Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
James Anctil papers, circa 1930-1997
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Anctil, James, 1943-1997
- Title
- James Anctil papers
- Dates
- circa 1930-1997 (inclusive)19301997
1961-1998 (bulk)19611998 - Quantity
- 5 cubic feet, (11 document cases, 1 oversize folder)
- Collection Number
- Mss 2988-8
- Summary
- Personal papers of James Anctil (1943-1997), a Portland-area gay activist, educator, and artist. Includes extensive personal diaries, correspondence, subject files, and files on gay organizations.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
James Anctil, 1943-1997, was a resident of the Portland (OR)/Vancouver (WA) area from December 1981 until his death from suicide in July 1997. A translator and Slavic language expert by profession, Anctil was also a published writer, diarist, vocalist, dancer, and visual artist and active in the gay & lesbian community of the Pacific Northwest.
Born in Nashua, NH (March 26, 1943), Anctil graduated from Middlebury College (VT) in 1965 before moving to New York City. Anctil received his Master's Degree in Slavic Languages from New York University and eventually moved to Portland, OR in 1981. In Portland, Anctil taught English as a second language at 5 different area colleges. He was a frequent contributor to gay publications including "Just Out" and "The EAGLE Newsmagazine," and active in gay organizations including the Portland Gay Men's Chorus (PGMC) and Rosetown Ramblers (an LGBT square dancing club.) Anctil was a choral translator for the Portland Opera and the Oregon Symphony, as well as a prolific visual artist.
Anctil's extensive diaries attest to his perspectives on homosexuality, politics, depression, love, art, and daily life over a span of 25 years. The Anctil collection documents his interests in spirituality, the men's movement, and gay & lesbian issues.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection includes: personal papers, correspondence, yearbooks, financial records, sketches, artists' inventories, clippings, periodicals. Also included are materials related to gay issues, men's movement, languages, square dancing, and politics. Of special note are Anctil's personal diaries, which contain detailed and introspective entries
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library prior to any use of reproductions. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use of reproductions may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright holders.
Preferred Citation
James Anctil papers, Mss 2988-8, Oregon Historical Society Davies Family Research Library
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in the following series:
- Series A: Biographical Materials
- Series B: Finances
- Series C: Clippings
- Series D: Portland area culture and politics
- Series E: Men's movement
- Series F: Miscellany
- Series G: Photographs
Custodial History
The collection came to the Oregon Historical Society via the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest (GLAPN)
Acquisition Information
Acquired 1997. Includes Library Accession 23248.
Related Materials
Art work of James Anctil was donated to the Washington State Historical Society.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Series A: Biographical materials, 1961-1996Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 | Transcripts |
1961-1996 |
| 1/2 | 1990 Middlebury College Reunion (25th
Anniversary)
Contains extensive autobiography and poll responses written by
Anctil for inclusion in the reunion yearbook
|
1990 |
| 1/3 | 1962 Middlebury College Yearbook |
1962 |
| 1/4 | 1963 Middlebury College Yearbook |
1963 |
| 1/5 | 1964 Middlebury College Yearbook |
1964 |
| Oversize folder | Diploma (M.A.), New York University |
1968 |
| 1/6 | Art Projects
Contains applications for fellowships and grants, artists'
biography, lease for art studio, artists' statements, and inventories of
Anctil's visual artworks.
|
circa 1989-1990 |
| 1/7 | Correspondence with Father
Letters to and from father, A.F. Anctil
|
circa 1990-1992 |
| 2/1 | TMO & AMORC Certificates |
1973-1975 |
| 2/2 | Published Writing
Contains Anctil's written works published in "Just Out", "The
EAGLE Newsmagazine", "The Oregonian" as well as drafts and revisions.
|
1985-1989 |
| 2/3 | Miscellaneous Correspondence & Sketches |
1978-1995 |
| 2/4 | Psychic Notebook and Blueprint for Success |
circa 1976 |
| 2/5 | Men's Work |
circa 1990-1992 |
| 2/6 | Miscellaneous Writings |
1976-1985 |
| 2/7 | Clark College Panel |
1994 |
| 2/8 | Poetry |
1987-1992 |
| 2/9 | Suicide Folder
Contains materials that Anctil had with him when he committed
suicide in a hotel room in Cannon Beach on July 1, 1997. Last will and
testament; list of artworks donated to State of WA, DNR documents, open letters
to friends and family.
|
1997 |
| 2/10 | Directive to Physicians |
1995 |
| 2/11 | Materials from James Anctil's memorial
service |
1997 |
| 3/1 | My Diary of My Entire Life |
1977 |
| 3/2 | Diary 1972-1975 |
1972-1975 |
| 3/3 | Diary 1976-1987 |
1976-1987 |
| 3/4 | Diary 1978-1979 |
1978-1979 |
| 3/5 | Diary 1982-1983 |
1982-1983 |
| 3/6 | Diary 1983-1992 |
1983-1992 |
| 4/1 | Diary 1992-1997 |
1992-1997 |
| 4/2 | Hiking Notes
Contains some diary-related entries.
