Guide to Wichita State University Erotic Art Society Collection
Collection Summary
Title: Wichita State University Erotic Art Society Collection Call Number: MS 1987-16 Size: 0.5 linear feet Acquisition: Donated by the Wichita State University Student Government Association (SGA). Processed by: LTM, 4/21/1987; Reprocessed by JEF, 1/21/1998
Literary rights were not granted to Wichita State University. When permission is granted to examine manuscripts, it is not an authorization to publish them. Manuscripts cannot be used for publication without regard for common law literary rights, copyright laws and the laws of libel. It is the responsibility of the researcher and his/her publisher to obtain permission to publish. Scholars and students who eventually plan to have their work published are urged to make inquiry regarding overall restrictions on publication before initial research.
The WSU Erotic Art Case manuscripts report a story that took place in Wichita, Kansas, over a period of weeks in 1977. It concerned obscenity and free speech and the other issues which these have come to represent. The main protagonists of the story were the District Attorney and his followers, who were against obscenity; versus the student president of the WSU Erotic Art Society and his supporters, who were for free speech.
The story begins when Neil Cook proceeded to show "The Devil in Miss Jones," a film which District Attorney Vern Miller had warned was an obscene film and should not be viewed. On Thursday evening, February 10, 1977, the film was shown. Representatives of the District Attorney's office seized the film, and a week later Neil Cook was arrested and charged with promoting obscenity.
Reactions to this event divided the University and the community. Following a week-long trial, Cook was found not guilty. However, the film was charged with being obscene, found guilty and quickly burned.
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Not available.
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Box 1 |
FF 1 |
Contains chapters 1-5 of the manuscript Erotic Art Society: The Cases for Free Inquiry. An Account of a Controversy. Edited by Dorothy K. Billings, Professor of Anthropology at WSU, dated 1981. |
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Box 1 |
FF 2 |
Contains chapters 6-12 of the manuscript Erotic Art Society: The Cases for Free Inquiry. |
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Box 1 |
FF 3 |
Contains chapters 13-15 of the manuscript Erotic Art Society: The Cases for Free Inquiry. |
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Box 1 |
FF 4 |
Contains chapters 16-Afterword of the manuscript Erotic Art Society: The Cases for Free Inquiry. |
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Box 1 |
FF 5 |
Contains a cassette tape by Dean Kurfman regarding the KLEO report of 2/13/1977 on the bust of the Erotic Art Society's showing of "The Devil in Miss Jones." |
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Box 1 |
Notebook Vol. I |
Contains the Court proceedings between the State of Kansas vs. Neil Cook, President of the Erotic Art Society, Wichita State University, dated April 26-May 2, 1977. |
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Box 1 |
Notebook Vol. II |
Contains the Court proceedings between the State of Kansas vs. Neil Cook, President of the Erotic Art Society, Wichita State University, dated April 26-May 2, 1977. |