The James Gardiner Collection.
- Pictures
Online resources
- Related materials at Wellcome Library Listen to an interview with James Gardiner: View resource
About this work
Physical description
13 albums, 12 photographs on 2 sheets, 3 prints and 2 volumes : photographs, postcards, process prints, albumen prints
Contributors
Contents
Victorian album. 35 cartes de visite presented in a 19th century photograph album depicting private and theatrical cross-dressing, mostly 1860s, including photographs of Boulton and Park
Photograph album labelled ‘Drag’. A mixture of 268 photographs, prints and postcards depicting theatrical female impersonation and drag performers in music hall, commercial theatre, pantomime, and amateur theatricals, 1860-1990. Mostly presentation and publicity photographs from Europe and the US, often signed with a dedication.
Photograph album of drag and female impersonation, c.1960-1918. A mixture of 38 photographs, prints and postcards depicting theatrical female impersonation and drag performers in music hall, commercial theatre, pantomime, amateur theatricals, and some military camps, c.1860-1918. Mostly from Europe.
Unlabelled photograph album (241 items). Material published for collection by gay men: homoerotica, "beefcake" photographs,classical sculptures and paintings of the male nude, wrestlers, strong men and idealized men, ethnographic nudes and Sicilian photographs by Von Gloeden and Von Pluschow, ca. 1890-1930. Originally titled 'Black Album Unlabelled'.
Photographs of military, naval, and prisoner-of-war camp drag (247 items). Originally titled 'Green Album'.
Romantic fantasy and comic postcards, and photographs on gender and masculinity (288 items). Continental European hand coloured romantic fantasy postcards (mostly French, 1920-30). Rogues gallery: actors, writers, dancers, musicians, royalty etc.presenting gay public image. British and American comic postcards representing behaviour regarded as unmasculine. "The Dear Love of Comrades": private photographs 1900-1920 on gender play and masculine affection in the army, navy and theatre. Originally titled 'Blue Album'.
Copy of published book by James Gardiner: Who's a pretty boy then? : one hundred & fifty years of gay life in pictures, London ; New York : Serpent's Tail, 1997, which draws on the present collection and other collections
Homoerotica Album. A mixture of 88 photographs, prints and postcards curated by James Gardiner on the subject of homoerotic representations including muscular physiques, classical ideals, fetish fashion and hollywood gay pin-ups.
Fully Exposed Album. A mixture of 58 photographs and photographic postcards curated by James Gardiner on the subject of homoerotic representations, particularly naked and partially clothed men, as a continuation of the Homoerotica Album.
"Bodybuilding by post" Album. Includes correspondence for bodybuilding courses, and photographs of muscular men demonstrating exercises.
Private album and diary of Albert Edward Quint (1914-1992). Includes c.100 private photographs of men wearing military uniforms and diary for 1937, both compiled by Quint and referring to his military fetishes.
Lesbian and male impersonation album. A mixture of 148 photographs, prints and postcards collected and arranged by James Gardiner on the subject of lesbian related imagery, male impersonation and masculine gender presentations, mostly dated 1900-1950 with 7 more recent cards.
Two men engaged in various sexual acts. An undivided sheet of unmounted cabinet photographs.
Men engaged in various sexual acts. An undivided sheet of unmounted cartes de visite
Private album containing photographs of 'Roger'
Private album containing photographs of young men
Three cards produced by the Northwest AIDS foundation reproducing postcards in the James Gardiner Collection.
Type/Technique
Where to find it
Military, naval, and prisoner-of-war camp drag
Location Status Access Closed stores2921428iRomantic fantasy and comic postcards
Location Status Access Closed stores2921429iPhotograph album labelled ‘Drag'
Location Status Access Closed stores2914633iUnlabelled photograph album
Location Status Access Closed stores2914634iVictorian album
Location Status Access Closed stores