|
1982-1994 |
| 4/3 | Calendars 1981-1983 |
1981-1983 |
| 4/4 | Calendars 1985-1986; 1996 |
1985-1996 |
Series B: Finances, 1981-1997Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4/5 | Video Order Receipts |
1996-1997 |
| 4/6 | Credit Union Material |
1996-1997 |
| 4/7 | Expense Records 1982-1983 |
1982-1983 |
| 4/8 | 1981 Income Tax |
1981 |
| 4/9 | 1982 Income Tax |
1982 |
| 4/10 | 1983 Income Tax |
1983 |
| 5/1 | Charitable Expenses 1980-1982 |
1980-1982 |
| 5/2 | Apartment Rental 1981-1982 |
1981-1982 |
| 5/3 | Auto Expenses 1982 |
1982 |
| 5/4 | Medical Expenses 1982 |
1982 |
| 5/5 | Trip Expenses 1982 |
1982 |
| 5/6 | Entertainment Expenses 1982 |
1982 |
| 5/7 | Art Supplies Expenses 1982 |
1982 |
| 5/8 | Office Expenses 1982 |
1982 |
| 5/9 | Special Business Account |
1982 |
| 5/10 | Pay Stubs |
1982 |
| 5/11 | Teaching Expenses |
1982 |
| 5/12 | Personal Account |
1982 |
| 5/13 | Storage Expenses |
1982 |
| 5/14 | Miscellaneous Expenses |
1982 |
Series C: Clippings, undatedReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5/15 | Japan |
undated |
| 5/16 | Japanese Art |
undated |
| 5/17 | Nature |
undated |
| 5/18 | Computer Design |
undated |
| 5/19 | Mystic Occult |
undated |
| 5/20 | Writers |
1978-1981 |
| 6/1 | Fantasy |
undated |
| 6/2 | Readings |
undated |
| 6/3 | Spiritual |
undated |
| 6/4 | Spirituality |
undated |
| 6/5 | Miscellaneous Spiritual Information |
undated |
Series D: Portland Area Culture and Politics, 1984-1994Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 7/1 | Readers Theatre |
1986 |
| 7/2 | Theatre Programs |
circa 1992 |
| 7/3 | Hands Off Washington |
1993-1994 |
| 7/4 | SHB 1443 |
1993-1994 |
| 7/5 | Idaho Ballot Measure |
1993 |
| 7/6 | Portland Gay Men's Chorus |
1984-1992 |
| 7/7 | Portland Opera |
1987-1991 |
Series E: Men's Movement, 1989-1996Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 7/8 | MENTOR |
1989-1996 |
| 7/9 | Miscellaneous Men's Flyers and Articles |
undated |
| 8/1 | Wingspan |
1990-1993 |
| 8/2 | Seattle M.E.N. |
1992-1996 |
| 8/3 | Merge |
1992 |
| 8/4 | M&M Packet
21st Annual Men & Masculinity Conference
|
1996 |
| 8/5 | Earth & Spirit |
1992-1994 |
Series F: Miscellaneous, 1984-1995Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 8/6 | Miscellaneous Inspirational |
undated |
| 8/7 | Teaching/Learning Materials |
undated |
| 8/8 | Finnegan's Wake |
1995 |
| 8/9 | Rilke Translations |
undated |
| 8/10 | Miscellaneous Language Notes |
undated |
| 9/1 | Music Projects Part I |
circa 1990 |
| 9/2 | Music Projects Part II |
circa 1990 |
| 9/3 | Square Dancing |
circa 1984 |
Series G: Photographs, circa 1930-1998Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 10/1 | Birthday photos |
1997 |
| 10/2-10/98 | Album 1
Includes family and friends
|
circa 1930-1998 |
| 11/1 | Album 2--"Students of J. Anctil" |
undated |
| 11/2 | Nihonga photographs |
circa 1986 |
| 11/3 | Miscellaneous photographs
Includes photographs by Paul Dahlquist
|
1980-1992 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Artists--Oregon
- Artists--Washington (State)
- Gays--Oregon
- Gays--Washington (State)
Personal Names
- Anctil, James, 1943-1997--Archives
Corporate Names
- Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest
Family Names
- Anctil family
Geographical Names
- Portland (Or.)--Social life and customs
- Vancouver (Wash.)
Form or Genre Terms
- Diaries
- Letters (correspondence)
Finding aid prepared by Jeff
Donaldson-Forbes and George Painter; collection processed by George Painter and
Jeff Donaldson-Forbes.
2012
