 2-4

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:

H. Lynn Womack papers, #7441. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
PROVENANCE

Gift of George Fisher.

SUBJECTS

Names:
Schlegel, Richard.
Guild Press
Guild Book Service
Village Books and Press
Grecian Guild
Potomac News Company
Subjects:
Pornography.
Sex-oriented businesses
Mail order businesses.
Pornography--Catalogs.
Gay men -- Books and reading.
Obscenity (law).
Form and Genre Terms:
Erotica.

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Series I. Womack and Guild Book Service Files
Box 1 Folder 1-2
Herman Lynn Womack personal papers, including newspaper clippings pertaining to his arrest on obscenity charges, and the United States District Court Grand Jury proceedings against Womack and others, 3 November 1969.
1969
Box 1 Folder 3
United States District Court Grand Jury, Official Transcript of Proceedings, 10 March 1961
1961
Box 1 Folder 4
United States District Court Grand Jury Charge, 3 Nov 1959
1959
Box 1 Folder 5
17 Nov 1960 legal lists
1960
Box 1 Folder 6
Correspondence
1951-1960
Box 1 Folder 7
Pornography, articles and papers
Box 1 Folder 8
Newspapers pertaining to Womack sentencing and arrest
1971
Box 1 Folder 9
Obscenity, articles
Box 1 Folder 10
Obscenity legal cases, briefs
Box 1 Folder 11
Obscenity cases, clippings, and legal papers pertaining to Womack and Potomac News Company
Box 1 Folder 12-13
Obscenity, Supreme Court legal cases
Box 1 Folder 14
Luros legal case
Box 1 Folder 15
Blount, Postmaster General vs. Rizzi, doing business as The Mail Box
Box 1 Folder 16
CDL Reporter
Box 1 Folder 17
Several obscenity legal cases, corresp9ondence, and First Amendment Lawyers Association printed material
Box 1 Folder 18
Guild Press author's contract
Box 1 Folder 19
United States vs. Spinar and Germain
Box 1 Folder 20
Manual Enterprises vs. Day
Box 1 Folder 21
Rubber Goods
Box 1 Folder 22
Portsmouth, Virginia; Village Books legal cases
Box 1 Folder 23
North Carolina vs. Dick McCluney
Box 1 Folder 24
Michigan vs. MGA Theatres, Gamecock, Argo Land Company
Box 1 Folder 25
Hoyt vs. Minnesota; "Mix Mates" magazine
Box 1 Folder 26
Charlene Mitchell vs. Joseph L. Donovan
Box 1 Folder 27
DSI
Box 1 Folder 28
United States vs. Dellapia
Box 1 Folder 29
Marvin Miller
Box 1 Folder 30
Lee Art Theatre
Box 1 Folder 31
Liberty of Congress
Box 1 Folder 32
Nixon
Box 1 Folder 33
United States vs. "Sexual Freedom"
Box 1 Folder 34
Trojan Book Service
Box 1 Folder 35
Massachusetts and Boston vs. Hunt and Palladino
Box 1 Folder 36
Jim Hall correspondence
1967-1969
Box 1 Folder 37
Cobra Press, Amsterdam, Holland
Box 1 Folder 38
Andrews Manor
Box 1 Folder 39
Ralph Ginzburg
Box 1 Folder 40
Obscenity charges, Newport News, Queen and Ferraro
Box 1 Folder 41
101 Book Sales
Box 1 Folder 42
Oliver Layton Press
Box 1 Folder 43
Village Books
Box 1 Folder 44
Book Guild of America
Box 1 Folder 45
Trojan Book Service
Box 1 Folder 46
Phallic Development in the White Male
Box 1 Folder 47
One Confidential; The Treasure Chest Compendium
Box 1 Folder 48-49
Foreign Correspondence
Box 1 Folder 50
Central Sales, Legal
Box 1 Folder 51
Central Sales, Catalogs
Box 1 Folder 52
Bob Anthony Studio
Box 1 Folder 53
Ben Grandy Company
Box 1 Folder 54
New Market Possibilities; Richard Schlegel Correspondence
Box 1 Folder 55
Post Office Policies
Box 1 Folder 56-57
Grecian Guild Letters and Pictures
Box 1 Folder 58
Original typescript chapters 27-29 of a pornographic novel
Box 1 Folder 59
"Pornography and Violence" by Irving Younger
Box 1 Folder 60
