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Letters From Harvey Milk to Joe Campbell

Image of Harvey Milk and Joe Campbell Joe Campbell, nineteen, met Harvey Milk, twenty-six, at Riis Park Beach in Queens, New York in July of 1956 and shortly thereafter moved from his parents' home into Harvey's suburban Rego Park apartment. Their time together included gushy love poems, impromptu gifts, and letters with "-san" suffixes to both their names. After a rocky relationship, Harvey asked Joe to move out in late 1962. It would be the longest relationship in either of their lives. Harvey later moved to San Francisco where he was the first gay man elected to the Board of Supervisors. He and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated in November 1978. These letters, written from New York, Miami Beach and Puerto Rico, document Harvey's feelings for Joe during the period between 1961 and 1964. They were donated by Joe Campbell to the Gay and Lesbian Center in 1993.

Click here to read letter December 1, 1961
From Harvey Milk to Joe Campbell
Lamenting the ending of their relationship.
Click here to read letter August 23, 1962
From Harvey Milk to Joe Campbell
The wonders of San Juan, Puerto Rico
Click here to read letter March 8, 1963
From C. Milner to Joe Campbell
Employment history request for Harvey Milk
Click here to read letter March 9, 1963
From Harvey Milk to Joe Campbell
Looking for a job in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Click here to read letter March 10, 1963
From Harvey Milk to Joe Campbell
Arrived in Miami
(Joe's reply on back side)
Click here to read letter April 6, 1963
From Harvey Milk to Joe Campbell
In Miami, talking about the weather