Open Secret: The Family Story of Robert and John Gregg Allerton

In 1922, Robert Allerton, a wealthy bachelor in Chicago, met John Gregg, an architecture student twenty-six years his junior. They became inseparable and legally adopted Gregg as his son in 1960, making history as the first such adoption of an adult in Illinois. The documentary "An Open Secret" explores their story, highlighting their queer relationships and the challenges they faced in a society that did not tolerate their love. It also delves into their design, domestic, and philanthropic projects, shedding light on their profound queerness and the diversity of kinship ties in modern US history.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 05 April 2021
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

In 1922, Robert Allerton, known as the "richest bachelor in Chicago," encountered a young University of Illinois architecture student named John Gregg. Despite a staggering age difference of twenty-six years, their connection was immediate and inseparable. Within a few years, they began referring to each other as father and son, a unconventional relationship that defied societal norms. Their bond lasted nearly four decades, culminating in a daring act in 1960 when Allerton legally adopted Gregg as his son, making history as the first such adoption of an adult in Illinois.

An Open Secret, a captivating documentary film, delves into the lives of these two extraordinary individuals and their unconventional relationship. It explores their place among their queer contemporaries and uncovers the reasons why becoming father and son made sense for a couple who possessed every material advantage but faced a significant obstacle: their desire to be openly together in a society that did not accept their love.

Through meticulous research and analysis, Nicholas L. Syrett sheds light on the nature of the Allertons' design, domestic, and philanthropic projects. He reveals how viewing them as both a same-sex couple and an adopted family is essential in understanding the profound queerness of their relationships. By delving deep into the lives of these two men who often operated as ciphers in their own time, Syrett opens up provocative new avenues to consider the diversity of kinship ties in modern US history.

The film offers a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of love, family, and identity, challenging societal norms and providing a fresh perspective on the complexities of kinship ties in the 20th century. It is a testament to the resilience and determination of the Allertons, as well as their profound impact on the world around them.

Weight: 468g
Dimension: 157 x 236 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226638744