Depictions mainly of African American writer and gay activist Joseph Beam from the mid to late 1980s, consisting of studio portraits of Beam, including publicity photographs for his anthology "In the Life" (1986); stylized portraits of Beam posing at his typewriter (ca. 1987); candid shots of Beam in Giovanni's Room, the Philadelphia gay and lesbian bookstore from where he began his activism (ca. 1980s); and views of Beam writing and giving a talk. Depictions of Beam's personal life, which are limited, include Beam with his cadet troop at St. Thomas More High School, Philadelphia (late 1960s), and candid shots of Beam graduating from Franklin College, Franklin, Indiana (1976), and with his father, Sun (n.d.).Also included is Beam's collection of publicity photographs of mostly gay and lesbian writers and entertainers that include writers Essex Hemphill, Evelyn C. Wright, Barbara Smith and Pat Parker; filmmaker Michelle Parkerson; and music performers Linda Tillary, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Casselberry-DuPreé, and Xotika with Assotto Saint. Also depicted are publicity photographs promoting Black gay male pride and works by gay and lesbian writers; views of gay rights demonstrations, panel discussions, gay organization conferences and music performances; reproductions of book and magazine covers; and miscellaneous views of artwork, landscapes, building interiors and unidentified individuals.
Content: Some photographs bear photographer's hand stamp on verso; some items bear photographer's address label attached to verso; two items bear photographer's signature on recto.
Content: Some items bear printed or handwritten caption labels attached to verso; some items bear handwritten captions on verso or recto; some items bear printed captions on recto. Some items bear inscriptions.
Content: Some items are mounted; some items are mounted; some items are duplicates.
Content: Collection contains work by Joseph Beam, Sharon C. Farmer, Roland L. Freeman, Bryan Karl Lathrop, and Irene Young, among others.
Biographical/historical: Joseph Beam, 1954-1988, was an African American gay activist and writer who, as an author and editor of several gay publications, worked to bring greater acceptance of the Black gay community by equating the gay experience with the American civil rights movement. His most noted work, "In the Life: a Black Gay Anthology," was edited by Beam and published in 1986.
Content: Forms part of the Joseph Beam Papers, 1967-1990.
Physical Description
Extent: 204 items (.5 cubic ft., 2 boxes)
Extent: 111 photographic prints :gelatin silver, black and white, one stat ;21 x 26 cm and smaller.
Extent: 16 photographic prints : color ; 21 x 26 cm and smaller.
Extent: 6 photomechanical prints : black and white, one color ; 21 x 26 cm and smaller.
Extent: 3 slides : color ; 5 x 5 cm
Extent: 68 negatives : gelatin silver, black and white ; 10 x 13 cm and smaller.
