Reflections on My Journal, 1980

The papers of Robert J. Leach consist of journals with consistent daily entries (1930-1986), written and audio taped reflections on those journals (1975-1979), autobiographical manuscripts (1963-1985), incoming as well as outgoing correspondence (1928-1994), and appointment calendars (1955-1996). The Leach papers document his determination and expression of his sexual identity, his life as a closeted gay, his coming out, and his emotional life as a gay American abroad and on Nantucket Island. There is abundant reflection on his family relations, and elaborate and painstaking descriptions of the narrative of his rich life. The collection also includes several miscellaneous items including a commonplace book of A. Judson Leach (RJL's father) from the 1880s, an unidentified commonplace book from 1969 (probably owned by Jean Leach), and several of Leach's address books. The collection includes correspondence from Robert Leach describing his donations and providing context for his collection at the Cornell Archives' Human Sexuality Collection. Robert Leach's papers having to do with his career as an international educator are located at the Archives of the International School of Geneva (Switzerland). Papers focusing on his Quaker activities are located at the Friends Historical Library at Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania, and at the Archives of Geneva M.M. of the Religious Society of Friends. Books and other items will be deposited at Dialoguegay in Geneva, Switzerland (57 Avenue, Wendt) and the Peter Foulger Museum on Nantucket.