Frank Thompson Papers

Provenance

At the death of Frank Thompson on March 11, 1994, these papers were in his apartment on Cornelia Street in Greenwich Village, New York City. They were removed by the Center Archivist with the permission and in the presence of Frank’s brother Dr. Ramon C. Thompson. Dr. Thompson formally deeded the papers to the Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center in September 1994. Frank also left behind many hundreds of paintings, many water damaged in his basement. Dr. Thompson disposed of these separately.

Scope and Content

The Frank Thompson Papers include correspondence, diaries, gay theatre flyers, and some drawings and photographs. Of greatest interest is possibly the folder on man/boy love which includes minutes, flyers and draft positions of the North American Man/Boy Love Association, and also a folder of prisoner correspondence. Most of the letters are from prisoners convicted of sexual offenses. The papers include items from 1963 to 1991 with the bulk being from the 1980s. The diaries may also be of interest, probably more for their insight into Frank Thompson himself rather than the times or organizations he belonged to.

History or Bio

Frank Thompson was an artist, long time Greenwich Village, NY resident and gallery owner. His own work and the work shown in his gallery was predominantly homoerotic oils and drawings. He was also an active participant, although not in a leadership position, of several gay organizations in the 1970s and 1980s. Among these were the Gay Activists Alliance and the North American Man/Boy Love Association. He died on March 11, 1994 after a short stay in the hospital.

Folder List

UNFOLDERED ITEMS

Box 2

Seven diaries dated 1963, 1973, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1983, and 1986.