The Alan Bell collection consists of original newsprint and magazine copies, poetry, journals, and directories that focus on the lives of the African American lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgendered, and queer (LGBTQ) community. Publisher Alan Bell produced a monthly hard news alternative to many of the infotainment-oriented publications that appeared throughout America's Black gay communities during this period. The BLK magazine was published from December 1988 until March 1994. It began as a 16-page black and white newsprint, and later grew to 40 pages with glossy color covers, paid circulation, and national product advertising until it ceased publication in March 1994. A total of 41 issues were published, all of which are in the collection.
