Robert R. Hodges papers, 1963-1994, bulk 1977-1983

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Summary

Creators:
Hodges, Robert R.
Abstract:
This collection comprises the papers of Robert R. Hodges, professor emeritus of English and Comparative Literature at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) and activist in the gay liberation movement in Southern California and nationally in the 1970s and 1980s. His papers include minutes and other administrative material from national and Los Angeles chapter meetings of the Gay Academic Union (GAU), a variety of GAU newsletters, and other materials relating to scholarly conferences held by the GAU. His papers also contain a small quantity of research files, as well as files relating to the Orange County chapter of the Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club (a gay political group), the Modern Language Association (MLA) Gay Caucus, gays in the military and the ROTC on CSU campuses (ca. 1990-1992), activism against the Briggs Initiative (Proposition 6), and other gay issues on the CSUF campus. Also included are letters from Hodges to his life partner, Charles Hensley.
Extent:
1.3 Linear Feet (1 box and 1 oversize folder)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Robert R. Hodges papers. MS-R117. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection comprises the papers of Robert R. Hodges, professor emeritus of English and Comparative Literature at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) and activist in the gay liberation movement in Southern California and nationally in the 1970s and 1980s. His papers include minutes and other administrative material from national and Los Angeles chapter meetings of the Gay Academic Union (GAU), a variety of GAU newsletters, and other materials relating to scholarly conferences held by the GAU. His papers also contain a small quantity of research files, as well as files relating to the Orange County chapter of the Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club (a gay political group), the Modern Language Association (MLA) Gay Caucus, gays in the military and the ROTC on CSU campuses (ca. 1990-1992), activism against the Briggs Initiative (Proposition 6), and other gay issues on the CSUF campus. Also included are letters from Hodges to his life partner, Charles Hensley.

Biographical / historical:

Robert R. Hodges is a professor emeritus of English and Comparative Literature at California State University, Fullerton, who was active in the gay liberation movement in Southern California and nationally in the 1970s and 1980s. He was a charter member of the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Western Gay Academic Union (GAU) in 1976 and served on the national Board of Directors for the GAU as a representative of the Los Angeles chapter.

Hodges received his B.A. from Valparaiso University, his M.A. from University of Missouri, and his Ph.D. from Stanford University. He was interested in gay themes in 20th-century English and American literature and focused on the work of Joseph Conrad. Hodges published The Dual Heritage of Joseph Conrad (The Hague: Mouton) in 1967.

GAU was founded in New York City in 1973 to promote the collection and dissemination of scholarly information about gays, and to help end discrimination against gays in colleges, universities, and elsewhere. Membership was composed of academic administrators, faculty, staff, and students. GAU grew over time to include local chapters. The national organization held annual conferences on topics related to gays in the academy and published a quarterly newsletter. The organization was disbanded in 1984.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Robert R. Hodges, 2004 and Howard Seller, 2023.
Custodial history:

Robert Hodges gave his papers to Barbara Muirhead and Dick Hitt for use in the Historical Orange County Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Time Line Project, with the intent that they be donated to the UC Irvine Libraries Department of Special Collections and Archives.

Processing information:

Processed by William Landis, 2004. Finding aid created by Audrey Pearson, 2007. Updated by Zoe MacLeod, 2023.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in alphabetical order by subject or document type.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

Preferred citation:

Robert R. Hodges papers. MS-R117. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Location of this collection:
P.O. Box 19557
Irvine, CA , US
Contact:
(949) 824-3947
spcoll@uci.libanswers.com
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