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1601 N. Clark Street Chicago, IL 60614
Access to archives and manuscripts at the Research Center.

Thing Magazine records

Descriptive Summary

Repository
Chicago History Museum
Research Center
1601 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60614-6038
Creator
Thing Publishing (Chicago, Ill.), Robert T. Ford, Trenton D. Adkins, Lawrence Warren
Bib number
00229681
Title
Thing Magazine records
Dates
1980-1995
Predominant Dates
1987-1994
Quantity
17 linear feet (21 boxes and two oversize folders)
Call number
MSS Lot T
Call number
MSS Oversize T
Call number
PCP-273
Call number
0MM.332
Language
English

Restriction(s)

For audio-visual listening or viewing, it is necessary to use a copy, not the original (and to have a use-copy made if one is not available). Boxes 19 and 20 contain audio cassettes, audio and visual reels, VHS, and a U-Matic. Existing listening copies of selected audio and visual materials are available in box 18.

Advance appointment required to view color material, photographic negatives, and items contained in Box 10. Due to condition of the original photographic materials in Box 17, it is necessary to use a copy, not the original (and to have a use-copy made if one is not available).

Terms governing use

Copyright may be retained by the creators of items, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law, unless otherwise noted.

Provenance statement

Gift of Frank Ford, Trenton Adkins, and Michael Thompson (accession #: 2018.71).

Please cite this collection as

Thing Magazine records (Chicago History Museum) plus a detailed description, date, and series/box/folder/call number of a specific item.

Collection Summary

Correspondence, periodicals, news clippings, interview transcripts, mailing lists, performance fliers, location fliers, creative submissions, research files, artwork, posters, office collage material, and other materials related to Thing, Think Ink, LGBTQ+ culture, the drag scene, Black culture, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Contained in this collection are many files used in the production of Thing, including photo spreads. This collection also contains Thing’s organizational material, outreach, and distribution correspondence. Audio-visual material includes color photographs, black and white photographs, Polaroids, photo negatives, cassette tapes, VHS tapes, one U-matic cartridge, 16mm film reels, and one 8mm film reel. Two oversized files contain promotional material for Thing, Think Ink, and Essex Hemphill.

Biographical/historical note

Thing was created by Robert Ford, Trent Adkins, and Lawrence Warren in 1989 and ran through 1993, spanning ten issues. The zine grew out of a previous publication, Think Ink, which was created in 1987 by the three with the help of Simone Bouyer. Think Ink ran for two issues.

Thing was founded to provide a platform to represent Black LGBTQ+ life. As such the zine is full of art, house music, interviews, commentary, small and large features, recurring columns, poetry, and articles centering around Black culture, LGBTQ+ culture, HIV/AIDS activism, drag, camp, and more. Individuals highlighted and interviewed over the ten issues include notables such as Marlon Riggs, Joan Jett Blakk, Essex Hemphill, RuPaul, and Vaginal Davis. Thing was published in Robert Ford’s apartment, and thousands of copies were distributed world-wide through stores, subscriptions, and written in requests for individual issues.

Robert Ford was one of the three original founders of Thing. He was a writer, DJ, publisher, advocate, and cultural documentarian based in Chicago, Illinois. In addition to working as the Creative Director at Rose Records from 1982-1990 and publishing Thing, Ford contributed articles to such publications as Babble and Planet Rock. He passed away on October 4th, 1994 at the age of 32.

Separated material

Separated materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center include ten issues of Thing (HQ77.T44 OVERSIZE) and two issues of Think Ink (NX1.T5 FOLIO).

Processing Note

Processed with the generous support of the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation. The collection was partially processed at an earlier date. As such, much of the original order of the collection is gone, though the majority of the collection maintains original order within the folders.

Indexed Terms

Organization and Arrangement of Collection

This collection is organized in three series. The first series, Robert Ford, has three subseries. The second series, Thing operations, has five subseries. The third series, Subject files, has six subseries. It must be noted that this collection is highly intersectional, with subjects crossing over frequently. Folders have been designated a series based on the majority of the contents within the folder. One subseries, Research materials, was created for folders with material too intersectional to place into a more specific subseries.

Photographs were processed in a similar way: photographs originally housed together remained together when placed into new housing and were labelled as such. Loose photographs were arranged based on the order they were stored. In addition, many of the photographs in the subseries "Performance, places, people" cross over with "Zine production." They were processed into "Performances, places, people" to keep the integrity of the photo collection as intact as possible.

Series 1. Robert Ford, 1987-1994 (box 1, 15, 19)

This series consists of writings, correspondence, interviews, and other material relating directly to the life of Robert Ford. Note: Box 15 (color photographs) must be requested in advance. Box 19 (audio and film reels) requires listening copies.

Subseries 1. Biographical material, ca 1992-1994 (box 1, 15)

This subseries consists of funeral material, interviews, and photographs relating to the personal life of Robert Ford.

Subseries 2. Correspondence, ca. 1990-1994 (box 1)

This subseries consists of letters and postcards written to Robert Ford.

