Belinda Mason papers, 1978-2000
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Belinda Mason papers, 1978-2000
- Creator
- Mason, Belinda Ann, 1958-1991
- Extent
- 2.5 cubic feet
- Subjects
- Mason, Belinda Ann, 1958-1991
- United States--National Commission on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
- AIDS activists--Kentucky.
- Activists, Human rights--Kentucky.
- AIDS (Disease)--Patients--Kentucky--Biography.
- AIDS (Disease)--Social aspects.
- AIDS (Disease) in Women.
- Authors, American--Kentucky.
- Appalachian Region--Fiction.
- Appalachian Region--Social aspects.
- Arrangement
- Series and subseries arranged alphabetically by topic.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Belinda Mason was a proud native of Eastern Kentucky. In her all too brief 32 years she was a reporter for two weekly papers-- The Ohio County Times-News in Hartford, KY., and The Appalachian News-Express in Pikeville, Ky. She was a gifted short story writer, a self-proclaimed "occasional performer of country music and reliable Tupperware party guest", a wife, a mother, and an AIDS activist. She earned her bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Kentucky in 1980. Mason worked with Appalshop's Roadside Theater, in Whitesburg Kentucky, as a playwright beginning in 1985, and in 1986 her story "A Lesson in Motion" was published in the well-regarded The American Voice. In 1987 she was awarded an Al Smith Fellowship for writing from the Kentucky Arts Council. That same year, her story "A Christmas Lesson" was published in Appalachian Heritage.
- In January of 1987 she was infected with HIV. She went public with her status in 1988 and became an advocate for AIDS prevention, education, treatment and human rights. In July of that year, she became the first person with AIDS to be appointed to the National Commission on AIDS. She was quite critical of President Bush at the time, contending that his stance on AIDS was more about morality rather than a concern for public health.
- With Ron Jerrell, Mason co-founded the Kentuckiana People with AIDS Coalition (KIPWAC) in the late 1980's. She was elected president of the National Association of People with AIDS in 1989. She lost her own battle with AIDS on September 9, 1991.
- Scope and Content
- This collection consists of Belinda Mason's literary writing, including plays, poetry, monologues, a novel, and short stories. Some of the manuscripts were considered finished, while others are drafts in various stages of editing. The collection also includes biographical clippings, obituaries, documentation of Mason's work with the National Commission on AIDS, and information on "Belinda", a documentary film about Mason that was produced by Appalshop.
Contents of the Collection
BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS, 1987-2000
Playbill for Passing Through the Garden, "a play based on stories and essays by Belinda Mason" [produced by Appalshop, September 21, 1996]
Promotional materials and publications pertaining to a biographical film, Belinda [produced by Appalshop, 1993-1994]
Clippings relating to Belinda Mason's AIDS activism, 1987-2000
Obituaries, 1991-1992
CORRESPONDENCE, 1985-1990
NATIONAL COMMISSION ON AIDS, 1990-1991
The National Commission on AIDS was established by former president George Bush in 1989 for the purpose of developing a national policy regarding AIDS and the HIV epidemic. Belinda Mason was the first person with AIDS to serve as a member of the commission.
Publications of the National Commission on AIDS, 1990-1991 [includes Mason's writing]
Material produced by the National Commission on AIDS, 1990-1991 [includes biography and speech]
WRITTEN WORK, 1978-1991
Published and unpublished work by Belinda Mason, arranged by genre, then chronologically
BOOKS
MONOLOGUES
NON-FICTION
PLAYS
The Gifts of the Spirit, 1986
POETRY
"For Lisa" and Untitled, published, 1978; also includes unpublished poetry, some handwritten, undated
SHORT STORIES, 1984-1987; undated
"Weekender," 1984 [draft with critique by Jim Wayne Miller]
"A Fruitful Season," 1985 [drafts]
"A New Age," outline and various drafts [incomplete], December 1985
"A New Age," Part one: 1980, December 1985
"A New Age," Part two: 1924, December 1985
"A New Age," Part three: 1948, December 1985
"A New Age," Part four: 1972, December 1985
"A New Age," Part five: 1980, December 1985
"Passing Through the Garden," 1985 [completed version with fragment of draft]
"A Man to Come Home to," 1985 [completed draft with letter from Ploughshares editor]
"The Reunion," December 1985 [draft]
"A Lesson in Motion," 1986 [published in The American Voice]
"A Perpetual Care Deal," 1986 [draft (2 copies)]
"A Christmas Lesson," 1987 [published version and various drafts; published in Appalachian Heritage]
"Of Fire and Water," undated [incomplete drafts]
"A Man to Come Home to," undated [draft with comments by June Thompson]
"Ladies Night," undated [incomplete draft]
Untitled, undated [incomplete draft]
Appears to be an earlier draft of "Weekender" manuscript found in Box 3, Folder 18; incomplete and undated
NOTES
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
POSTERS
University of Kentucky Women Writers Conference, April 1-4, 1987, Lexington, KY
Poster advertising Women Writers conference; Belinda Mason listed as participant
In Her Own Words, September 12, 1992, Lexington, KY
Large poster advertising an event honoring Belinda Mason and her work as an author and activist
Copy 1: Large poster advertising an event honoring Belinda Mason and her work as an author and activist
Copy 2: Large poster advertising an event honoring Belinda Mason and her work as an author and activist
Copy 3: Large poster advertising an event honoring Belinda Mason and her work as an author and activist
Copy 4: Large poster advertising an event honoring Belinda Mason and her work as an author and activist
Copy 5: Large poster advertising an event honoring Belinda Mason and her work as an author and activist
Small poster advertising an event honoring Belinda Mason and her work as an author and activist
Copy 1: Small poster advertising an event honoring Belinda Mason and her work as an author and activist
Copy 2: Small poster advertising an event honoring Belinda Mason and her work as an author and activist
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Table of Contents
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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
