Finding Aid to the Richard Denton Papers, 1931-1988 Coll2014-033
Loni Shibuyama
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources.
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
© 2015
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90007
askone@usc.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Title: Richard Denton papers
creator:
Denton, Richard
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2014-033
Physical Description:
4.8 Linear Feet
3 boxes, 2 cartons, 1 flat box.
Date (inclusive): 1931-1988
Abstract: Avengers Motorcycle Club administrative records, subject files on gay and lesbian organizations, and personal papers, 1931-1988,
from Richard Denton. Denton worked as a minister and librarian for Presbyterian churches throughout California. In the 1970s
he became a member and officer of Avengers, a gay motorcycle club.
Container: Acc0000.028*
Biography
William Richard Denton grew up in Seattle, Washington, and graduated from Queen Anne High School in 1947. Denton worked as
a minister and librarian for Presbyterian churches in Reno, Nevada, and throughout Southern California. In the 1950s-1960s,
Denton was married to a woman named Margie, and they had three children. In the 1970s he became a member and officer of Avengers,
a gay motorcycle club.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Date and method of acquisition unknown.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder #, or item name] Richard Denton Papers, Coll2014-033, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California.
Processing Information
Formerly boxes #103-282, 103-307, 104-004, 104-037, and 104-038. Collection processed by Loni Shibuyama, August 2014.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of Avengers Motorcycle Club administrative records, correspondence, subject files, publicity material,
manuscripts, notes, photographs, and other documents from Richard Denton. The Avengers administrative records were compiled
in scrapbooks and include meeting minutes and publicity material
documenting Avengers' activities and that of other gay motorcycle clubs from 1977 to 1981. Subject files on gay and lesbian
organizations and leather/BDSM clubs are also included. Denton's personal papers document his career as a librarian and former
minister in Presbyterian churches throughout California and Nevada; his family, including his wife Margie and three children;
and his interest in campanology, the study of bells.
Arrangement
This collection is divided into two series:
Series 1. Avengers Motorcycle Club and subject files
Series 2. Personal papers
Separated Materials
The following have been separated to the ONE newsletter collection:
Blair Blurbs: The newsletter of the United Methodist Gay Caucus, Vol. 1, No. 1 (1975).
The Butterfly, ONE in Los Angeles, 1978.
Cheery Chalkboard: Gay Teachers of Los Angeles, October 1978.
Chronicles of Leather Mania, Vol. 14-18 (1976).
Compass, Vol. 5, No. 3 (May 1977).
Concern: Newsletter of the Southern California Council on Religiion and the Homophile, October 1966.
The Empty Closet, Iss. 70 (March 1977).
Focus: Gay Community Center of Orange County, February-April 1976.
Guyads, Vol. 1, No. 1-3 (1974-1975).
HELP (Homophile Effort for Legal Protection) Newsletter, 1975-1976.
The Informant, a Consumer Newsletter for Gays, January 1976.
Neighbors newsletter, January 1976.
Open Forum, American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, 1976-1977.
Stonewall Report, August 1976.
Vacavalley Star (newsletter), 1974-1975.
The Way Out Scene, September 1975.
The West Sider, 1974-1975.
Whitman-Radclyffe Foundation Newsletter, 1974 and 1976.
The following items have been separated from the collection:
Ah Men catalogs, 1978.
"Florida Orange Juice is Hazardous to Your Existence" poster, 1977.
Official Gay Freedom Day Program (San Francisco), 1976.
Playgirl Calendar, 1976.
Related Materials
#AC2562, Dick Denton at his office in Claremont [sound recording], Brian James Miller Papers, Coll2014-010, ONE National Gay
& Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Bells
Christian gays
Gay motorcycle clubs -- California -- Los Angeles
Gays -- Religious life
Leather lifestyle
Denton, Richard
Box 1-2, 4
Avengers Motorcycle Club and subject files Series 1
1957-1984
Scope and Contents
This series comprises Avengers Motorcycle Club administrative records, clippings, merchandise catalogs, publicity material,
bibliographies, flyers, and other material, 1957-1984, collected by Denton. The Avengers administrative records were compiled
in scrapbooks and include meeting minutes and publicity material documenting Avengers' activities and that of other gay motorcycle
clubs from 1977 to 1981. The remaining subject files include materials from gay and lesbian organizations and leather/BDSM
clubs.
Arrangement
Avengers Motorcycle Club administrative records are at the beginning of this series. The remaining folders are arranged alphabetically.
