Descriptive Summary
Important Information for Researchers
Historical Background
Collection Scope and Content Summary
Collection Arrangement
Processing Note
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: Photograph albums of West Street Beach gay volleyball
Date: 1973-1975
Collection Number: MS-R110
Creator:
Minnucci, Jerry
Extent:
1.6 linear feet
(3 boxes)
Languages: The collection is in English.
Repository:
University of California, Irvine. Library. Special Collections and Archives.
Irvine, California 92623-9557
Abstract: This collection comprises three albums of photographs taken and assembled by Jerry Minnucci and given to Robert Major documenting
a group of gay volleyball players between 1973 and 1975 in Laguna Beach, California. The photographs are chiefly of men playing
volleyball on West Street Beach and socializing in other locations. None of the men are identified by name.
Important Information for Researchers
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
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
Photograph albums of West Street Beach gay volleyball. MS-R110. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries,
Irvine, California.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Stuart Baron, 2003.
Custodial History
The albums were given to Stuart Baron upon the death of Robert Major.
Processing History
Processed by Audrey Pearson, 2007.
Historical Background
West Street Beach has been a popular recreation and meeting place for Southern California gays and lesbians since 1972. The
volleyball group represented in the albums played from 1972 to circa 1988. The courts, nets, and balls were supplied by the
players, many of whom came from Los Angeles on weekends. The core group of players consisted of 30 to 50 men, many of whom
later died of AIDS.
Jerry Minnucci worked for the American Broadcasting Corporation in the publicity department. Minnucci photographed the players
and assembled the photograph albums as gifts for Robert Major.
Robert Major was the sponsor of a gay volleyball group who called themselves the "Majorettes" and played at the West Street
Beach in Laguna Beach, California. The volleyball court was later named after Major.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
This collection comprises three photograph albums assembled by Jerry Minnucci and given to Robert Major. The albums document
a group of gay volleyball players between 1973 and 1975 in Laguna Beach, California. The photographs are chiefly of men playing
volleyball on West Street Beach and socializing in other locations. None of the men are identified by name. The original
photographs were cut into small squares and pasted to the photograph albums by Minnucci, creating a mosaic effect.
Collection Arrangement
This collection is arranged in chronological order.
Processing Note
Over time, many of the photograph pieces became detached. During processing these were pasted back into place. The albums
were unbound and individual pages sleeved in mylar to prevent the loss of any pieces.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Volleyball -- California -- Laguna Beach -- Photographs.
Gays and sports -- California -- Laguna Beach.
Gay men -- California -- Laguna Beach -- Photographs.
Gay men -- California -- Laguna Beach -- Social life and customs -- Photographs.
Laguna Beach (Calif.) -- Photographs.
Genres and Formats of Materials
Photographic prints -- California -- Orange County.
Contributors
Major, Robert, former owner.
Baron, Stuart, former owner.
No online items
