Joseph R. Hawkins departs from ONE Archives at USC, transformed and ready for what lies ahead

When Joseph R. Hawkins concludes his tenure as head of ONE Archives at the USC Libraries on June 30, he will be bringing an end to 25 years of managing, modernizing, and expanding the largest archive of LGBTQ+ materials globally.

“I have always experienced a day wherein I didn’t discover something novel,” Hawkins shared in a recent discussion while seated in his semi-packed office situated on the second floor of the archives. “I will miss that aspect of being present where someone enters and reveals something that I was previously unaware of. What a privilege.”

Established in 1952 and part of USC Libraries since 2010, ONE Archives contains millions of artifacts, including over 13,000 periodicals, 21,000 videos, 30,000 books and monographs, 4,000 artworks, and various ephemera.

More than 700 archival collections have been amassed and bestowed upon the archives over the years. They encompass personal documents from activists, artists, and ordinary people, alongside records from LGBTQ+ political, social, educational, and cultural organizations. These collections have proven to be invaluable resources for researchers — students from USC, faculty, and the public.

“It’s remarkable what arrives at the door, what individuals express, and what it signifies to them,” Hawkins articulated. “They frequently used to whisper; that’s something which has shifted since my arrival here. People would say, ‘We discovered this beneath our uncle’s bed. Would you like it?’ and I would respond, ‘You don’t have to whisper here.’”

With his retirement approaching, Hawkins indicated that he has more than thirty years of treasured memories from his extensive role as director of the archives and his earlier volunteering experiences.

“During tours, as I navigate through the archives, I’ll often showcase something to an individual and they’ll be so moved that tears will flow,” he recounted.

There was an occasion when a representative from a funding agency visited to examine the collection and asked Hawkins, indirectly, if any material existed from San Francisco during the darkest days of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s and ’90s. Hawkins managed to uncover the obituary of the man’s deceased partner in an edition of the Bay Area Reporter newspaper.

“He was in such distress at the time [of his partner’s passing] that he did not retain the obituary,” Hawkins commented. “I photocopied it and handed it to him, and he was profoundly touched.”

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Hawkins also reminisced about the day a box of wedding images from the 1970s was delivered. A newlywed male couple had dropped them off for development at a drive-through photo booth in Philadelphia. The booth proprietors labeled the images “obscene” and informed the couple that they had been discarded.

“The proprietors’ daughter eventually reached out to us years later, expressing regret over her parents’ actions. She asked, ‘Can you locate these individuals for me?’” Hawkins stated. “We were unable to, so those images are preserved here.”

Highlighting collections

Dean of USC Libraries Melissa Just commended Hawkins’ intellectual inquisitiveness and contributions across various facets of LGBTQ+ studies.

“Joseph’s research and instruction have directed ONE’s collecting initiatives and the growth of its cultural programs during his time here,” Just noted. “His profound understanding of the field is evident in the extensive variety and richness of experiences chronicled in collections acquired and made accessible by ONE under his stewardship.”

Hawkins initiated the curated displays and programs that occur throughout the year to spotlight the collections housed within the archive. The two latest exhibitions, The Space We Take: Portraits from the Archive and Fairy Prince by Halo Starling, debut on Friday and will be available until Sept. 13.

ONE Archives curator Alexis Bard Johnson expressed that Hawkins’ departure will be significantly felt.

“The mere thought of him not being present in the building is a substantial adjustment for everyone,” Johnson remarked. “He has served as a pivotal guide for all who have visited the archive.”

Ensuring accessibility of historical materials

Johnson emphasized that when Hawkins first engaged with the archives over three decades ago, collections were still packed away in boxes and not cataloged.

“He began essentially as a volunteer in a facility that relied on volunteers and required substantial organization,” she explained. “Though its essence remains unchanged, the archives have experienced a genuine transformation—the level of attention and professionalism has notably risen.”

The late activist and journalist Jim Kepner, whose unwavering dedication to collecting materials since the early 1940s laid the foundation of the archives, was essentially the sole individual aware of where items were located in those initial days.

“It’s vital to recognize that our extensive LGBTQ+ collection exists because of forward-thinking individuals who initiated this endeavor,” Hawkins remarked. “They collected material secretly, even during times of persecution.”

This vast collection encompasses over 11,000 subject files and 43,000 cross-references, allowing researchers to uncover materials they might not find elsewhere, including newspaper articles, journal and magazine pieces, brochures, and other printed content.

The cost to process a single box of archival material is approximately $700, requiring organization and storage in acid-free containers. The materials are then entered into a detailed online archive so that researchers can look up a box and obtain a description of its contents.

Hawkins observed that while preserving tangible documents and images is critical, newer digitally produced materials present challenges to gather and manage.

Even if emails, news websites, blogs, and online videos are stored on a hard drive, digital content necessitates transfer and preservation in a digital asset management system, which can be expensive.

“If we neglect to collect these materials, this generation of individuals will lack a history. It will simply be erased,” Hawkins cautioned.

The expense of preservation

Hawkins’ prior experience in marketing within the restaurant industry, including work with Wolfgang Puck, equipped him with the skills to become an effective fundraiser for ONE Archives. Fundraising soon became the primary aspect of his job.

He noted that the organization has raised over $28 million through individual donations, gifts, and grants during his tenure. This funding allowed the staff to expand to six full-time members and facilitated essential renovations to the archive’s two-story facility at 909 W. Adams Blvd.

ONE Archives received a significant enhancement in April when USC alumnus Paul D. Lerner and his spouse, Stephen Reis, made a donation of $2.5 million to name and endow the director position that Hawkins has occupied for an extended period.

When the gift was disclosed in April, the couple stated: “There is so much more to learn and comprehend about our histories, so we hope our contribution will empower generations of researchers to uncover and reclaim our narratives.”

As Hawkins is set to step aside, he remarked that the endowment is immensely significant.

“It was crucial for me that Paul and Stephen took this initiative, as it guarantees that USC will recruit someone to succeed me,” he said. “That individual will need to undertake the tasks I managed, which include advocating for the institution and ensuring that we secure funding. It is essential that we safeguard this legacy indefinitely.”