Johnny Townsend papers, 1977-2023

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Townsend, Johnny
Title
Johnny Townsend papers
Dates
1977-2023 (inclusive)
Quantity
13 linear feet, (28 boxes)
Collection Number
ACCN 2677
Summary
The Johnny Townsend papers (1977-2023) contain the daily journals of Johnny Townsend (b. 1961), an ex-LDS Church member, writer and advocate for the rights of the gay community. The journals highlight Townsend's struggle to reconcile his religious upbringing with his emerging sense of homosexual identity. The collection also contains personal records including, but not limited to, school transcripts and standardized test scores, and email correspondence (2006-2014). Furthermore, the Townsend papers include various manuscripts including a thesis and short stories.
Repository
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860

Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu
Access Restrictions

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Johnny Townsend (b. 1961) was born and raised in and around New Orleans, Louisiana. After serving an LDS mission in Italy, he returned to Louisiana to attend the University of New Orleans. He later went on to earn an MFA from Louisiana State University. A prolific writer, his essays have appeared in numerous renowned publications and he has written and self-published several books about the experiences of gay Latter-day Saints. He currently resides with his partner in Seattle, Washington.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Johnny Townsend papers (1977-2023) contain the daily journals, emails, and records of Johnny Townsend (b. 1961), an ex-LDS Church member, writer and advocate for the rights of the gay community.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Preferred Citation

Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Johnny Townsend in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Processing Note

Processed by Matthew Weathered in 2013.

Addendum processed by Kevin Priest in 2014.

Addendum processed by Sean Taylor in 2015.

Addendum processed by Kevin Priest in 2016. Addenda from 2017-2023 processed by Kristina Barksdale in 2024. Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

I:  JournalsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1
"Early Life"
1979
1 2
"Young Latter-Day Saint"
1977-1978
1 3
"In My Youth"
1978
1 4
"Senior Year"
1978
1 5
"High School Graduation"
1979
1 6
"New Experiences"
1979
1 7
"Freshman Year at College"
1979-1980
1 8
Journals
1998
2-10
Journals
1980-2007
Folder
11 1
Records
1939-2000
11 2
Baby Book
1960s
11 3
Journals
2007-2008
11 4
Journals
2008-2013

II:  Correspondence and Other MaterialsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
11 5
Email
2006-2007
12 6
Email
2010-2012
12 7
Email
2012
12 8
Email
2013
12 9
Photographs
Photocopies. Originals may be found in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.
1960-1999
12 10
Portrait
1999
12 11
Writing
1991-2013
12 12
Correspondence and Memorabilia
13 1-2
E-mails
2014

