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Franklin Abbott papers

 Collection
Identifier: Q108

  • Staff Only

Scope and Contents of the Papers

The Franklin Abbott papers, 1907-1910, 1933, 1942, 1950-2014 [bulk, 1960-2010], include correspondence, writings and poetry, printed material, photographs, audio-visual recordings, and sound recordings. Primarily consisting of correspondence, the papers relate to Abbott's friendships and family, his creative works and his relationships with other artists, his exploration of spirituality, leadership in the Atlanta gay community, work as a psychotherapist, and activism. The papers are organized in 7 series: I. Correspondence, 1907-1910, 1951-1952, 1969-2014, undated [bulk, 1970-2012]; II. Writings and Publishing, 1968-1972, 1980-2011; III. Gay Community, 1978-2014; IV. Psychotherapy, 1973-2008; V. Personal, 1950-2014; VI. Events, 1961-1962, 1984-2014; VII. Publications, 1933, 1942, 1950-1956, 1962-1998, 2007-2014; VIII. Separated Materials.

Dates

  • 1907-1910, 1933, 1942, 1950-2014
  • Majority of material found within 1960 - 2010

Creator

Restrictions on Access

Access to portions of this collection is restricted for 75 years from the dates of creation.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Georgia State University is the owner of the physical collection and makes reproductions available for research, subject to the copyright law of the United States and item condition. Georgia State University may or may not own the rights to materials in the collection. It is the researcher's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and obtain permission from the copyright holder before publication, reproduction, or display of the materials beyond what is reasonable under copyright law. Researchers may quote selections from the collection under the fair use provision of copyright law.

Biography of Franklin Abbott

Franklin Abbott is a psychotherapist, writer, poet, artist, and gay activist. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1950, Abbott earned an undergraduate degree at Mercer University and his Master of Social Work at the University of Georgia. Since 1979, he has practiced psychotherapy in Atlanta. Abbott was an original member of the Radical Faeries and has explored numerous aspects of spirituality. He has facilitated many self-help and healing workshops on gay identity and other issues. A leading organizer in the Atlanta gay community, he co-founded the Atlanta Circle of Healing and established the Atlanta Queer Literary Festival. Abbott has corresponded with gay men, poets, and radicals from all over the world including Harry Hay, James Broughton, and Assotto Saint, and was a pioneer in the pro-feminist men's movement. The author of two books of poetry, Mortal Love: Selected Poems, 1971-1998 and Pink Zinnia (2009), he also edited three anthologies on men and gender: New Men, New Minds: Breaking Male Tradition (1987), Men and Intimacy: Personal Accounts of the Dilemmas of Modern Male Sexuality (1990), and Boyhood: Growing up Male (1993).

Extent

31.06 Linear Feet (in 74 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract:

Franklin Abbott, who has practiced psychotherapy in Atlanta since 1979, is a writer, poet, artist, and gay activist. His papers, 1907-1910, 1933, 1942, 1950-2014 [bulk, 1960-2010], include correspondence, writings and poetry, printed material, photographs, audio-visual recordings, and sound recordings that relate to Abbott's friendships and family, his creative works and his relationships with other artists, his exploration of spirituality, leadership in the Atlanta gay community, work as a psychotherapist, and activism.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Franklin Abbott, 2011-2014.

Related Archival Materials

Related Materials in Georgia State University's Digital Collections

  1. In Digital Collections' Franklin Abbott Collection: Books Franklin Abbott authored (Mortal Love and Pink Zinnia) and edited (New Men, New Minds; Men and Intimacy; and Boyhood, Growing Up Male)
  2. In Digital Collections' Franklin Abbott Collection: Photocopies from the James Broughton Papers (Special Collections and Archives, Kent State University)
  3. Digital Collections' Franklin Abbott Collection also contains selected correspondence and writings from the Abbott papers.
  4. In Digital Collections' LGBTQ Collection: Cal Gough Papers

Related Materials in This Repository

  1. Franklin Abbott oral history interview, September 30, 2011 (Q101.01). Gender and Sexuality Oral History Project
  2. Gay Spirit Visions records, 1978-2010 (Q127)

Separated Materials

Separated to Popular Culture Literature Collection (M225)

