Gay men's writings, American

Collection documents Allen Wardell's personal and professional life through photographs, a piece of artwork, an address book, correspondence, manuscripts, a Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame award, Gay Chicago Award, and press clippings.

The collection contents include manuscripts, drafts, bound books, poetry, drawings, paintings, anthologies, zines, sheet music, a comic book, and miscellaneous documents.

The collection includes the journals and diaries of Mertie Clark Hyatt and Jesse Hyatt (Willard Hyatt’s mother and father) from 1909-1958 and letters from 1890s-1940s. The bulk of the collection is made up of journals/diaries, photo albums and various documents created by Willard Hyatt from 1922-1970s. Includes published and unpublished poetry, essays referring to homosexuality and spirituality; often in combination, correspondence, financial papers, scrapbooks, photographs and awards.