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LGBT calendars

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-Coll-59

Scope and Contents

The LGBT calendar collection contains various sorts of historic calendars with an LGBT theme. Most frequent are those aimed at gay men which feature nude or nearly nude male models. Some of these fetishize a particular racial or ethnic group, including Black, Latino, or Asian men, and others focus on physical characteristics such as youth, hairiness, or endowment, or on subcultures such as the Levis and leather scene or drag. Many of the producers of these calendars are in fact publishers of pornography magazines and videos marketed to gay men.

There are also calendars that celebrate or commemorate other aspects the LGBT community, such as Pride or the AIDS crisis, or feature the visual work of LGBT artists, such as Keith Haring. Only a few of the calendars in this collection feature or are targeted specifically at women, but include some featuring the popular lesbian cartoon "Dykes to Watch Out For" as well as a calendar/journal that features lesbian "herstory." None in this collection are directly marketed to the transgender community.

The calendars range from 1971 to 2017. Some of the earliest calendars from the 1970s are quite rare. Some of the calendars have been "used" before being donated and include handwritten appointments and other inscriptions throughout. Others are in mint condition. Some have undergone water damage in the past.

The calendars are arranged physically by size but appear in the finding aid in alphabetical order by title.

Dates

  • 1971 - 2017

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright restrictions may exist. It is the responsibility of the requester to seek permission from the holder of the copyright to reproduce material from the John J. Wilcox, Jr. LGBT Archives of the William Way LGBT Community Center.

Biographical / Historical

Decorative calendars have a long and varied history. Those marketed to the LGBT community began to flourish in the 1970s with the advent of the gay liberation movement. Pin-up or nude calendars, once the province of an underground press, became more wide-spread with the loosening of laws related to the production, distribution, purchase, or possession of pornography.

Extent

.4 Linear feet (3 document boxes, 2 flat boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Decorative calendars have a long and varied history. Those marketed to the LGBT community began to flourish in the 1970s with the advent of the gay liberation movement. The LGBT calendar collection contains various sorts of historic calendars with an LGBT theme including those aimed at gay men which feature nude or nearly nude male models, and those that celebrate or commemorate other aspects the LGBT community.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Multiple individual gifts.

Related Materials

At John J. Wilcox, Jr. Archives of the William Way LGBT Community Center:

Philadelphia AIDS Library graphics collection contains several calendars with an HIV/AIDS theme.

Tom Wilson Weinberg papers, 1974-2013, Ms. Coll. 39, includes a memorial calendar for HIV/AIDS activist Dominic Bash.

Title
LGBT calendars
Status
Completed
Author
John Anderies
Date
January 18, 2018
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the John J. Wilcox, Jr. LGBT Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center Repository

Contact:
1315 Spruce Street
Philadelphia PA 19107
215-732-2220