Stephen Donaldson papers, 1965-1998.

Links

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Creator

Donaldson, Stephen.

Location

Manuscripts and Archives Division

Extent

• 11 linear feet (24 boxes).

Access Restrictions

Advance notice required. Apply at http://www.nypl.org/mssref

Scope/Contents Notes

The Stephen Donaldson Papers document the varied career and turbulent personal history of the writer, editor and activist.

The date span of the papers is 1965-1998. They include manuscripts, typescripts, and publication tearsheets of Donaldson's writings, editorial and administrative papers for the unpublished Concise Encyclopedia of Homosexuality,personal and professional correspondence, news clippings and printed material, photographs, audiotapes, and a few items of clothing and ephemera. The Stephen Donaldson Papers are an important resource for the study of gay and bisexual activism, prisoners and prison life and American counter-cultural movements from the 1960s-90s. Donaldson'scorrespondence and writings provide a fascinating view of the 1968 student uprising at Columbia University, the origins of the gay student movement, the sexual revolutionof the late-1960s and drug use within the youth subcultureof that period. Also documented from a first-hand perspective is Donaldson's ground-breaking fight against his General Discharge from the U.S. Navy for suspected homosexual involvement. Donaldson's letters regarding the case are complemented by news clippings, press releases and copies of Navy records.

The papers also contain much information on Donaldson's wide-ranging interests, including Indian religions, the history of sexuality, gay and bisexual activism, prison conditions and the sexual victimization of male prisoners,punk rock music and the punk subculture. Visual materials include photoprints, photocopies, negatives and drawings of Stephen Donaldson, scenes from his travels, his friendsand colleagues and various punk rock performances. Audiotape cassettes contain interviews and lectures by Stephen Donaldson and others on the topics of male sexual victimization and prisoner rape, bisexual activism and punk rock.

Biographical/Historical Notes

Stephen Donaldson was a writer, editor and activist noted for his interest in gay and bisexual politics, the sexual victimization of male prison inmates, Indian religions andpunk rock music.

Stephen Donaldson was born Robert A. Martin, Jr. on July27, 1946. He attended Columbia University (B.A. 1970) where he founded the Student Homophile League and was active in the North American Conference of Homophile Organizations. During his undergraduate summers he worked as a reporter for the Associated Press and Virginia Pilot,and as an intern in the offices of two U.S. Congressmen. In 1970 Donaldson enlisted in the U.S. Navy, but was released by General Discharge two years later on grounds of suspected homosexual involvement. His unprecedented public campaign against the discharge failed, though he eventually won an upgrade to Honorable. From 1972-77 Donaldson was involved with the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), and led the group's bisexual caucus. In1973 he was arrested at a Quaker peace protest at the White House, and was sexually assaulted by inmates in the Washington D.C. jail. This experience led to his activism on the issue of male sexual victimization, most notably with the organization Stop Prisoner Rape. During the 1980s-90s Donaldson wrote (often under the pseudonym "Donny thePunk") for magazines and underground publications on such topics as punk rock, prison conditions, religion and sexuality. He was assistant editor of the Encyclopedia of Homosexuality (1990) and editor-in-chief of an unpublishedrevision of that work. Stephen Donaldson died in New York City of an AIDS-related illness on July 18, 1996.

Controlled Access Terms

• Donaldson, Stephen.
• Columbia University -- Student strike, 1968.
• Columbia University -- Students -- Political activity.
• Student Homophile League.
• North American Conference of Homophile Organizations.
• Stop Prisoner Rape.
• Bisexual college students -- United States.
• Bisexual men -- United States.
• Bisexuality -- Religious aspects.
• Bisexuals -- United States.
• Gay activists.
• Gay and lesbian studies.
• Gay liberation movement.
• Gay men -- United States.
• Gay men's writings, American.
• Gay rights.
• Gays -- United States.
• Gay military personnel.
• Gays' writings, American.
• Male rape.
• Male rape victims -- United States.
• Prisoners -- Sexual behavior.
• Prisoners -- United States -- Correspondence.
• Prisoners as authors -- United States.
• Prisoners' writings, American.
• Punk culture.
• Punk rock music -- United States -- History and criticism.
• Audiotapes.
• Correspondence.
• Diaries.
• Floppy disks.
• Manuscripts.
• Photoprints.
• Typescripts.
• Editors.

Additional Creator Names

• Abzug, Bella S., 1920-1998.
• Dynes, Wayne R.
• Kameny, Frank, 1925-2011.
• Koch, Ed, 1924-
• Visano, L. A.