Box 1, Folder 1-19
Avengers Motorcycle Club administrative records
1977-1981
Box 4, Folder 1
Avengers Motorcycle Club flyer draft
Undated
Box 1, Folder 20
Advocate publicity material
1975-1977
Box 1, Folder 21
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California publicity material
1977
Box 1, Folder 27-31
Catalogs, clothing and products
1957-1959
Box 2, Folder 1-2
Catalogs, miscellaneous
1957-1970
Box 2, Folder 7
Edward Barron catalog
1975
Box 2, Folder 8
Festive Enterprises order forms
1974
Box 6, Folder 1-3
Fetish book: Enemanual I-II, Official Publication of the Fraternity of Enema Buddies
circa 1980-1988
Box 5, Folder 1-2
Fetish book: Male I
circa 1980-1988
Box 5, Folder 3-5
Fetish book: Male II
circa 1980-1988
Box 2, Folder 41
Fetish book: Masks
circa 1980-1988
Box 6, Folder 4-6
Fetish book: S & M [sadomasochism] I
1983
Box 5, Folder 6-7
Fetish book: Moral Majority
circa 1980-1988
Box 2, Folder 9
Forestt of Brooklyn Heights catalog
1974
Box 2, Folder 10
Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center
1974-1976
Box 2, Folder 11
GSF Organization flyers
1975
Box 2, Folder 12
Homophile Effort for Legal Protection (HELP)
1974-1977
Box 2, Folder 13
Leather and motorcycle accessory catalogs
1970-1979
Box 2, Folder 14
Leather organizations
1974-1977
Box 2, Folder 16-18
Mail order erotica and BDSM (bondage, discipline, and sadomasochism) accessories
circa 1970-1979
Box 2, Folder 15
Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) of Pomona Valley
1976-1984
Box 2, Folder 21
Richards Alan Company
1957
Box 2, Folder 22
Society for Individual Rights (SIR)
1973
Box 2, Folder 23
Society of Pat Rocco Enlightened Enthusiasts (SPREE)
1975-1977
Box 2, Folder 24
Sun Coral newsletter and flyers
1977
Box 2, Folder 25
Tail correspondence
1974-1978
Box 2, Folder 27
Whitman Radclyffe Foundation
1974
Box 2, Folder 28
World Organization Against Evil
Undated
Box 2, Folder 29
Zero to Success
1973-1974
Box 2-4
Personal papers Series 2
1931-1988
Scope and Contents
This series comprises correspondence, manuscripts, photographs, employment documents, clippings, newsletters, and other personal
papers, 1931-1988, documenting Richard Denton's life and interests. The bulk of the materials document his career as a librarian
and former minister in Presbyterian churches throughout California and Nevada; his family, including his wife Margie and three
children; and his interest in campanology, the study of bells.
Arrangement
Clippings about Richard Denton are at the beginning of this series, followed by correspondence. The remaining folders are
arranged alphabetically.
Box 2, Folder 35
Clippings about Denton and family members
1943-1979
Box 2, Folder 37
Correspondence, G. Rudy
1974
Box 2, Folder 38
Correspondence, Marcus Sen
1957
Box 2, Folder 40
Award certificate and name plate
Undated
Box 3, Folder 2
American Bell Association convention materials and photographs
1969
Box 3, Folder 3
American Bell Association correspondence
1958-1972
Box 3, Folder 4-6
Bells and campanology
1950-1975
Box 3, Folder 7-8
Southern California Campanologist Club
1958-1973
Box 3, Folder 12-14
Bible scripture and sermon notes
1951-1960
Box 3, Folder 9
Boy Scouts service record
1968-1974
Box 2, Folder 3
Christian periodicals
1972-1979
Box 4, Folder 3
Christmas greeting cards
1955-1966
Box 3, Folder 11
Denton's Belfry newsletter
1970--1979
Box 3, Folder 15
Finding Our Own Ways newsletter
1987-1988
Box 3, Folder 16
First Presbyterian Church (Oakland)
1957-1958
Box 3, Folder 18
Kato Tribe Pomona
1963-1965
Box 3, Folder 19
Notes and diary entries
1984-1986
Box 3, Folder 20
Presbytery of Los Angeles
1959-1976
Box 3, Folder 21
St. John's and Reno churches
1953-1956
Box 3, Folder 23
San Francisco Theological Seminary
1952-1963
Box 3, Folder 22
San Francisco Theological Seminary Choir Tour
1947-1960
Box 3, Folder 24
Social Security for Clergy information pamphlet
1951-1965
Box 3, Folder 25
Southern California School of Theology at Claremont
1959-1985
Box 3, Folder 26
Synod of California
1954-1958
Box 3, Folder 27
Travel documents, "Dick's Trip; Business Convention and Visits"
1984
Box 3, Folder 28
University of Southern California (USC) School of Library Science
1959-1964
Box 3, Folder 29
Westminster and Seattle churches
1931-1947
Box 3, Folder 30
Westminster Marriage Service
1948-1960