Sheldon Herman Ramsdell papers

Collection

Identifier: 7714

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COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Files from Ramsdell's work with Vietnam Veterans Against the War. Also, correspondence mainly with his parents; photographs from his career, including photos of Bette Midler and a photo of Herbert Hoover's headstone decorated with a pink triangle; a scrapbook of clippings, press releases, and press badges from his time on the McCarthy campaign, including flyers stating McCarthy's support for civil rights and clippings about the assassinations of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Senator Robert F. Kennedy in 1968. Framed photographs of Norman Mailer (when he was running for mayor of New York City in 1969), Helena Rubenstein, and Joel Grey in makeup for the stage production of Cabaret.

Dates

1955-1996.

Creator

Ramsdell, Sheldon, 1935-1996. (Person)

Language of Materials

Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Photojournalist Sheldon (Shelly) Ramsdell, born on August 31, 1935 in Maine, served in the Navy, flying photograph missions over Indochina ca. 1955-58. He was honorably discharged in 1958. In 1967, he was one of the founders of Vietnam Veterans Against the War, one of the most influential anti-war groups of the era. In addition to photographing celebrities, Ramsdell served as chief press aide for Senator Eugene J. McCarthy's 1968 presidential bid, as well as for New York Congresswoman Bella Abzug. His photographs were published in periodicals including the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Esquire, and Time. He was also an activist in the Democratic Party on labor union issues. Since the early 1980s, Ramsdell was an activist on behalf of people with AIDS, gay men and lesbians, and veterans. He died March 25, 1996 in San Francisco after a long battle with AIDS.

Extent

2.4 cubic feet.

Additional Description

Abstract

Files from Ramsdell's work with Vietnam Veterans Against the War. Plus, correspondence mainly with his parents; photographs from his career.

SERIES LIST

Series I. Personal Materials Box 1

Series II. Military Service and Anti-War Work Box 1

Series III. McCarthy Materials Boxes 1-2

Series IV. AIDS Work Box 1

Series V. Photographs Boxes 1-4

RELATED MATERIALS

The "Stacewicz, Richard VVAW interviews, 1992-1995" at the Wisconsin Historical Society contain a tape-recorded interview with Sheldon conducted by Richard Stacewicz in preparation for his book, "Winter Soldiers: An Oral History of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War" (1997). State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Archives Division, 816 State Street, Madison, Wis. 53706.

Related collection: Ramsdell, Sheldon Papers, (#1996-28). Files of his AIDS activism during his 12 years living in San Francisco are at the GLBT Historical Society, 657 Mission Street #300, San Francisco, CA 94105 Phone: 415.777.5455. Email: info@glbthistory.org

Physical Description

Correspondence, printed material, photographs, scrapbook.

General

Contact Information:: Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections 2B Carl A. Kroch Library Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 (607) 255-3530 Fax: (607) 255-9524 rareref@cornell.edu http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
Compiled by:: Brenda J. MarstonAndrea Hektor
Date completed:: May 2004
EAD encoding:: Andrea Hektor, May 2004
EAD last modified:: RMC Staff, August 2011