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LGBTQ Institute's Jim Allen papers

 Collection
Identifier: Q149

Scope and Contents of the Papers

The LGBTQ Institute's Jim Allen's papers, 1956-2016 (bulk 1989-1993) consist of documents surrounding his work as an AIDS Activist in Atlanta with the group ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), from the late 1980s to late 1990s, with the motto "Silence = Death". Much of the gay community was trying to understand and fight the AIDS epidemic. The papers consist of flyers, fact sheets, correspondence, articles, surveys, questionnaires and a variety of ephemera from the many demonstrations and activist activities he was championing.

Dates

  • Creation: 1956-2016
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1989 - 1993

Creator

Restrictions on Access

Access to some items removed from series I is restricted for 75 years from the date 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 Jim Allen

James E. Allen (born 1954) was raised in Winter Park, Florida, within an Irish Catholic family of 11 brothers and sisters. He has always liked the rare and unusual and has a passion for Civil Rights memorabilia. He became a "picker" of antiques, some of which are now housed at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC and the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. He amassed a major collection of lynching photographs and postcards and photographs in his antique business. In 2000, Allen published Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography in America (with contributions by Representative John Lewis, Leon Litwack, and Hilton Als) from his collection. The following year he placed the photos on exhibit in New York to help draw worldwide attention to America's history of racial violence. When the National Center for Civil and Human Rights opened in 2014, it displayed the exhibit as part of its permanent collection.

During the AIDS crisis in the mid to late 1980s he became an Atlanta activist with the group "AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power" (ACT UP). ACT Up was a diverse, non-partisan group united in frustration and committed to ending the AIDS crisis through protest and other forms of civil disobedience.

Extent

39.2 Linear Feet (in 43 containers)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The LGBTQ Institute's Jim Allen papers, 1956-2016 (bulk 1989-1993), includes articles, clippings, correspondence, flyers, petitions, and protest ephemera and photographs of the many protests ACT UP organized in Atlanta. The materials relate to the many challenges posed to people with HIV during the height of the AIDS crisis.

Provenance Information

After being received by the Center for Civil and Human Rights, the collection was housed at the Atlanta History Center from circa 2013 until transfer to Georgia State University Library.

Acquisition Information

Donated on behalf of the LGBT Institute of the Center for Civil and Human Rights, 2016.

Separated Material

Separated to Special Collections books; see archivist for list

Collection Transfer Note

This collection was previously designated W149, but was assigned collection number Q149 with the formationĀ of the Gender and Sexuality Collection in 2018.

Processing Information

Processed by Samantha Harvil, Morna Gerrard and Hilary Morrish at the file level, 2017.

Title
Jim Allen:
Subtitle
A Guide to His Papers at Georgia State University Library
Status
Completed
Author
Samantha Harvel and Hilary Morrish
Date
Spring 2017
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:
100 Decatur St., S.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
404-413-2880
404-413-2881 (Fax)