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Stephen Styles Papers

Call Number

MSS.578

Dates

1920s-2018, undated, inclusive
; 1980s-2000s, bulk

Creator

Styles, Stephen
Medwig, Elizabeth (Role: Donor)

Extent

3 linear feet in 4 manuscript boxes, 2 oversize box folders and 1 flat box file folder in shared boxes

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Abstract

Stephen Styles (born Stephen Stern) was a member of Andy Warhol's social group, a close friend of Candy Darling, and part of the drag scene of 1960s New York City. The Stephen Styles Papers consists of materials created and collected by Styles, and includes correspondence from friends and family, photographic prints of Styles and friends, an astral portrait, books, a limited edition art print, and notes. A large portion of this collection contains ephemera related to Style's interest in film and theater actors from the early and mid-20th century, including publicity photographs, newspaper clippings and magazines, movie posters, playbills from the 1940s, and sheet music from the 1920s and 1930s. Photographic portraits of actors Candy Darling and Dorian Gray from 1971 can also be found in this collection.

Biographical Note

Stephen Styles (born Stephen Stern) was a member of Andy Warhol's social group, a close friend of Candy Darling, and part of the drag scene of 1960s New York City.

Arrangement

Materials are arranged by material type.

Scope and Contents

The Stephen Styles Papers consist of materials created and collected by Styles, and includes correspondence from friends and family dating from the 1970s to the mid-2000s; photographic prints dating from the 1950s to the 2000s of Styles from his childhood, Styles and friends, and various drag performances; and personal material includeg an astral portrait, books, and notes. A large portion of this collection contains material related to Styles' interest in film and theater actors from the 1920s through the 1950s including actress' publicity photographs; newspaper clippings and magazines containing obituaries and gossip profiles; movie posters; playbills from the 1940s; and sheet music from the 1920s and 1930s. Photographic portraits of actors Candy Darling and Dorian Gray from 1971 can also be found in this collection.

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open without restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use materials in the collection in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, date; Stephen Styles Papers; MSS 578; box number; folder number or item identifier; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University.

Location of Materials

Materials are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use. Please request materials at least two business days prior to your research visit to coordinate access.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Elizabeth Medwig, Styles' niece, in March 2019; the accession number associated with this gift is 2019.038.

Appraisal

Following a curatorial consultation on 9/9/2019, three CD-Rs, 1 commercial CD, and one audiocassette tape were removed from the collection due to being outside the collecting policies of the institution, or easily accessible commercial recordings.

Elaine Stritch: The Painted Smiles Album

Sections from a Jack Paar comedy show

Portions of an Ian Whitcomb music radio show, 6/19/2013

Sugar Babies with Mickey Rooney and Ann Miller

Jackie Curtis: Who Are You?

Collection processed by

Rachel Searcy

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-20 17:03:19 -0400.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Finding aid written in English

Processing Information

At the time of accessioning, materials were rehoused in archival boxes and folders, and described on the collection-level with a box list. Optical discs were physically separated and inventoried. New York University Libraries follow professional standards and best practices when imaging, ingesting, and processing born-digital material in order to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the content.

In September 2019, paper material was further sorted and foldered for more ease of access and a box level inventory was created.

Revisions to this Guide

September 2019: Updated by Stacey Flatt to reflect 2019 processing of material

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