Lisa Middlesex Papers, 1974-2005 (majority within 1980-2004)

Summary

Creator:

Middlesex, Lisa

Abstract:

Papers of Ann Arbor artist, writer, and musician who specialized in artwork involving bondage, fetishism, sadomasochism, cross-dressing, and transsexuality. Included are correspondence, personal items, original artwork, original writings, photographs, scrapbooks, and audiovisual materials.

Extent:

18.0 Linear Feet (7 boxes, 1 manuscript box, 8 oversize boxes)

Language:

English

Authors:

Finding aid prepared by Andrew McBride (2010)

Background

Scope and Content:

The Personal series contains various personal effects of Middlesex, including driver's licenses, yearbooks, journals, a coffee mug, a pair of high-heeled shoes, and a false eyelash. Photographs of Middlesex and others in her life are included in this series, including a limited number of projector slides.

The Name and Topical series contains a wide variety of materials from across the course of Middlesex's life. This series contains all correspondence between Middlesex and others which ranges from the mid-1980s to the early 2000s. The correspondence files are organized based on the last name of the correspondent. Correspondence range varies, from some folders only containing one letter to other files which contain letters mailed over a period of years. Where a photograph was found with a particular letter, it is in the same folder as that letter. Some folders, such as those of Bill Johnson and John Anton Lang, contain original artwork and collages by those people. An Unidentified folder contains letters to Middlesex that were either not signed at all or not signed legibly. Other than personal correspondence, a couple of folders, including Jeri, Versatile Productions, Inc., and Smoke Signals, involve her business dealings with the magazines in which she published. The Name and Topical series also contains magazine and newspaper clippings organized thematically. This series also includes documentation of a presentation that Middlesex gave to a University of Michigan psychology class about cross-dressing. This particular subseries includes many photographs, papers written by students based on the presentation, and Middlesex's own recounting of the experience.

The Writings series contains writings by Lisa Middlesex. These include fictional short stories, some previously organized into a series by Middlesex. There are also a range of songs written by Middlesex, some including musical notation. The Jokes subseries includes jokes written by Middlesex, most likely for future publication. The Autobiography subseries consists of the first few pages of a planned autobiography by Middlesex. Three issues of the magazine "Reflections" in which Middlesex published her art are also included in this series.

The Scrapbooks series is comprised of twelve scrapbooks constructed by Middlesex out of bound sketchbooks. The Scrapbooks are fairly uniform in their content, in that they include magazine and newspaper clippings and Middlesex's own writings, drawings, and sketches. Scrapbook 12, filled with magazine, comic book, and newspaper clippings, appears to have been used for the purpose of illustrated models for Middlesex's artwork.

The Photographs series contains photographs of unidentified people other than Lisa Middlesex. Most of these photographs were sent to Middlesex along with correspondence from people responding to personal advertisements she placed in magazines, though they did not accompany particular letters in the collection and are not signed. Many are of an erotic or sexual nature.

The Photograph Albums series consists of albums of photographs of Middlesex and other individuals in her life. In the first subseries, half of the albums contain photographs of a primarily sexual and erotic nature. The other half of the albums in the second subseries contains various non-sexual photographs. One of the albums, Album 10, appears to have been the only one assembled by someone other than Middlesex and given to her as a gift.

The Audiovisual series contains both videotapes and musical audiocassette tapes. The videotapes are primarily of an erotic or sexual nature, most featuring transgender individuals and/or sadomasochistic and bondage themes. A few videotapes are mainstream films and television shows.

The Artwork series is the largest series in the Lisa Middlesex Papers. Her artwork spans a wide variety of genres and formats. She made sketches, drawings, paintings, and collages. Her themes include bondage, sadomasochism, smoking fetishism, other erotic drawings, cross-dressing, transsexuality, comic books, superheroes, and science fiction and fantasy. She also created art and promotional materials for musical acts, including her own band, The Wild Prayers. A subseries includes a wide variety of original artwork by others. This series is organized by topic and then by size within each topic. Some subseries, though, were created by Middlesex while still in her possession. Many of the subseries also include photocopies of the original artwork.

Biographical / Historical:

Lisa Middlesex, given the name Bobby Lee Yardley at birth, was born on October 17, 1957. She was a lifelong resident of Ann Arbor, MI, who lived in the city and worked a variety of jobs over the years of her life. During her childhood, Middlesex discovered her interest in cross-dressing and the eroticization of feminine clothing, accessories, and appearances. During her childhood and teenage years, she also developed an interest and attraction to bondage fetishism and sadomasochism. In her late teens and early twenties, Middlesex ventured into Detroit, MI, to cross-dress in the gay and lesbian bars and to watch the drag queen shows. Around the age of 20, Middlesex began pursuing art, particularly artwork focused on bondage, sadomasochism, and cross-dressing. She studies other artists, particularly classic bondage artists, including John Willie, Eric Stanton, and The Bishop. She also pursued a musical career and became a singer, songwriter, and guitar player. She kept producing a wide range of art throughout her life, some of which was published under the names Lisa Slade and Lisa Middlesex in bondage and sadomasochism magazines, such as "Reflections," and in cross-dressing and transgender magazines, such as "Transformations." Middlesex also spoke to members of the community about her identity and experiences. In the 1980s, she gave a presentation before a University of Michigan psychology class about her experiences as a cross dresser. This shows that, in some ways, she was open about herself to others. Middlesex even wrote positively about the experience and the desire to do it again. Middlesex corresponded with a range of individuals from around the world throughout her life, primarily by way of personal advertisement in bondage and cross-dressing magazines. Middlesex continued to write and produce art throughout her life. After a battle with cancer, Lisa Middlesex a.k.a. Lisa Slade a.k.a. Bobby Lee Yardley died on March 22, 2005, at the age of 47.

Middlesex, Lisa. "Lisa Middlesex." Reb's Erotic Art Gallery . Accessed July 29, 2009. www.rebsart.com/Bios/middlesex.asp

Acquisition Information:

Acquired from Kerry Thomas, 2005.

Processing information:

Andrew McBride (2010)

Subjects

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Subjects:

Bondage (Sexual behavior)
Erotic art -- United States -- Michigan.
Sadomasochism.
Sex in art.
Transvestism.