Subseries 3. Writings, 1987-1994 (box 1, 19)

This subseries contains writings by Robert Ford. This subseries also contains a music video, "Self Service," directed by Robert Ford. Visual and audio elements of the music video are currently separated. Note: one essay was processed into this subseries by a previous archivist, yet has no identification indicating that Robert Ford wrote it. It has been left in this subseries.

Series 2. Thing operations, (1986-1994) (boxes 1-5, 10-11, 14-16, 18-20, OS folder 1)

This series is comprised of mailing lists, correspondence, writers’ files, news clippings, interviews, photographs, photographic negatives, film, audio cassettes, audio reels, a U-matic, and notes regarding the operation of Thing. This series also contains one folder of oversize material. Note: boxes 10 (documents, correspondence and color photographs), 14 and 15 (color photographs), and 16 (negatives) must be requested in advance. Boxes 19 (audio and film reels) and 20 (audio tapes, VHS, U-matic) require listening copies.

Subseries 1. Think Ink, 1986-1989 (box 1, 10, 16)

This subseries contains photographs, photographic negatives, interviews, articles, and correspondence regarding the production of the two issues of Think Ink.

Subseries 2. Administrative records, 1989-1994 (box 1, 10)

This subseries includes writing samples, art samples, and correspondence between Thing staff, artists, models, and writers.

Subseries 3. Zine production, ca 1989-1994(boxes 2-4, 10-11, 14, 18-20)

This subseries consists of articles, photographs, layouts, art, film, VHS, film, cassettes, audio reels, a U-matic, and other items utilized in producing the issues of Thing.

Subseries 4. Distribution, ca 1990-1994 (boxes 4-5, OS folder 1)

This subseries consists of correspondence, forms, and office files representing the distribution of Thing across the world. Also includes office records regarding distribution to stores, in addition to individuals.

Subseries 5. Correspondence, 1992-1994 (box 5, 10)

This subseries contains correspondence regarding the zine (though not regarding distribution).

Series 3. Subject files, 1980-1995 (boxes 5-17, 21, OS folder 2)

This series contains articles, photographs, photograhpic negatives fliers, articles, ephemera, pamphlets, and other material regarding music, the drag scene, individuals, art, HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ+ culture, and Black life in America. The series also contains items used in the Thing office collage. It is important to note that the subject files are the most intersectional of the series. Series contains one oversize file. Note: boxes 10 (documents, correspondence and color photographs), 14-15 (color photographs), and 16 (negatives) must be requested in advance. Box 17 contains cracked polaroids and is restricted.

Subseries 1. Performances, music, people, 1980-1994 (boxes 5-7, 10-17, OS folder 2)

This subseries contains photographs, photographic negatives, fliers, articles, and other material regarding performances, music, and people.

Subseries 2. HIV/AIDS Epidemic, 1989-1994 (box 7, 10)

This subseries contains photographs, fliers, articles, and other material regarding the HIV/AIDS Epidemic.

Subseries 3. LGBTQ+, 1986-1994 (boxes 7-8)

This subseries contains photographs, fliers, articles, and other material regarding LGBTQ+ life and culture.

Subseries 4. The Black Experience, 1989-1994 (box 8)

This subseries contains photographs, fliers, articles, and other material regarding Black life in America.

Subseries 5. Research material, ca 1980-1995 (box 9, 12, 15, 16)

This subseries consists of clippings, documents, and novel drafts related to subjects of interest at Thing.

Subseries 6. Office collage, ca 1990s (box 13, 15, 16, 21)

This subseries contains ephemera and photographs from the collage located on the wall of the Thing office. Also contains photographs and photographic negatives of the office collage.

Detailed list of contents of the collection

Series 1. Robert Ford
1987-1994
Subseries 1. Biographical material
1992-1994
Box 1
Title
Documents, correspondence, clippings, black and white photographs
Physical Location
MSS Lot T
Box 15
Title
Polaroids, color photographs
Physical Location
PCP-273
Conditions for Access

Advance appointment required to view color material.

Subseries 2. Correspondence
1990-1994
Box 1
Title
Documents, correspondence, clippings, black and white photographs
Physical Location
MSS Lot T
Subseries 3. Writings
1987-1994
Box 1
Title
Documents, correspondence, clippings, black and white photographs
Physical Location
MSS Lot T
Box 19
Title
Film reels, audio reels
Physical Location
0MM.332
Conditions for Access

For audio-visual listening or viewing, it is necessary to use a copy, not the original (and to have a use-copy made if one is not available). Existing listening copies of selected audio materials are available in Box 18. Existing viewing copies of selected video materials are available upon request.

Series 2. Thing operations
1986-1994
Subseries 1. Think Ink
1986-1989
Box 1
Title
Documents, correspondence, clippings, black and white photographs
Physical Location
MSS Lot T
Box 10
Title
Documents, correspondence, color photographs
Physical Location
PCP-273
Conditions for Access

Advance appointment required to view color material, photographic negatives, and items contained in Box 10.

