"Doors to Open" a guide for young people including advice for LGBTQIA (Addition 37) 2024-0060

Containers:
Box 10, Folder 6
Extent:
0.04 Cubic Feet
Scope and content:

This addition to MSS 16758, The University of Virginia Collection on the History of Childhood, Parenting, and Family Building, contains a single pamphlet titled "Doors to Open" by Ellis Gladwin and Rama Braggiotti (illustrator) published by the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company. It is written as a guide for young people but specifically addresses men embarking on college life and advises on new life changes in the context of conservative social constructs of the mid-twentieth century. Sixth in a series of booklets that dealtwith the tensions of everyday life.

Each segment has a hypothetical person encountering specific issues like overcoming shyness and finding social niches. Towards the end of the booklet, a piece titled "Girl of My Dreams" is a thinly veiled reference to a young man questioning and discovering an LGBTQIA+ identity. The advice is negative and clarifies that the hypothetical person should stifle these questions and stick to a hetronormative lifestyle, stating " "George is very unhappy, [and] needs help to cope with these festering needs. Otherwise, he may settle for a dim life, arrested by a succession of psychosomatic illness."

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
160 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Brenda Gunn
Phone: (434) 924-1037
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Parent restrictions:
The collection is open for research use.
Parent terms of access:
This collections contains some in-copyright material. Visit our Permissions and Publishing page (https://library.virginia.edu/special-collections/services/publising). For more information about use of Special Collections materials. The library can contain copyright material on request, but users are responsible for making their own determination about lawful use of collection materials.
Preferred citation:

MSS 16758, The University of Virginia Collection on the History of Childhood, Parenting, and Family Building Addition 37, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.