Claude R. Schwob papers
1926-1998
Title: Claude R. Schwob papers
Dates: 1926-1998
Collection Number: 2003-12
Creator/Collector:
Extent: 4.85 linear feet (1 carton, 7 boxes, 1 rolled item (in oversize box), 1 oversize folder)
Repository:
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society
Abstract: The Claude Schwob papers document the scientist’s professional, personal and erotic life. Schwob (1910-2000) was a research
nuclear chemist who worked on the Manhattan Project. The collection contains photographs, erotica, correspondence, materials
about his scientific career, slides, 8mm film, and artifacts.
Language of Material: English
Collection is open for research.
Claude R. Schwob papers. Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society
Gift of Trent R. Dunphy on April 9, 2003.
Biography/Administrative History
Claude Schwob (June 16, 1910-July 24, 2000) was born in New York and grew up in France. He received his B.S. M.S. and doctorate
in Chemistry from Fordham University in 1931, and taught at the University’s St. Peter’s College. He enlisted in the U.S.
Army during WWII. He volunteered for the Chemical Warfare Service (soon renamed the Chemical Corps) and worked on the Manhattan
Project at the University of Chicago and Los Alamos, New Mexico. He taught at Chicago’s Carnegie Institute of Technology until
1947. In 1948, he applied for a position at the U S. Naval Radiological Defense Lab in San Francisco, where he spent the remainder
of his professional life. He became one of the nation’s foremost experts on radiation and the focus of his work was safe ways
of detecting, preventing, and responding to radiation exposure. According to his obituary in the B.A.R., Schwob loved San
Gregorio beach, the Russian River, the pool at the Oasis, beautiful men and photography. He supported programs for homeless
gay youth, such as Hospitality House. During much of his adult life, Schwob collected or took photographs of nude young men
and accumulated a large number of these prints. According to the donor of his papers Schwob continued to be sexually active
until close to his death at age 90.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Claude Schwob papers document the scientist’s professional, personal and erotic life. Schwob (1910-2000) was a research
nuclear chemist who worked on the Manhattan Project. After his time in New Mexico, he relocated to San Francisco and worked
at the U.S. Naval Radiological Defense Lab. He was one of the nation’s leading experts on radiation. For the rest of his professional
life, he identified and taught about safety issues related to radiation. On the personal side, Schwob befriended, took nude
photographs of, and mentored many young men. About half of the collection consists of prints of these photographs. The erotic
photographs are unusual in that most of were shot by Schwob, most depict male nudes without erections, and most were taken
in Schwob’s own apartments. The collection also contains correspondence, materials about his scientific career, erotic and
professional writings, slides, 8mm film, and paper ephemera and artifacts, such as matches and engineering tools.
Gay erotica
Gay men --Sexual behavior.