Guild Press Photo Studio correspondence
Box 1 Folder 61
Jay Mitchell Studio
Box 1 Folder 62
Rick Dion Studio, Portland Oregon
Box 1 Folder 63
1968 Convention
1968
Box 1 Folder 64
International Sex Equality Anonymous, Montreal
Box 1 Folder 65
Photo correspondence
Box 1 Folder 66
Photo Studio brochures
Box 1 Folder 67-69
General correspondence
1968-1971
Box 1 Folder 70
Miscellaneous correspondence
Box 2 Folder 1
Miscellaneous correspondence
Box 2 Folder 2-3
Guild Press correspondence with prospective authors
Box 2 Folder 4
Disus; Nick Krysalka correspondence
Box 2 Folder 5
Ralph Chambers correspondence, Daddy's Nympho manuscript
Box 2 Folder 6
Photographs and pieces of short prose
Box 2 Folder 7
Clothing catalogues
Box 2 Folder 8
Manuscript and typescript
Box 2 Folder 9
Pornographic story, "The Spit and the Pendulum"
Box 2 Folder 10
Herb Vernon
Box 2 Folder 11
Clippings
Box 2 Folder 12-14
Village Books mailings and order forms
Box 2 Folder 15
Rhodesia
Box 2 Folder 16-18
Village Books mailings and order forms
Box 2 Folder 19
Enterprises subsequent to Village Books
Box 2 Folder 20
Domestic and foreign check-off lists
Box 2 Folder 21
Clippings
Box 2 Folder 22
Guild Book Service, mailings 1-14
Box 2 Folder 23
Guild Book Service, mailings 15-26
Box 2 Folder 24
Guild Book Service, mailings 27-35
Box 2 Folder 25
Guild Book Service, mailings 36-47
Box 2 Folder 26
Guild Book Service, mailings 48-58
Box 2 Folder 27
Guild Book Service, mailings 59-74
Box 2 Folder 28
Village Books and Press, mailings 1-19
Box 2 Folder 29
Village Books and Press, mailings 20-34
Box 2 Folder 30
Village Books and Press, mailings 35-45
Box 2 Folder 31
Mark II Theatre, mailings 1-26
Box 2 Folder 32
Potomac News Company
Box 2 Folder 33-34
Guild Press correspondence
1968
Box 2 Folder 35-36
Photograph submissions to Grecian Guild Pictorial
1963-1968
Box 2 Folder 37-38
Correspondence and submissions to Guild Books
1967-1968
Box 2 Folder 39
Media Arts, mailings 1-17
Box 2 Folder 40
Media Arts, mailings 18-40
Box 2 Folder 41
Media Arts, mailings 41-64
Box 2 Folder 42-44
Photographs and negatives of nude men
Box 5 Folder 1-51
Photographs and negatives of nude men
Box 6
Negatives of nude men
Box 7
Negatives of nude men
Box 8
Negatives of nude men
Box 2 Folder 45-47
Clothing and fashion brochures
Box 2 Folder 48-51
International Guild Travel Guide
Box 2 Folder 52
Miscellaneous erotic and pornographic catalogues, brochures, and mailings
Box 5 Folder 52
Castillo correspondence
1966-1967
Box 5 Folder 53
Correspondence
1960-1994
Box 5 Folder 54
Trim, Randolph Benson
Box 5 Folder 55
Guild Press brochures
Box 5 Folder 56
Brochures from other publishers
Box 5 Folder 57
Model releases
Box 9
Embossing stamps for Potomac Associates and for Howell Academy for Boys
Series II. Mail Order Catalogs and Advertisements
Box 2 Folder 53
Ace Services
Box 2 Folder 54
Action Line
Box 2 Folder 55
Ace Advertising Service, Inc.
Box 2 Folder 56
Adam's Enterprises
Box 2 Folder 57
Adams Forwarding Service (Dansk Exports)
Box 2 Folder 58
The Adult Company
Box 2 Folder 59
Adult and Parents Guidance Institute
Box 2 Folder 60
Alameda Book Sales
Box 2 Folder 61
ADC-Alan Distributing Company
Box 2 Folder 62
All Star Enterprises
Box 2 Folder 63
All Star Distributors
Box 2 Folder 64
Alpha 1
Box 2 Folder 65
Amazon Productions
Box 2 Folder 66
Bob Anthony
Box 2 Folder 67
Apollo
Box 2 Folder 68
Aquarius
Box 2 Folder 69
Argyle Company
Box 2 Folder 70
Dale Armstrong and Associates
Box 2 Folder 71
Artemis Books
Box 2 Folder 72
Artista Book Club
Box 2 Folder 73
Athens West
Box 2 Folder 74
Atol Ltd.
