Digital Transgender Archive

Reed Erickson

Reed Erickson Finding Aid

Reed Erickson was a mechanical engineer, businessman, financier, and philanthropist, known for his involvement and support of transgender research through his organization Erickson Educational Foundation. Born Rita Mae Erickson to Robert and Ruth Erickson on October 13, 1917 in El Paso, Texas, s/he attended the Philadelphia High School for Girls and Temple University (1936). The family, including younger daughter Roberta (later Roberta Simes) moved from Philadelphia to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Erickson graduated from Louisiana State University (1946) with a degree in mechanical engineering, worked for the family's lead smelting business, and established Southern Seating, an independent manufacturer. Upon the passing of father Robert in 1962, Erickson inherited the family businesses Schuylkill Products Company Inc. and Schuylkill Lead Corporation, which he successfully ran until selling both companies in 1969 for close to five million dollars. Other organizations associated with Erickson were Inversiones Del Angel, AMOCO Oil, Gauguin Inc. and Wyoming Inc. These businesses, savvy investments, and real estate purchases developed into large personal fortune, estimated to be 40 million dollars upon Erickson's passing.

Fonds reflects Reed Erickson's life-long interest and involvement in transsexed studies and culture; investments; legal cases; health and drug-related complications; purchase and sale of numerous properties; and his personal relationships with his former wives, children, and members of staff. The fonds consists of correspondence, financial records, medical records, contracts, handwritten notes, photographs, grant applications, publications produced by the EEF and related organizations, mailing lists, brochures, invoices and receipts, graphic materials, objects, cartographic materials, property plans, musical compositions and art, blueprints, property and lot plans, a videocassette, and other materials. Correspondents include: Family members, employees (most notably Zelda Suplee), lawyers and attorneys (Alfred Keep, Michael Crane, Michael Pratter, Peter Barry), Dr. Harry Benjamin, Dorr Legg, Dr. John Lilly, Dr. John Money, President Ronald Reagan, Dr. Paul Walker, and Dr. Benjamin Weininger. The fonds has been arranged into four series: Erickson Educational Foundation records, Legal records, Personal records, and Reed Erickson and affiliated entities financials.