Howard J. Brown (1924-1975), a physician, was an innovative health planner and advocate for the gay rights movement. After working with several projects in New York City providing comprehensive health care and neighborhood medical services, he served as the City's Health Services Administrator from 1966 to 1968. He then became a professor of public health at New York University. In 1973 he became active in the gay rights movement and helped organize the National Gay Task Force. His book, Familiar Faces, Hidden Lives (published posthumously in 1976) described his life and discussed homosexuality in general. Collection contains correspondence, speeches, personal ephemera, drafts of writings, and other materials Brown collected relating to medicine or homosexuality. Bulk of the correspondence, 1942-1974, consists of letters congratulating Brown upon his appointment as Health Services Administrator and additional letters, 1973-1974, concerning his activities on behalf of gay rights. Brown's speeches, 1966-1974, are all about medicine or homosexuality. Personal ephemera includes certificates, awards, news clippings, photographs, student notes and papers, and 1966 appointment book. Other papers consist of teaching materials on public health; clippings, programs and articles relating to Brown's involvement with gay rights; drafts and notes about his book; and research materials on homosexuality.