Box 2 Folder 75
Joseph W. Barnes
Box 2 Folder 76
Basic Health Aids
Box 2 Folder 77
Bayou Studios
Box 2 Folder 78
Bates, Adler, and Co.
Box 2 Folder 79
Behaviour Modification, Inc.
Box 2 Folder 80
Bellatrix Publishing
Box 2 Folder 81
BSP - Behavioural Science Press
Box 2 Folder 82
Bentley Co.
Box 2 Folder 83
Berkshire Guild
Box 2 Folder 84
Bertel Corp.
Box 2 Folder 85
Betta Health Products
Box 2 Folder 86
Bizarre Productions
Box 2 Folder 87
BK Enterprises
Box 2 Folder 88
Book Art Co.
Box 3 Folder 1
Book Bin
Box 3 Folder 2
Book Bargains
Box 3 Folder 3
Book Mark
Box 3 Folder 4
Books Unlimited
Box 3 Folder 5
Brad-Lee Publications
Box 3 Folder 6
J. Brian Enterprises
Box 3 Folder 7
Calafran Enterprises, Inc.
Box 3 Folder 8
John Amslow and Assoc.
Box 3 Folder 9
Cal-Mail
Box 3 Folder 10
Cameo
Box 3 Folder 11
Candor Productions ("The Real Thing")
Box 3 Folder 12
CBI
Box 3 Folder 13
Central Products
Box 3 Folder 14
Central Sales Ltd.
Box 3 Folder 15
Centurion Distributors, Inc.
Box 3 Folder 16
Charisma, Movie-of-the-Month-Club
Box 3 Folder 17
Cienega Distributors
Box 3 Folder 18
Cinerotic Film Club of America
Box 3 Folder 19
Club Baths
Box 3 Folder 20
Collector's Corner
Box 3 Folder 21
P. Collins
Box 3 Folder 22
Commander Books
Box 3 Folder 23
Craig
Box 3 Folder 24
B. La Croix
Box 3 Folder 25
Crown House
Box 3 Folder 26
Cybertype
Box 3 Folder 27
DAK Products
Box 3 Folder 28
David of California
Box 3 Folder 29
D.A.M.I.
Box 3 Folder 30
Dansk Foto Colour USA
Box 3 Folder 31
D G Sales
Box 3 Folder 32
Daisy Chain Letter
Box 3 Folder 33
Danish Advertising
Box 3 Folder 34
David of California
Box 3 Folder 35
Davis Productions
Box 3 Folder 36
Dean's Enterprise
Box 3 Folder 37
Delas Art Studio
Box 3 Folder 38
Denmark Imports
Box 3 Folder 39
Alan Dexter
Box 3 Folder 40
Different Products Unlimited
Box 3 Folder 41-44
DSI
Box 3 Folder 45
Directory Services
Box 3 Folder 46
Diverse
Box 3 Folder 47
Diversified Products
Box 3 Folder 48
F/S Pub., Inc.
Box 3 Folder 49
FSI
Box 3 Folder 50
Flower Direct Mail
Box 3 Folder 51
Fotoflair International
Box 3 Folder 52
Frank Williams
Box 3 Folder 53
F.R.E.E. (International Correspondence Club)
Box 3 Folder 54
Freedom Press
Box 3 Folder 55
GBP-G. B. Productions
Box 3 Folder 56
G and M Enterprises
Box 3 Folder 57
Gary's Studios
Box 3 Folder 58
GEM Productions
Box 3 Folder 59
GMBH Colorfilm, Inc.
Box 3 Folder 60
Go Go Products
Box 3 Folder 61
Goldenrod
Box 3 Folder 62
Gold Line
Box 3 Folder 63
Graduate Enterprises
Box 3 Folder 64
Grand Prix Photo Arts
Box 3 Folder 65
Great Western Services
Box 3 Folder 66
Greenbriar Club, Inc.
Box 3 Folder 67
Greyhuff
Box 3 Folder 68
GW Enterprises
Box 3 Folder 69
Hallmark House
Box 3 Folder 70
John Harrison
Box 3 Folder 71
Hartman, Assoc.
