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Creator
Liebman, Marvin
Call number
MssCol 4823
Physical description
.66 linear feet (2 boxes)
Language
English
Preferred Citation

Marvin Liebman Papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.

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

Marvin Liebman was a conservative strategist and fundraiser for the Republican Party who came out as gay in 1990. His papers consist chiefly of drafts of his memoir, Coming out Conservative, but also include some correspondence, other writings, and photocopies of published articles about Liebman and gay political conservatives.

Biographical/historical information

Marvin Liebman (1923-1997), a native of Brooklyn, New York, was a conservative strategist and fund raiser for the Republican Party and anti-Communist organizations who came out as gay in 1990. He worked for the presidential campaigns of Sen. Barry Goldwater (1964) and Ronald Reagan (1980), and served in the Reagan and Clinton administrations until his retirement in 1994. He was a founder of The National Review, the Young Americans for Freedom and the American Conservative Union.

In 1990, in an open letter to long-time friend William F. Buckley, published in the National Review, Liebman denounced the rampant homophobia in conservative Republican circles. From that point on he devoted his energies to gay activism, becoming the founding chairman of the Log Cabin Republicans, and writing for the gay press. In 1992 he published his memoir, Coming Out Conservative.

Liebman died of heart disease on March 31, 1997 in Washington, D.C. at the age of 73.

Scope and arrangement

The Marvin Liebman Papers consist chiefly of drafts of his memoir, I've Been Everywhere But Home (published in 1992 with the title Coming Out Conservative), and other writings that he sent to his friend Geoffrey Hoefer for comment. The collection also includes some letters and organizational mailings he sent to Hoefer, a videotaped interview with Liebman, and photocopies of published articles about Liebman, gay rights, and political conservatism.

The Marvin Liebman papers are arranged in two series:

  • Series I. Writings

    Series I consists chiefly of copies of Liebman's writings that he sent to Hoefer for his opinion. These include several drafts of Liebman's memoir, I've Been Everywhere But Home (later published as Coming Out Conservative), a draft of an unfinished novel, and copies of his opinion column Conservatively Speaking (later Independently Speaking), written between 1994-1996. Brief cover letters are included with some of the drafts.

  • Series II. Other Materials

    Series II consists of items sent to Geoffrey Hoefer by Liebman, including one personal letter enclosing a copy of his article "What do Conservative Gays and Lesbians Have in Common with the Republican Party?", a photocopy of a fax from William F. Buckley, Jr. of his review of Liebman's memoir Coming Out Conservative, and four mailings from the National Coalition for Understanding (earlier the Lambda Conservative Foundation), an organization Liebman created and dissolved in 1994. In addition to the correspondence, there is also a videotaped interview with Liebman and a folder of photocopies of clippings and other printed material about Liebman, the gay rights movement, and gay conservatives.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Donated by Geoffrey Hoefer, 2001

Processing information

Compiled by Michala Biondi; machine readable finding aid created by FAKER.

Related Material

Marvin Liebman Papers, 1953-1992. Hoover Institution Archives Stanford, California 94305-6010.

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