ONE the Homosexual Viewpoint
1953 - 1972
Courtesy of the One Archives at USC Libraries
Scanned from my own collection

The One, Inc., which took its name from Thomas Carlyle's statement that "A mystic bond of brotherhood makes all men one,"
was founded in LA in 1952 as a homophile organization with connections to the Mattachine Society. As the first pro-gay journal
of its kind, it serves as an important source for pre-Stonewall homophile studies. In 1954 the US Post Office declared it obscene,
leading to a four-year legal battle (chronicled in its pages) that concluded with a favorable decision as part of Roth vs. United
States. Aside from its articles covering topics ranging from the Beatniks and Gay marriage to homosexuality and national
security, One Magazine also featured poetry and short fiction by numerous prominent authors. (Description from Bolerium Books)

What's in ONE? My friend Tyler Alpern has compiled an extensive index for that on his site.
And the site Independent Voices has 93 of the 173 issues for viewing online, plus Many other more obscure publications.
Plus, the USC Digital Library has a complete set online.
Their displays are different but you may like them better.
Plus, here's some coverage on ONE in the tabloid press in August 1954

 CLICK ON THE COVERS TO DOWNLOAD 

1953

first year,
6"x7" issues

 

1953 Index

 

 

1954

remaining years,
5 1/2" x 8 1/2"

 

1954 Index

 

 

No Issues for
Aug & Sep

1955

 

1956

 

 

1956 Index


Apr & May
Combined Issue

Jun & Jul
Combined Issue

 

Aug & Sep
Combined Issue

 

Oct & Nov
Combined Issue

1957

 

 

1957 Index
 

 

Jun & Jul
Combined Issue

 

Aug & Sep
Combined Issue

 

Oct & Nov
Combined Issue

1958

 

 

1958 Index
 

1959

 

 

1959 Index
 
1960
 
1961
 
1962
 
1963
 

1964

 

 

 

1964 Index
 

1965

Richard Conger became editor with the May issue, after the split

(Jan-Jun from USC)

1965 Index
 

1966

With the June issue it went from 32 to 16 pages and a cheaper paper stock; also many rerun articles

 

1966 Index

 

Apr & May
Combined Issue
 

1967

16-page issues
 

 

Jul to Dec
Combined Issue

  

1972

After a gap of four years Richard Conger and Jim Kepner again began publishing One in
8 1/2"x11" format, lasting four bimonthly issues

 

Combined Issues
Jan & Feb
Mar & Apr
May & Jun
Jul & Aug

slick paper
again used

  
In May of 1965 Editor Don Slater and some of the staff broke away from ONE, and they thought they could continue publishing the magazine under that name, and did so from May through August. Then a judge ruled they could not...so they changed their name and their magazine to Tangents.
So, technically for those four months there were dueling issues of ONE (though fortunately the title graphic was different)
1965

 

>>>>>>>>>>>

Tangents lasted through March 1970


Most (26) of the Tangent issues available here
There were other publications associated with ONE:  ONE Confidential; ONE Institute Quarterly, Homophile Studies; ONE Letter; and Mattachine Review

 

The ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives at the USC Libraries in Los Angeles is the largest repository of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) materials in the world. They have examples of their collection of ONE in a wall display. I took this photo in 2004, and it inspired me to do this page, to let people soak in the the visuals of this history.

  

Above right, 30 Year Celebration Program (click to view)

 

And, see this related June 2020 article by Craig Loftin


I prepared a special section...

The ONE Supreme Court Case, 1958