At the end of this month, Joseph R. Hawkins retires as director of the ONE Archives at the USC Libraries, concluding nearly three decades of leadership at the world’s largest LGBTQ+ repository. Yesterday, he reflected on his tenure during an interview on LAist’s AirTalk with guest host Austin Cross.
Joined by historian and USC professor William Deverell, Hawkins discussed the evolution of the ONE Archives over the past 25 years and its role in connecting LGBTQ+ communities with their histories. He spoke about his personal motivations for engaging with LGBTQ+ history, the archives’ vibrant public programming, and the ongoing discoveries he continues to make in the collection. Hawkins also acknowledged a recent $2.5 million gift from USC alumnus Paul D. Lerner and his husband, Stephen Reis, to name and endow the director position—an investment in the long-term stewardship of the archives.
The AirTalk interview follows a USC Today profile by Greg Hernandez, in which Hawkins shared unforgettable memories from his time at the ONE Archives: a grieving partner reunited with a lost obituary, long-lost wedding photos recovered decades later, and more.
To learn more about the ONE Archives, visit one.usc.edu.