The Auburn Avenue Research Library LGBTQ collection

The Anthony “Tony” Daniels Papers document the personal and professional life of Anthony “Tony” Daniels (1965–1998), a writer, cultural worker, and creative voice whose work contributed to Black gay artistic and intellectual communities during the late twentieth century. Spanning from 1981 to 1999, the collection centers on Daniels’s writing practice and preserves a body of creative work that reflects both personal reflection and collective expression.

The collection includes correspondence, diaries, journals, print materials, and published and unpublished writings. Of particular significance are Daniels’s drafts, rewrites, scripts, and related working materials, which provide insight into his creative process and development as a writer. These records offer researchers a rare opportunity to trace the evolution of ideas, language, and form within Black gay literary production.

Also included are materials connected to ADODI Muse, the Black gay men’s literary and performance ensemble, situating Daniels’s work within a broader network of cultural collaboration and artistic community. Through these records, the collection highlights the role of writing, performance, and collective creativity in sustaining Black gay life and expression.

The Anthony “Tony” Daniels Papers contribute to the documentation of Black LGBTQ+ literary history, artistic labor, and interior life during a period shaped by cultural transformation, political struggle, and the AIDS crisis. The collection stands as a testament to Daniels’s voice and to the importance of preserving the creative legacies of Black gay writers.