Scope and arrangement
The papers consists of Bloecher's voluminous correspondence and personal journals, a memoir of a summer spent in Provincetown in 1951 and other writings, theatre memorabilia, and his New York City Gay Men's Chorus files. The collection document the daily life of a struggling actor and singer in New York City and gay life, chiefly in New York City, before and after Stonewall. They also include significant coverage of Bloecher's involvement in UFO research.
The Ted Bloecher papers are arranged in four series:
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1950-2000
Series I consists of Bloecher's correspondence with friends, family, fellow singers and actors, and UFO researchers. Correspondents include Isabel Davis, cofounder (with Ted Bloecher and Lex Mebane) of Civilian Saucer Intelligence of New York in 1954, James W. Moseley, President of Saucer And Unexplained Celestial Events Research Society (SAUCERS), Len Stringfield Director of Civilian Research, Interplanetary Flying Objects (CRIFO), Major Donald Keyhoe, head of the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), Capt. Edward J. Ruppelt ("Project Blue Book") and Leon Davidson.
Following the correspondence for most years is a folder of printed material containing covers of playbills for musicals, plays, and concerts he attended. Most are annotated with a brief remark summarizing his thoughts about the performance. In addition there are clipped reviews and/or feature articles about the shows.
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1950-2000
Bloecher' s journals cover fifty years of his life, beginning in his late teens. The journals document the daily life of a gay man in the United States, primarily in New York City, including reports on his sexual activities and relationships and the impact of the AIDS epidemic. However, there is little mention of the homophile or gay rights movements.
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1975-1999
Bloecher's writings include an unpublished musical comedy "Something in the Air" (1994), a research paper, "The Stonehenge Incidents" (1975), a memoir, "Coming of Age in Provincetown," and his poetry (1995-1998). His memoir describes his experiences as a young man spending the summer in Provincetown, Massachusetts in 1951.
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1985-2000
Materials documenting Bloecher's membership in the New York City Gay Men's Chorus include copies of the handbook, constitution and by-laws, board minutes, fundraising materials, performance programs and reviews, and publicity brochures for public appearances by the Chorus.