  1. Edgar Rice Burroughs' TARZAN (Dell Publishing Co., Inc.), Vol. 1, Issue 96
  2. Peanuts (Dell Publishing Co., Inc.), issue 11
  3. No Time For Sergeants (Dell Publishing Co., Inc.), Issue 914
  4. Dennis the Menace (Hallden Division of Fawcett Publications, Inc.), issue 61
  5. Archie (Archie Comic Publications, Inc.), issue 149
  6. Ivanhoe, by Sir Walter Scott, Classics Illustrated (Gilberton Company, Inc.), Issue 2
  7. Robin Hood, Classics Illustrated (Gilberton Company, Inc.), Issue 7
  8. Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes, Classics Illustrated (Gilberton Company, Inc.), Issue 11
  9. The Hunchback of Notre Dame, by Victor Hugo Classics Illustrated (Gilberton Company, Inc.), Issue 18
  10. The Man Without a Country, by Edward Everett Hale Classics Illustrated (Gilberton Company, Inc.), Issue 63
  11. The Lady of the Lake, by Sir Walter Scott, Classics Illustrated (Gilberton Company, Inc.), Issue 75
  12. Macbeth, by William Shakespeare Classics Illustrated (Gilberton Company, Inc.), Issue 128
  13. The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells Classics Illustrated (Gilberton Company, Inc.), Issue 133
  14. Waterloo, by Erchmann-Chatrian Classics Illustrated (Gilberton Company, Inc.), Issue 135
  15. A Journey to the Center of the Earth, by Jules Verne Classics Illustrated (Gilberton Company, Inc.), Issue 138
  16. With Fire and Sword, by Henryk Sienkiewicz Classics Illustrated (Gilberton Company, Inc.), Issue 146
  17. Thumbelina, by Hans Christian Anderson, Classics Illustrated Junior (Famous Authors, LTD.), Issue 520
  18. The Tinder Box, by Hans Christian Anderson, Classics Illustrated Junior (Famous Authors, LTD.), Issue 540

Separated to the Gender and Sexuality Periodical Collection (W-GS-Periodicals) see finding aid for access

  1. After Dark. New York, N.Y.: Danad Publishing, Vol. 6, No. 1 May 1973
  2. After Dark. New York, N.Y.: Danad Publishing, Vol. 6, No. 3 July 1973
  3. After Dark. New York, N.Y.: Danad Publishing, Vol. 6, No. 8 December 1973
  4. Amethyst: A Journal for Lesbians and Gay Men. Atlanta Ga: Southeastern Arts, Media & Education Project, No. 12, Fall/Winter 1994
  5. Changing Men: Issues in Gender, Sex and Politics. Madison WI: University YMCA Community Center, Issue 17, Winter 1986
  6. Eurospirit. Albuquerque, NM: Julian Spalding, Vol. 3, No. 6, June 1988
  7. The Gay Traveler. RSVP Travel Productions, 1991
  8. Short Mountain Goatzette, Short Mountain Tennessee, Winter 1984-1985
  9. Short Mountain Goatzette, Short Mountain Tennessee, Summer 1985
  10. Short Mountain Goatzette, Short Mountain Tennessee, Spring 1986
  11. Short Mountain Goatzette, Short Mountain Tennessee, Spring 1987
  12. Short Mountain Goatzette, Short Mountain Tennessee, Summer 1987
  13. Short Mountain Goatzette, Short Mountain Tennessee, Spring 1988
  14. Short Mountain Goatzette, Short Mountain Tennessee, Summer 1988
  15. Short Mountain Goatzette, Short Mountain Tennessee, Spring 1991
  16. Short Mountain Goatzette, Short Mountain Tennessee, Summer 1991
  17. Short Mountain Goatzette, Short Mountain Tennessee, Summer 1995
  18. Short Mountain Goatzette, Short Mountain Tennessee, Spring 1996
  19. Short Mountain Goatzette, Short Mountain Tennessee, Spring 2000
  20. Short Mountain Goatzette, Short Mountain Tennessee, Spring 2002
  21. Spartacus Travel Journal. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Spartacus, Number 8
  22. Spartacus Travel Journal. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Spartacus, Number 10
  23. Spartacus Travel Journal. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Spartacus, Number 11
  24. Spartacus Travel Journal. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Spartacus, Number 12
  25. Spartacus Travel Journal. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Spartacus, Number 13

Numerous monographs and books have been transferred to the Special Collections Book holdings. See online catalog for access.

Collection Transfer Note

This collection was previously designated W108, but was assigned collection number Q108 with the formation of the Gender and Sexuality Collection in 2018.

Processing Information

Processed by Chelsey Cashwell, 2013-2014. Finding aid revised by Harold Victor Hansen, Jr., 2014-2015.

Subjects

Record Groups

Related Names

Creator

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Franklin Abbott:
Subtitle
A Guide to His Papers at Georgia State University
Status
Completed
Author
Georgia State University Library
Date
October 2013
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

https://library.gsu.edu/special-collections/
Contact:
100 Decatur St., S.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
404-413-2880
404-413-2881 (Fax)

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