Binding the Archive: The Scrapbooks of Carl Van Vechten

This thesis brings together two linked concerns regarding Carl Van Vechten’s scrapbooks. The first part identifies and explores camp, how Van Vechten employs it, and its connection to pre-Stonewall gay male sexuality. I explore Van Vechten's camp response through his collection of homoerotic ephemera to illustrate not only his inner desires but also how Van Vechten’s consideration in arranging the materials was central to his camp sensibility. The second part examines practical preservation concerns pertaining to the scrapbooks, identifying specific issues and potential solutions as to how to care for them with particular focus on the photography and newspaper clippings that together allow for the emergence of Van Vechten's camp sensibility. While scrapbooks like Van Vechten’s pose unique challenges for the archivist and preservation specialist, I examine how professionals can intervene to mitigate material degradation and ensure that they remain preserved and accessible to future researchers.