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Creator
Dunlap, David W.
Call number
MssCol 6132
Physical description
3.5 linear feet (8 boxes)
Preferred Citation

David W. Dunlap Papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.

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

The David W. Dunlap Papers contain materials from the period of Dunlap's career in which he covered the gay, lesbian and AIDS beat for the New York Times. The collection consists of printed copies of Dunlap's articles and the research materials used to write them. Special materials include audio recordings of interviews and events, photographs from gay rights parades and business cards collected by Dunlap.

Biographical/historical information

David W. Dunlap is a New York Times reporter specializing in the history of architecture and land developments in the vicinity of New York City. He is the author and photographer of On Broadway: A Journey Uptown over Time, which won a Citation of Excellence from the American Institute of Architects. He is also the co-author and photographer of Glory in Gotham: Manhattan's Houses of Worship and the photographer of The City Observed: New York. From 1994-1999, Dunlap covered the gay, lesbian and AIDS beat for the New York Times.

The New York Times introduced its first official gay and lesbian beat in October 1994. Dunlap, a member of the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) was a real estate reporter for the paper before he began following gay and lesbian issues for the Metro and National sections. The decision to officially document gay and lesbian news for the Times had its origin in conversations between editors Rich Meislin, Joe Lelyweld and Dunlap following the AIDS-related death of reporter Jeffrey Schmaltz in November 1993. Schmaltz pioneered serious and organized reporting on gay, lesbian and AIDS issues for the Times. Dunlap said he hoped to "expand what readers of the Times understand to be the lesbian and gay communities geographically, economically, racially, ethnically, politically, and spirituality." He was sometimes criticized for covering the news from a politically left position, and ignoring gay and lesbians in the conservative, Republican and libertarian communities.

Scope and arrangement

The collection includes printed copies of Dunlap's articles and the research materials he used to write them, including sound recordings of interviews with notable individuals, recordings from political events, and videotapes.

The David W. Dunlap papers are arranged in two series:

  • Series I. New York Times articles
    1994-1999

    The articles are arranged chronologically along with additional correspondence, references and research materials. Related materials in Box 8 contain articles about the New York Times gay and lesbian beat and Dunlap's articles on gay and lesbian issues before 1994. These related materials also include business cards and contact information collected by Dunlap.

  • Series II. Sound and video recordings, 1993-1995

    Sound recordings include press conferences and interviews used by Dunlap to write articles. The videos are also research materials used by Dunlap.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Gift of David W. Dunlap

Processing information

Processed by Thomas G. Lannon; machine readable finding aid created by FAKER.

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