J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections
Johnny Townsend papers
Townsend, Johnny
ACCN 2677
13 linear feet
28 boxes
1977-2023
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.
English
Arranged chronologically.
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.
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.
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.
Donated by Johnny Townsend in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
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.
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.
Townsend, Johnny--Archives
Latter Day Saint gay people--Religious life
Homosexuality--Religious aspects
Mormonism (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Gays and Lesbians
Journals (accounts)
1: Correspondence and Personal Materials
"Early Life"
1979
1
1
"Young Latter-Day Saint"
1977-1978
1
2
"In My Youth"
1978
1
3
"Senior Year"
1978
1
4
"High School Graduation"
1979
1
5
"New Experiences"
1979
1
6
"Freshman Year at College"
1979-1980
1
7
Journal
1980
1
8
"The New Missionary"
1980
2
1
"Quartu Sant'Elena"
1980-1981
2
2
"Renaissance"
1981
2
3
"Hard and Confusing Times"
1981
2
4
Journal
1981-1982
2
5
Journal
1982-1983
2
6
Journals
1983-1986
3
1-5
Journals
1986-1988
4
1-5
Journals
1988-1990
5
1-5
Journals
1990-1993
6
1-5
Journals
1993-1997
7
1-5
Journals
1997-2000
8
1-5
Journals
2000-2006
9
1-5
Journals
2006-2007
10
1-2
Records
1939-2000
11
1
Baby Book
1960s
11
2
Journals
2007-2008
11
3
Journals
2008-2013
11
4
Emails
2006-2007
11
5
Emails
2010-2012
12
1
Emails
2012
12
2
Emails
2013
12
3
Emails
2014
13
1-2
Emails
2014
18
1
Emails
2015
18
2-4
Emails
2016
18
5-6
Emails
2016-2017
20
3-4
Journals and Correspondence 2016
16
3-4
Photocopied journal entries
16
8
Journal
2013-2016
19
1
Letters received while teaching at SUNO
1995
19
3
Correspondence
19
4
Correspondence and diary entries
2017-2018
20
6
Correspondence and printed diary entries
2018-2019
21
3
Correspondence and printed diary entries
2019-2020
21
5
Correspondence and printed diary entries
2018
22
1
Correspondence and printed diary entries
2018
22
2
Printed diary entries
2019-2021
22
3
Printed diary entries
2019-2021
22
4
"Resisting Fascist Drama" newsletter, birthday cards, and diary entries
2020
22
5
Printed diary entries
2021
24
1
Printed diary entries, May-August
2022
24
2
Correspondence and Democratic Socialists of America membership card
2012
25
2
Correspondence, diary entries, and writing excerpts
2022-2023
25
5
Correspondence, diary entries, and writing excerpts
2022-2023
25
6
Printed diary entries, August 1-25
2023
26
1
Printed diary entries, August 25-September 18
2023
26
2
Printed diary entries, September 19-October 16
2023
26
3
Email and "Crosscut" article
2023
26
5
Card from Texas AF cast and crew
28
1
DVD transferred to Multimedia
Card from Gary Tolman to Johnny Townsend
2017, 2021
28
2
Correspondence and Christmas letter from Jerry Argetsinger
2021-2022
28
3
Printed diary entries, November to 2022
2021-2022
28
8
Photographs
1960-1999
12
4
Photocopies. Originals may be found in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.
Portrait
1999
12
5
Writing
1991-2013
12
6
Correspondence and Memorabilia
12
7
Postcards
1984-1986
29
1
2: Professional Files and Works by Townsend
Manuscript
14
1
"The Sneakover Prince"
Manuscripts
14
2
"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"
Manuscripts
14
3
"Edited Out," "To Open The Eyes Of The Blind," "The Dissemination of Greed," "Happy Valley," and "A Breath Of Fresh Air"
Reviews and Commentary
1995-1997
14
4
Correspondence Regarding The Upstairs Fire
16
5
"The Washing of Brains" unpublished manuscript
16
6
Contracts and Correspondence
16
7
"Same-Sex Love in Malory's Morte Darthur"
approximately 1988
19
10
"Heterophobia in Orson Scott Card's Short Stories"
Approximately 1992
19
11
"The Crying Game's Tears--Misogyny or Masculinity?"
Approximately 1993
19
12
"Opiod Receptors"
Approximately 1997
19
13
"Un Equilibrio Precario"
2007
Spanish; Castilian
19
14
Op-Eds
2016
19
15
Kirkus Review, Invasion of the Spirit Snatchers
2016
19
16
Interview with a Mission President manuscript
2016
19
17
Johnny Townsend bibliography
2016
19
18
The Kindness of Strangers Anthology publication contract
2016
19
20
Copyright registration certificates
2009-2016
19
21
Book file hosting list, contracts, copyright registrations, reviews, articles by or featuring Townsend, reprinting permissions
1999, 2007-2017
20
1
Story drafts
20
2
Story drafts and copyright registration
2017
20
5
Story drafts
21
1
Correspondence, clippings, and story drafts
1998, 2007, 2018-2019
21
2
Copyright registrations, reviews, list of Townsend's works
2019
21
4
Parts of "Pre-Bucket List"
23
2
"Have Your Cum and Eat It Too" notes and drafts
23
3
"Strangers With Benefits" notes and drafts
23
4
"Glory To The Glory Hole" notes and drafts
23
5
Writing excerpts and notes
23
6
Upstairs Lounge Fire materials
2011-2012
23
7
Copyright registrations, donations, reviews, and writing excerpts
2011-2020
23
8
Copyright registrations, reviews, writing excerpts, list of Townsend works, critique of "Birdwatching"
2018
23
9
Writing excerpts and notes
2018
23
10
"Freedom Socialist" August/September issue, Townsend article "In Defense of the U.S. Postal Service"
2020
23
11
Copyright registrations, articles, writing excerpts, printed diary entries, list of Townsend's works
2021-2022
24
3
Correspondence, copyright registrations, and writing excerpts
2007
2021
25
1
Orgy at the STD Clinic partial draft and cover ideas
2021
25
3
"Insight" newsletter, Townsend article on the Upstairs Lounge Fire
2023
26
4
Film option agreement for Upstairs Lounge Fire book
2022
28
4
List of publications as of May 4
2022
28
5
"Please Evacuate", first two sections of planned six-section novel, work in progress
2022
28
6
"Recommended Daily Humanity" essays, work in progress
2022
28
7
Handwritten story drafts, cover design ideas for Orgy at the STD Clinic
28
10
3: Works by Others
Graphic Novel by Brian Anderson
16
1
"Civil Unions" by Donna Banta, edited by Johnny Townsend
16
2
"Inheriting Disaster," by CL Hammer
16
9
Stripling Warrior issues 1 and 2
2016
19
7
Townsend's edits on Seer Stone
19
8
Mormon Punk manuscript by Christopher Bigelow
19
9
"Stripling Warrior" issues and magnet set
23
1
4: Miscellaneous Materials
Book Magnets
14
5
Wood carving and Cameo
15
Promotional Tee Shirts
17
BYU electroshock documentary resources
19
2
Pioneer Award recommendation
2016
19
5
One Archive Foundation donation receipts
2016
19
6
Book Magnets
19
19
Photographs of Johnny Townsend [photocopies]
19
22
Photocopies. Originals may be found in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.
20th Seattle Gay and Lesbian Film Festival guest pass
2015
19
23
Gary Tolman, Freedom Socialist Party materials
2021
25
4
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, "The Uniform System for Teaching Families" manual
1973
Italian
27
1
Gary Tolman presentation on homelessness
2020
28
9