Robert De Andreis papers
Finding aid created by GLBT Historical Society staff using RecordEXPRESS
GLBT Historical Society
2023
989 Market Street, Lower Level
San Francisco, California 94103
(415) 777-5455
reference@glbthistory.org
http://www.glbthistory.org/
Title: Robert De Andreis papers
Dates: 1975-1995 (bulk 1988-1995)
Collection Number: 1995-13
Creator/Collector:
De Andreis, Robert
Extent: 2.2 linear feet
Repository:
GLBT Historical Society
San Francisco, California 94103
Abstract: This collection focuses on the writing and public presentations of San Francisco author Robert De Andreis, who was best known
for his weekly San Francisco Sentinel column, “HIV Commentary.” The collection contains the columns, versions of his book,
HIV Commentary: Preparation for Life’s Ultimate Journey, correspondence, personal journals, academic notebooks, information
about talks, presentations, and classes given by De Andreis, video and audio recordings of his public talks, personal records,
and photographs. The collection also contains a large volume of fan mail written to De Andreis in response to “HIV Commentary.”
Language of Material: English
Collection is open for research.
Funding for processing this collection was provided by the National
Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
Prior written permission of David De Andreis is required for commercial use of materials in the collection.
[Identification of item]. Robert De Andreis papers. Collection Number: 1995-13. GLBT Historical Society
Gift of David De Andreis in 1995.
Biography/Administrative History
Robert De Andreis, a San Francisco author, was best known for his weekly San Francisco Sentinel column, “HIV Commentary.”
De Andreis was born on October 26, 1958. He graduated from Lowell High School in San Francisco, California and attended San
Francisco Sate University where he studied art (drawing and painting). Later, De Andreis trained at the School of American
Ballet in New York. He eventually returned to San Francisco State University to earn a master’s degree in film. De Andreis
moved to Los Angeles and worked as an archivist at Paramount Studios in Hollywood and taught elementary school at Christ the
King school in Los Angeles. He also taught at Sacred Heart elementary school in San Francisco. In 1993, De Andreis began writing
“HIV Commentary,” chronicling his struggle with the virus. He won two Cable Car awards for his column. De Andreis eventually
published HIV Commentary: Preparation for Life’s Ultimate Journey, a collection of his articles. De Andreis died of AIDS complications
in 1995. He was 36.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Robert De Andreis papers contain the professional and personal writings of the San Francisco author and newspaper columnist
best known for his weekly “HIV Commentary” column in the San Francisco Sentinel. The collection includes personal and professional
correspondence, autobiographical writing, personal journals and academic notebooks, “HIV Commentary” columns and three version
of a book of his collected columns, HIV Commentary: Preparation for Life’s Ultimate Journey. The collection includes other
work by De Andreis (1958-1995), including flyers for his presentations, talks, classes and productions, as well as video and
audio recordings of some of his talks. De Andreis’ papers also contain a large volume of fan mail. The personal records in
the collection document his academic career at San Francisco State University, his teaching credentials, his professional
résumé, financial statements and photographs. There are also articles about De Andreis in the collection.
This collection is organized in 5 series:
Series 1. Writing, which includes incoming correspondence, autobiographical writings, his column, “HIV Commentary” and writing
about De Andreis
Series 2. Journals, which include personal diaries and his academic notebooks.
Series 3. Public Presentations, which include talks, presentations, classes, and productions by De Andreis and video and
audio Recordings of public talks by De Andreis.
Series 4. Fan Mail, which is organized in six large, white binders. Within the binders, the letters are not arranged chronologically.
The majority of letters have been kept in their original order. Some letters have been added to the binders because they are
fan mail.
Series 5. Personal Records, which include academic and professional credentials, financial records and photographs.
GSSO linked terms: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/GSSO_000374; http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/GSSO_008497; http://purl.bioontology.org/ontology/MESH/D008091;
http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/GSSO_000521.
Journalism
Literature
Gay men
AIDS (disease)
Diaries