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Bern Boyle Papers

Call Number

MSS.341

Dates

1976 - 2000, inclusive
; 1979-1989, bulk

Creator

Boyle, Bern

Extent

10 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Abstract

Bern Boyle was a photographer, curator, actor, filmmaker, and LGBT activist. The Bern Boyle Photography Collection comprises his work in the form of contact sheets, negatives, photographs, and slides. In addition, this collection includes correspondence, postcards, press clippings, promotional material, and Boyle's 8mm and 16mm films.

Biographical Note

Born in 1951, Bern Boyle received his B.A. from Villanova University and an M.A. in Teaching English from Hunter College. In 1988, he received an M.A. in Museum Studies from The City College of New York. He lived in Philadelphia, San Francisco, and New York City.

In 1973, Boyle helped to found Giovanni's Room in Philadelphia, the nation's oldest and largest LGBT bookstore and cultural center, and is also credited with founding the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival in 1976, (today it is known as the Frameline Film Festival). In New York City he lived in the East Village and was known for his participation in the mail art scene. An active member of the New York City film community, Boyle acted in the 1975 horror parody film "Thundercrack," and appeared as himself in the 1990 film "Silence = Death" alongside Keith Haring, David Wojnarowicz, and other downtown artists and writers struggling with AIDS. He also directed a small number of short films and documentaries.

Boyle is most well known for his curatorial and photographic work. Among the many art shows he curated are "The North American Coastal New Wave" at the Foro de Arte Contemporaneo, Mexico City; "Mexican Illustrators: 1920-1950" at the Anglo-Mexican Institute of Culture, Mexico City; "The History of Books for the Blind" at The Catholic Center, New York City; and "Booth: Photo Booth Work by Herman Costa" at St. Mark's Graphics, New York City.

As a photographer, Boyle documented a wide range of subjects, from street art in Alphabet City and Loisaida, to portraits of Coney Island sideshow performer Michael Wilson (aka "The Illustrated Man" or "Tattoo Mike"). In 1986, amidst the panic of the AIDS epidemic and dismay at learning of many of his friends' diagnoses (and perhaps his own), he photographed himself once a day using a photobooth, which ultimately led him to curate the "Photomaton" exhibition in 1987, which was the first exhibition to showcase the work of artists working with photobooth technology.

Bern Boyle died of AIDS-related complications on June 17, 1992 in New York City.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following series:

Series I: Photographic Materials

Subseries A: Locations Photography includes contact sheets, negatives, photographs, and slides organized alphabetically by location.

Subseries B: Portraiture preserves contact sheets, negatives, photographs, and slides. Subjects include Boyle' s "Photobooth" and "Tattoo Mike" series, as well as snapshots of bodybuilders, drag queens, friends, LGBT activists, and unique hair styles. All records are arranged alphabetically by original title or subject category.

Subseries C: Coursework holds photographic materials not directly associated with the previous subseries in addition to lesson packets associated with the photo-retouching course that Boyle took in 1983. All contents are arranged alphabetically by original title or subject category.

Subseries D: Photobooth Pictures comprises primarily of self-portraits. These materials are retained in Boyle's original arrangement scheme: "Friends"; "Bern with Friends"; "Bern Solo"; "Years 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986 (by month), 1991, 1992"; "Parents"; and "Miscellaneous Photos."

Series II: Exhibitions Press includes press clippings, "Photobooth" promotional material, and a small selection of Boyle's "Roadkill" series. All contents are arranged alphabetically by subject category.

Series III: Postcards and Correspondence

Subseries A: Personal Correspondence is arranged chronologically.

Subseries B: Postcards and Printed Ephemera includes announcements from galleries and performance venues, in addition to commercially printed postcards of Boyle's work. This arrangement reflects the categories of the archive's original arrangement scheme. Gracie Mansion postcards are grouped separately while postcards from other galleries and performance spaces are arranged alphabetically by venue.

Series IV: Film preseves Boyle's 8mm and 16mm film reels. All elements are arranged alphabetically by original title or subject category.

Scope and Content

The Bern Boyle Papers comprises Boyle's work in the form of contact sheets, negatives, photographs, and slides. Subjects include architecture, city streetscapes, street art, and gay pride parades; locations are primarily New York City and San Francisco, but also include Mexico, other Latin American locations, Miami, and Paris. This collection also includes Boyle's photobooth pictures of both himself and his friends. Although there is some staged portraiture (eg. "Tattoo Mike"), more casual street shots and special events photography dominate the collection. In addition, this collection includes coursework, a small selection of press clippings and promotional material, personal correspondence, and printed ephemera.

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open to researchers. Series III: Film components are not available for consultation. Please contact the Fales Library and Special Collections, fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright (or related rights to publicity and privacy) for materials in this collection, created by Bern Boyle, was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder. Please contact the Fales Library and Special Collections, fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:

Identification of item, date (if known); collection name; MSS number; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University Libraries.

Provenance

The collection was donated to NYU's Fales Library & Special Collections by Sur Rodney (Sur) in 2012 and 2013.

Audiovisual Access Policies and Procedures

Access to audiovisual materials in this collection is available through digitized access copies. Researchers may view an item's original container, but the media themselves are not available for playback because of preservation concerns. Materials that have already been digitized are noted in the collection's finding aid and can be requested in our reading room. To request an access copy, or if you are unsure if an item has been digitized, please contact nyuspecialcollections@nyu.edu with the collection name, collection number, and a description of the item(s) requested. A staff member will respond to you with further information.

Collection processed by

Nancy Aravecz with Rhyannon J. Rodriguez

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-02-06 14:21:38 -0500.
Language: Description is in English.

Revisions to this Guide

July 2019: Updated by Kelly Haydon to reflect digitized access copies

Repository

Fales Library and Special Collections
Fales Library and Special Collections
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10012