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Visual AIDS is proud to announce a new phase in the growth of our archive: the acquisition of manuscript collections that document the personal and creative lives of artists affected by HIV and AIDS, as well as broader AIDS cultural histories.
For three decades, our Artist Files have preserved images and biographical information for more than 550 underrecognized HIV-positive artists. This open, unadjudicated archive has served as a vital resource for researchers, curators, and community members committed to preserving and engaging with AIDS cultural history. Until now, most artists were represented by one or two folders of materials.
With this new initiative, we are beginning to acquire larger manuscript collections—including journals, correspondence, photographs, exhibition records, and other personal papers—that offer deeper insight into individual lives and creative practices.
This effort responds to a pressing need in our community. More than 40 years into the AIDS crisis, the first generation of survivors, caretakers, and cultural stewards are aging. Families and loved ones are seeking a home for materials they’ve safeguarded for decades. At the same time, institutional archives face growing processing backlogs, diminishing capacity to accept new donations, and drastic funding cuts. As a community-based archive with a proven commitment to preserving marginalized histories, Visual AIDS fills a critical gap in the archival landscape, offering a meaningful home for collections that might otherwise be excluded or lost in institutional backlogs.
We are honored to announce the acquisition of new collections documenting the lives and legacies of artists Timothy Greathouse, Joseph Modica, David Nelson, and David Knudsvig, as well as a landmark collection of interviews with more than 300 LGBTQ artists conducted by David Hirsh, and materials from Philip Yenawine that document the origins of Visual AIDS and Day Without Art.
Visual AIDS will continue acquiring and processing archival collections on an ongoing basis and we aim to publish a collection development strategy in the coming year. Please note that we primarily collect personal papers—not paintings, sculptures, or other art objects—due to space and staff limitations. We welcome inquiries and are available to consult with those who would like advice about preserving or donating archival collections; please reach out to us at archive@visualaids.org.
Our archive has a longstanding commitment to public engagement. Our reading room is open to researchers of all kinds—including students, artists, curators, historians, and the chosen families of those represented in our holdings. We offer research support through our full-time Community Archivist and through programs like the Visual AIDS Research Fellowship, annual Research Symposium, and our online journal.