Human Sexuality Collection

01/23/2026

An expanded reflection on courage and creativity.

Cornell University Library - Rare and Manuscript Collections

CLOSED DANGER DO NOT ENTER

01/21/2026

Le***an photographer Honey Lee Cottrell (January 16, 1946 - September 21, 2015) grew up in Michigan. In 1965, after one year at Michigan State University, she drove cross-country to San Francisco and put down roots there, becoming part of communities of progressive s*x education activists and creative LGBT artists and historians.

In what turned out to be days before her death, I visited to see and learn about her archives. Jon Bailiff drove us to her storage unit, and on the way back, she insisted we stop to see the redwoods. The closed path did not deter her. This Jan. 16 would have been her 80th birthday, and Jon shared this gorgeous drawing of that moment going to see the redwoods. Happy birthday, Honey Lee. Thank you for everything.

This year, Susie Bright spent time here adding item-level description to important items in Honey Lee’s papers and the records of On Our Backs. These collections are so important, we are doing all we can to document their details for you!

https://archives.library.cornell.edu/repositories/2/resources/1968




*xualitycollection