III:  AddendaReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
14 1
Manuscript
"The Sneakover Prince"
14 2
Manuscripts
"The Resurrection of the American," "Granny's Secret Vice," "The Gale of Bitterness," "Why I Am Not A Traitor," "Desperate Escape," and "Valentine's Day - If You Asked Me To"
14 3
Manuscripts
"Edited Out," "To Open The Eyes Of The Blind," "The Dissemination of Greed," "Happy Valley," and "A Breath Of Fresh Air"
14 4
Reviews and Commentary
1995-1997
14 5
Book Magnets
15
Wood carving and Cameo
Folder
16 1
Graphic Novel by Brian Anderson
16 2
'Civil Unions' by Donna Banta, edited by Johnny Townsend
16 3-4
Journals and Correspondence 2016
16 5
Correspondence Regarding 'The Upstairs Fire'
16 6
The Washing of Brains, unpublished manuscript
16 7
Contracts and Correspondence
16 8
Photocopied journal entries
16 9
"Inheriting Disaster," by CL Hammer
17
Promotional Tee Shirts
Folder
18 1
Email correspondence
2014
18 2-4
Email correspondence
2015
18 5-6
Email correspondence
2016
19 1
Journal
2013-2016
19 2
BYU electroshock documentary resources
19 3
Letters received while teaching at SUNO
1995
19 4
Correspondence
19 5
Pioneer Award recommendation
2016
19 6
One Archive Foundation donation receipts
2016
19 7
Stripling Warrior issues 1 and 2
2016
19 8
Townsend's edits on Seer Stone
19 9
Mormon Punk manuscript by Christopher Bigelow
19 10
"Same-Sex Love in Malory's Morte Darthur"
approximately 1988
19 11
"Heterophobia in Orson Scott Card's Short Stories"
Approximately 1992
19 12
"The Crying Game's Tears--Misogyny or Masculinity?"
Approximately 1993
19 13
"Opiod Receptors"
Approximately 1997
19 14
"Un Equilibrio Precario"
2007
19 15
Op-Eds
2016
19 16
Kirkus Review, Invasion of the Spirit Snatchers
2016
19 17
Interview with a Mission President manuscript
2016
19 18
Johnny Townsend bibliography
2016
19 19
Book Magnets
19 20
The Kindness of Strangers Anthology publication contract
2016
19 21
Copyright registration certificates
2009-2016
19 22
Photographs of Johnny Townsend
Photocopies. Originals may be found in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.
19 23
20th Seattle Gay and Lesbian Film Festival guest pass
2015
20 1
Book file hosting list, contracts, copyright registrations, reviews, articles by or featuring Townsend, reprinting permissions
1999, 2007-2017
20 2
Story drafts
20 3
Email correspondence, 1 of 2
2016-2017
20 4
Email correspondence, 2 of 2
2016-2017
20 5
Story drafts and copyright registration
2017
20 6
Correspondence and diary entries
2017-2018
21 1
Story drafts
21 2
Correspondence, clippings, and story drafts
1998, 2007, 2018-2019
21 3
Correspondence and printed diary entries
2018-2019
21 4
Copyright registrations, reviews, list of Townsend's works
2019
21 5
Correspondence and printed diary entries
2019-2020
22 1
Correspondence and printed diary entries
2018
22 2
Correspondence and printed diary entries
2018
22 3
Printed diary entries
2019-2021
22 4
Printed diary entries
2019-2021
22 5
"Resisting Fascist Drama" newsletter, birthday cards, and diary entries
2020
23 1
"Stripling Warrior" issues and magnet set
23 2
Parts of "Pre-Bucket List"
23 3
"Have Your Cum and Eat It Too" notes and drafts
23 4
"Strangers With Benefits" notes and drafts
23 5
"Glory To The Glory Hole" notes and drafts
23 6
Writing excerpts and notes
23 7
Upstairs Lounge Fire materials
2011-2012
23 8
Copyright registrations, donations, reviews, and writing excerpts
2011-2020
23 9
Copyright registrations, reviews, writing excerpts, list of Townsend works, critique of "Birdwatching"
2018
23 10
Writing excerpts and notes
2018
23 11
"Freedom Socialist" August/September issue, Townsend article "In Defense of the U.S. Postal Service"
2020
24 1
Printed diary entries
2021
24 2
Printed diary entries, May-August
2022
24 3
Copyright registrations, articles, writing excerpts, printed diary entries, list of Townsend's works
2021-2022
25 1
Correspondence, copyright registrations, and writing excerpts
2007; 2021
25 2
Correspondence and Democratic Socialists of America membership card
2012
25 3
"Orgy at the STD Clinic" partial draft and cover ideas
2021
25 4
Gary Tolman, Freedom Socialist Party materials
2021
25 5
Correspondence, diary entries, and writing excerpts
2022-2023
25 6
Correspondence, diary entries, and writing excerpts
2022-2023
26 1
Printed diary entries, August 1-25
2023
26 2
Printed diary entries, August 25-September 18
2023
26 3
Printed diary entries, September 19-October 16
2023
26 4
"Insight" newsletter, Townsend article on the Upstairs Lounge Fire
2023
26 5
Email and "Crosscut" article
2023
27 1
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, "The Uniform System for Teaching Families" manual
1973
28 1
Card from "Texas AF" cast and crew
DVD transferred to Multimedia
28 2
Card from Gary Tolman to Johnny Townsend
2017, 2021
28 3
Correspondence and Christmas letter from Jerry Argetsinger
2021-2022
28 4
Film option agreement for Upstairs Lounge Fire book
2022
28 5
List of publications as of May 4
2022
28 6
"Please Evacuate", first two sections of planned six-section novel, work in progress
2022
28 7
"Recommended Daily Humanity" essays, work in progress
2022
28 8
Printed diary entries, November to 2022
2021-2022
28 9
Gary Tolman presentation on homelessness
2020
28 10
Handwritten story drafts, cover design ideas for "Orgy at the STD Clinic"

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Homosexuality--Religious aspects
  • Latter Day Saint gay people--Religious life

Personal Names

  • Townsend, Johnny--Archives

Form or Genre Terms

  • Journals (accounts)