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Creator
Eddey, Roy
Call number
MssCol 18242
Physical description
1.09 linear feet (3 boxes)
Preferred Citation

Roy Eddey (Motive) papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library

Repository
Manuscripts and Archives Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.Restrictions apply

The Roy Eddey Motive papers mainly document the history of Motive as a magazine of gay liberation from 1964 to 1972, in particular the creation of one of the two final editions of the magazine in 1971, devoted to gay male issues.

Biographical/historical information

Motive was a student magazine published by the The United Methodist Church from 1941 to 1971. During the mid-late 1960s, the magazine became increasingly vocal in its support of such countercultural issues as the peace movement, civil rights, and especially gay rights, prompting the Church to halt its affiliation with and support of the magazine in mid-1971. Following the separation from the Church, the magazine's editors attempted to continue Motive as a gay liberation magazine through the creation of an independent corporation, Motive Inc. However, the combination of lack of financial resources and disagreements among the editors led to the decision to end the magazine with the simultaneous publication of two final editions: one devoted to lesbian issues and the other to gay male issues. They were published in early 1972 as volume 32, nos. 1 and 2. Roy Eddey, who had been the last editor of the magazine while it was still a church publication, edited the men's issue. Motive Inc. was disbanded in the mid-1970s, and the name "Motive" was sold back to The United Methodist Church in return for the Church paying off the corporation's remaining debts.

Scope and arrangement

The Roy Eddey Motive papers chronicle the life of Motive from 1964 to 1972 as a magazine featuring and eventually devoted to gay liberation. In particular, it documents the production of the final, gay men's issue in 1971. The papers contain editorial and contributor correspondence and business papers documenting the history of Motive Inc.

Earlier files (1964-1970) contain correspondence with the Motive editors of those years, B.J. Stiles and Ron Henderson, and include contributor letters, manuscripts and art work, as well as discussion of a proposed issue entirely devoted to homosexuality. The original art work is by Robert Charles Brown.

Files from 1971-1979 contain business and editorial and production files. Business files include the separation agreement from the Methodist Church, incorporation and copyright papers for Motive Inc., and editorial meeting minutes from 1971 documenting the decision to end the magazine. Later correspondence (post-1972) mainly concerns final disposition of funds among the magazine's contributors, the dissolution of Motive Inc. and the sale of the name "Motive" back to the Methodist Church.

Editorial and production files document the creation of the final issues of Motive (mainly the gay men's issue). They include contributor correspondence, manuscripts, gay newspaper and magazine clippings sent with the manuscripts, and letters to the editor in response to the magazine's last issues.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically, with some divisions by subject within date ranges.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Donated by Roy Eddey in July 2001.

Processing information

Compiled by Matthew Snyder.

Processing consisted foldering or refoldering files which were collected in essentially chronological sequence.

Using the collection

Location

Manuscripts and Archives Division
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Brooke Russell Astor Reading Room, Third Floor, Room 328

Access restrictions

The sound recording in this collection is unavailable for use at this time pending preservation transfer.