Box 3 Folder 72
Health Aid Distributors
Box 3 Folder 73
Heart Studios
Box 3 Folder 74
Helvardsen-Kohn Opticals, Inc.
Box 3 Folder 75
Hogarth Guild
Box 3 Folder 76
Hollywood Selections
Box 3 Folder 77
Hollywood Showcase
Box 3 Folder 78
H.R.A. and Associates Homosexual Research Association
Box 3 Folder 79
Homophile Youth Movement - HYMN
Box 3 Folder 80
House of David
Box 3 Folder 81
House of Price
Box 3 Folder 82
IPS - International Phallic Society, Ltd.
Box 3 Folder 83
Ionos Mailers
Box 3 Folder 84
Jay Mitchell Studios
Box 3 Folder 85
Jensen Ent., Mark
Box 3 Folder 86
Joe Miller Studio
Box 3 Folder 87
Kamera
Box 3 Folder 88
Robert Kent
Box 3 Folder 89
Mr. Kenneth
Box 3 Folder 90
Marie Kis
Box 3 Folder 91
L'Affaire
Box 3 Folder 92
Leather Lads
Box 3 Folder 93
Leung's
Box 3 Folder 94
Leisure Mailers
Box 3 Folder 95
Limited Publishers Guild
Box 3 Folder 96
LSI
Box 3 Folder 97
Lunar Sales
Box 3 Folder 98
Lux Publications
Box 3 Folder 99
Lyle Stuart, Inc.
Box 3 Folder 100
Merlin Photographic
Box 3 Folder 101
Metro Books
Box 3 Folder 102
M.D. Press
Box 3 Folder 102
MPS Associates
Box 3 Folder 104
Madison Square Books
Box 3 Folder 105
John Merryweather Inc. - JMI
Box 3 Folder 106
Magazine of Modern Sex
Box 3 Folder 107
Mid-City
Box 3 Folder 108
Male Call
Box 3 Folder 109
Midwest Photo Services
Box 3 Folder 110
Milo of Los Angeles
Box 3 Folder 111
Mino-Cini
Box 3 Folder 112
Monarch Products
Box 3 Folder 113
NAA
Box 3 Folder 114
National Productions
Box 3 Folder 115
Eddie Nelson and Associates
Box 4 Folder 1
Marlboro Publishing Company
Box 4 Folder 2
Nema
Box 4 Folder 3
Newbern Company
Box 4 Folder 4
New York Hymnal
Box 4 Folder 5
Nova Arts
Box 4 Folder 6
Northern News/Greyhuff
Box 4 Folder 7
Olympia Selections
Box 4 Folder 8
One, Incorporated
Box 4 Folder 9
Mark IV Enterprises, Inc.
Box 4 Folder 10
M. Maurice
Box 4 Folder 11
Maytime Production Co. Inc.
Box 4 Folder 12
Media Arts
Box 4 Folder 13
Media-Data, Inc.
Box 4 Folder 14
The Medical Press of New York
Box 4 Folder 15
Medical Products of New York
Box 4 Folder 16
Medon Dist., Ltd.
Box 4 Folder 17
Barbara Martine
Box 4 Folder 18
Option Publishes Corp.
Box 4 Folder 19
Osiris
Box 4 Folder 20
Overstock Book Co. Inc.
Box 4 Folder 21
Pacifica
Box 4 Folder 22
Pan Graphic, Inc.
Box 4 Folder 23
Panu-Co.
Box 4 Folder 24
Paramount Classics
Box 4 Folder 25
Park-Miller Theatre
Box 4 Folder 26
Parkway House
Box 4 Folder 27
Paulchen Enterprises
Box 4 Folder 28
Pen Pals International
Box 4 Folder 29
Penitentiary Publishing
Box 4 Folder 30
Pent-R Books, Inc.
Box 4 Folder 31
Pen-Vib
Box 4 Folder 32
Peters, Inc.
Box 4 Folder 33
Pharaoh Designs, Ltd.
Box 4 Folder 34
Photographer's Choice
Box 4 Folder 35
Photographer's Guild
Box 4 Folder 36
Lioneer Enterprises
Box 4 Folder 37
La Plume
Box 4 Folder 38
Poses
Box 4 Folder 39
Potpourri
Box 4 Folder 40
Powell Enterprises
Box 4 Folder 41
Premier
Box 4 Folder 42
Premium Productions
Box 4 Folder 43
Art Printz
Box 4 Folder 44
Private Audience Films, Co.