Box 16
Title
Negatives
Physical Location
PCP-273
Conditions for Access

Advance appointment required to view photographic negatives.

Subseries 2. Administrative records
1989-1994
Box 1
Title
Documents, correspondence, clippings, black and white photographs
Physical Location
MSS Lot T
Box 10
Title
Documents, correspondence, color photographs
Physical Location
PCP-273
Conditions for Access

Advance appointment required to view color material.

Subseries 3. Zine production
1989-1994
Box 2-4
Title
Documents, correspondence, clippings, black and white photographs
Physical Location
MSS Lot T
Box 10
Title
Documents, correspondence, color photographs
Physical Location
PCP-273
Conditions for Access

Advance appointment required to view color material.

Box 11
Title
Black and white photographs
Physical Location
MSS Lot T
Box 14
Title
Color photographs
Physical Location
PCP-273
Conditions for Access

Advance appointment required to view color material.

Box 18
Title
Listening copies of audio and video recordings
Physical Location
MSS Lot T
Box 19
Title
Film reels, audio reels
Physical Location
0MM.332
Conditions for Access

For audio-visual listening or viewing, it is necessary to use a copy, not the original (and to have a use-copy made if one is not available). Existing listening copies of selected audio and visual materials are available in box 18.

Box 20
Title
VHS, U-matic, audio cassettes
Physical Location
0MM.332
Conditions for Access

For audio-visual listening or viewing, it is necessary to use a copy, not the original (and to have a use-copy made if one is not available). Existing listening copies of selected audio and video materials are available in Box 18. Existing viewing copies of selected video materials are available upon request.

Subseries 4. Distribution
1990-1994
Box 4-5
Title
Documents, correspondence, clippings, black and white photographs
Physical Location
MSS Lot T
Oversize 1
Title
Posters
Physical Location
MSS Oversize T
Subseries 5. Correspondence
1992-1994
Box 5
Title
Documents, correspondence, clippings, black and white photographs
Physical Location
MSS Lot T
Box 10
Title
Documents, correspondence, color photographs
Physical Location
PCP-273
Conditions for Access

Advance appointment required to view color material.

Series 3. Subject files
1980-1995
Subseries 1. Performances, music, people
1980-1994
Box 5-7
Title
Documents, correspondence, clippings, black and white photographs
Physical Location
MSS Lot T
Box 10
Title
Documents, correspondence, color photographs
Physical Location
PCP-273
Conditions for Access

Advance appointment is needed to view color materials.

Box 11-12
Title
Black and white photographs
Physical Location
MSS Lot T
Box 13
Title
Ephemera, black and white photographs
Physical Location
MSS Lot T
Box 14
Title
Color photographs
Physical Location
PCP-273
Conditions for Access

Advance appointment is needed to view color materials.

Box 15
Title
Polaroids, color photographs
Physical Location
PCP-273
Conditions for Access

Advance appointment is needed to view color materials.

Box 16
Title
Negatives
Physical Location
PCP-273
Conditions for Access

Advance appointment is needed to view photographic negatives.

Box 17
Title
RESTRICTED: Polaroids
Physical Location
PCP-273
Conditions for Access

Due to condition of the original photographic materials in Box 17, it is necessary to use a copy, not the original (and to have a use-copy made if one is not available).

Oversize 2
Title
Posters
Physical Location
MSS Oversize T
Subseries 2. HIV/AIDS Epidemic
1989-1994
Box 7
Title
Documents, correspondence, clippings, black and white photographs
Physical Location
MSS Lot T
Box 10
Title
Documents, correspondence, color photographs
Physical Location
PCP-273
Conditions for Access

Advance appointment required to view color material.

Subseries 3. LGBTQ+
1986-1994
Box 7-8
Title
Documents, correspondence, clippings, black and white photographs
Physical Location
MSS Lot T
Subseries 4. The Black Experience
1989-1994
Box 8
Title
Documents, correspondence, clippings, black and white photographs
Physical Location
MSS Lot T
Subseries 5. Research Material
1980-1995
Box 9
Title
Documents, correspondence, clippings, black and white photographs
Physical Location
MSS Lot T
Box 12
Title
Black and white photographs
Physical Location
MSS Lot T
Box 15
Title
Polaroids, color photographs
Physical Location
PCP-273
Conditions for Access

Advance appointment required to view color material.

Box 16
Title
Negatives
Physical Location
PCP-273
Restriction(s)

Advance appointment required to view photographic negatives.

Subseries 6. Office collage
1990s
Box 13
Title
Ephemera, black and white photographs
Physical Location
MSS Lot T
Box 15
Title
Polaroids, color photographs
Physical Location
PCP-273
Conditions for Access

Advance appointment required to view color material.

Box 16
Title
Negatives
Physical Location
PCP-273
Restriction(s)

Advance appointment required to view photographic negatives.

Box 21
Title
Ephemera
Physical Location
MSS Lot T