OHY_2988-8 Guide to the James Anctil papers circa 1930-1997 Anctil (James) papers Finding aid prepared by Jeff Donaldson-Forbes and George Painter; collection processed by George Painter and Jeff Donaldson-Forbes Oregon Historical Society, Davies Family Research Library 2012
1200 SW Park Avenue Portland, Oregon 97205 Phone: 503-306-5240 Fax: 503-219-2040 E-mail: libreference@ohs.org
Finding aid encoded by Jeff Donaldson-Forbes 2012 December 19 Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS ( Describing Archives: A Content Standard) Oregon Historical Society, Davies Family Research Library Davies Family Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue Portland, Oregon 97205 Phone: 503-306-5240 Fax: 503-219-2040 E-mail: libreference@ohs.org
Mss 2988-8 Anctil, James, 1943-1997 James Anctil papers circa 1930-1997 1961-1998 5 cubic feet 11 document cases, 1 oversize folder 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. English Biographical note

James Anctil (1943-1997), was a resident of the Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, 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, New Hampshire on March 26, 1943, Anctil graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont 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, Oregon, in 1981. In Portland, Anctil taught English as a second language at five 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.

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.

The collection is arranged in the following series: Series A: Biographical MaterialsSeries B: FinancesSeries C: ClippingsSeries D: Portland area culture and politicsSeries E: Men's movementSeries F: MiscellanySeries G: Photographs

Collection is open for research.

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses.The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

James Anctil papers, Mss 2988-8, Oregon Historical Society Davies Family Research Library.

The collection came to the Oregon Historical Society via the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest (GLAPN).

Acquired 1997. Includes Library Accession 23248.

Art work of James Anctil was donated to the Washington State Historical Society.

 Anctil, James, 1943-1997--Archives Anctil family Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest Portland (Or.)--Social life and customs Vancouver (Wash.) Gay people--Oregon Gay people--Washington (State) Artists--Oregon Artists--Washington (State) Oregon Washington (State) Portland Vancouver (Wash.) Gays and Lesbians correspondence diaries Series A Biographical materials 1961-1996 1/1 Transcripts 1961-1996 1/2 1990 Middlebury College Reunion (25th Anniversary) 1990

Contains extensive autobiography and poll responses written by Anctil for inclusion in the reunion yearbook

 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 circa 1989-1990

Contains applications for fellowships and grants, artists' biography, lease for art studio, artists' statements, and inventories of Anctil's visual artworks.

 1/7 Correspondence with Father circa 1990-1992

Letters to and from father, A.F. Anctil

 2/1 TMO & AMORC Certificates 1973-1975 2/2 Published Writing 1985-1989

Contains Anctil's written works published in "Just Out", "The EAGLE Newsmagazine", "The Oregonian" as well as drafts and revisions.

 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 1997

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.

 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 1982-1994

Contains some diary-related entries.

 4/3 Calendars 1981-1983 1981-1983 4/4 Calendars 1985-1986; 1996 1985-1996 Series B Finances 1981-1997 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 undated 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 1984-1994 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 1989-1996 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 1996

21st Annual Men & Masculinity Conference

 8/5 Earth & Spirit 1992-1994 Series F Miscellaneous 1984-1995 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 1930-1998 10/1 Birthday photos 1997 10/2-10/98 Album 1 circa 1930-1998

Includes family and friends

 11/1 Album 2--"Students of J. Anctil" undated 11/2 Nihonga photographs circa 1986 11/3 Miscellaneous photographs 1980-1992

Includes photographs by Paul Dahlquist