Box 4 Folder 45
Private Collections, Inc.
Box 4 Folder 46
QQ Publ. Co.
Box 4 Folder 47
Alan Rand
Box 4 Folder 48
Rand Mailers
Box 4 Folder 49
Randolph P.A.
Box 4 Folder 50
RAS Enterprises
Box 4 Folder 51
The Reel Thing - Candor Productions
Box 4 Folder 52
Regal Book Company
Box 4 Folder 53
Regent House
Box 4 Folder 54
Rex
Box 4 Folder 55
Riviera Company
Box 4 Folder 56
Riviera Enterprises
Box 4 Folder 57
Roberts
Box 4 Folder 58
John Rodriguez
Box 4 Folder 59
Rogue Studios
Box 4 Folder 60
Roger of Hollywood
Box 4 Folder 61
Romans
Box 4 Folder 62
Rogy's
Box 4 Folder 63
Safe-P-Products
Box 4 Folder 64
S and D Products
Box 4 Folder 65
Le Salon
Box 4 Folder 66
Scandia
Box 4 Folder 67
Seven Star Productions
Box 4 Folder 68
Sex Research Reports, Inc.
Box 4 Folder 69
Sex and Society, Inc.
Box 4 Folder 70
SFA - Sexual Freedom Associates
Box 4 Folder 71
Shamrock Distributors
Box 4 Folder 72
Shaz Press Inc.
Box 4 Folder 73
Robert Sherwood
Box 4 Folder 74
Show Enterprises
Box 4 Folder 75
S.I.I.
Box 4 Folder 76
Mr. Sir.
Box 4 Folder 77
Synergistic Mail Corp.
Box 4 Folder 78
Social Research Corp.
Box 4 Folder 79
Soldyrelse
Box 4 Folder 80
Space Trac
Box 4 Folder 81
Spartan Book and Film Club
Box 4 Folder 82
Specialty Items Co.
Box 4 Folder 83
Spectra
Box 4 Folder 84
Stardak Publishing Co., Inc.
Box 4 Folder 85
Stevens Agency
Box 4 Folder 86
S.P. Stober
Box 4 Folder 87
Sovereign Advertising, Inc.
Box 4 Folder 88
Jim Stryker
Box 4 Folder 89
Studio "9"
Box 4 Folder 90
Studio Bookshop
Box 4 Folder 91
Skyward Productions
Box 4 Folder 92
Studio Press
Box 4 Folder 93
Studio Services
Box 4 Folder 94
Sunshine Beach Club
Box 4 Folder 95
Swednafilm Internationale
Box 4 Folder 96
Tangents; Target
Box 4 Folder 97
T.A.P.
Box 4 Folder 98
Telstar Productions
Box 4 Folder 99
Temple Rialto
Box 4 Folder 100
Terry Sanders
Box 4 Folder 101
Therapeutic Products Co.
Box 4 Folder 102
Timely Books
Box 4 Folder 102
Tom Kelley
Box 4 Folder 104
Toro
Box 4 Folder 105
Tropic Book Service
Box 4 Folder 106
T.R.T.
Box 4 Folder 107
Tru-Art
Box 4 Folder 108
Alan Tuck Assoc.
Box 4 Folder 109
Ultima Sales Co.
Box 4 Folder 110
Turnabout Enterprises
Box 4 Folder 111
U.N.C.L.E.
Box 4 Folder 112
United Surgical Distrs.
Box 4 Folder 113
Universal Enterprises
Box 4 Folder 114
Universal Sales
Box 4 Folder 115
Universal Specialties
Box 4 Folder 116
University Press
Box 4 Folder 117
Vagabond Club
Box 4 Folder 118
Venture Books
Box 4 Folder 119
Vigor and Vitality Books
Box 4 Folder 120
Viking Enterprises
Box 4 Folder 121
Visual Enterprises
Box 4 Folder 122
Visual Information and Education
Box 4 Folder 123
Waterfront Books
Box 4 Folder 124
Westrep Associates
Box 4 Folder 125
West Studios
Box 4 Folder 126
Williamshouse Associates
Box 4 Folder 127
Wingate and Bevins
Box 4 Folder 128
Wishbone Productions, Inc.
Box 4 Folder 129
XXX
Box 4 Folder 130
Zephyr Publications, Inc.