R. Scott Hitt papers, 1958-2007

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Summary

Creators:
Hitt, R. Scott
Abstract:
Photographs, awards, school records, correspondence, clippings, meeting minutes, financial records, political campaign records, event and fundraising records, conference files, legal records, government initiatives and regulation materials, reports, and research materials documenting R. Scott Hitt's personal life as well as his work with HIV/AIDS research and treatment, HIV/AIDS groups and projects, LGBT politics and support services, and political campaigns, 1958-2007. Includes Hitt's records from the American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM), Access Now for Gay and Lesbian Equality (ANGLE), Equality California (EQCA), the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV and AIDS (PACHA), and Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign.
Extent:
16.75 Linear Feet 7 archive boxes, 1 archive carton, 6 archive binder boxes, and 1 flat archive box
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Box #, folder #, R. Scott Hitt Papers, Coll2013-091, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection documents R. Scott Hitt's personal life as well as his professional work on HIV/AIDS research and treatment, HIV/AIDS groups and projects, LGBT political and support services, and political campaigns, 1958-2007. The personal papers include awards, birth and death records, school records, correspondence, clippings, insurance and medical records, receipts, and a scrapbook documenting the childhood, education, family, friends, travel, housing, activities, and daily personal life of Scott Hitt. The work papers include meeting minutes, financial records, political campaign records, correspondence, event and fundraising records, conference files, legal records, government bills and regulatory materials, contact lists, AIDS/HIV articles and clippings, reports, and research materials documenting Hitt's involvement in groups such as the American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM), Access Now for Gay and Lesbian Equality (ANGLE), Equality California (EQCA), the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV and AIDS (PACHA), and Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign. The photographs document his work for politicians, AIDS/HIV causes, and gay rights, as well as his personal life.

Biographical / historical:

R. Scott Hitt was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana in 1958. Hitt was raised in Tucson, Arizona where he graduated high school at the age of 16. Starting medical school at the University of Arizona School of Medicine at the age of 20, Hitt earned his medical degree in 1983 and went on to become a Los Angeles-based physician specializing in HIV/AIDS treatment. During the late 1980s when the AIDS epidemic was ravaging the gay community, Hitt became politically involved in supporting HIV/AIDS treatment and research as well as gay rights issues.

Hitt became a nationally recognized speaker on HIV treatment and care, managed care, and public policy as it relates to HIV. In his primary care practice at Pacific Oaks Medical Group in Beverly Hills, one of the largest private practice providers of HIV/AIDS healthcare in the nation, Dr. Hitt was the primary care provider for over 1,000 patients with HIV.

Dr. Hitt has served on the Board of Directors of various AIDS, LGBT support services, and LGBT political organizations including: AIDS Project Los Angeles, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the Gay and Lesbian Center of Los Angeles, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, Equality California (EQCA), and Access Now for Gay and Lesbian Equality (ANGLE) which he co-founded in 1989. Hitt also served as a delegate at the 1992 Democratic National Convention and as Trustee of the National Democratic Party. Hitt also served as an advisor to the 1992 Clinton/Gore presidential campaign. In 1996, President Clinton appointed Hitt as chairman of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA); he was the first openly gay person to head a presidential advisory board. In 1999, Hitt stepped down from PACHA after being diagnosed with colon cancer.

After being accused of having molested two patients in his medical office in 2000, Hitt suspended practice and founded the American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM). The Academy was the first credentialing program for HIV care providers. Hitt also founded the R. Scott Hitt Foundation to nurture future gay and lesbian leaders through internship training in political organizing, fundraising, parliamentary procedures and other skills. Hitt passed away of metastatic colon cancer at his West Hollywood home at the age of 49 in 2007.

Source: Elaine Woo. "R. Scott Hitt, 49; activist, Clinton advisor on Aids." Los Angeles Times obituary, November 10, 2007.

Acquisition information:
Donated by Alexander Koleszar, April 4, 2009.
Processing information:

Collection processed by Clarice de Veyra, December 9, 2013.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in the following series:

Series 1. Personal papers, 1958-2007

Series 2. Work papers, 1992-2007

Series 3. Photographs, 1958-2007

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Access restrictions for mold-damaged materials.

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:

Box #, folder #, R. Scott Hitt Papers, Coll2013-091, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Location of this collection:
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90007, US
Contact:
(213) 821-2771
askone@usc.edu
Website