St. Louis LGBTQ+ Research Collection, 1967-2013 | WUA University Archives

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Collection Overview

Title: St. Louis LGBTQ+ Research Collection, 1967-2013

Predominant Dates:1967-2013

ID: WUA/06/wua00438

Primary Creator: University Archives - Washington University in St. Louis

Extent: 19.0 Linear Feet

Arrangement:

The St. Louis LGBTQ+ Research Collection is arranged into six series:

Series 1: Periodicals and Publications (St. Louis area, including Metro East)

Series 2: Periodicals and Publications (National)

Series 3: Conference and Task Force Publications

Series 4: Material Culture (further organized by type of material)

Series 5: Organizations, Businesses, and Groups

Series 6: Oversized

Series 7: Web Content

Subjects: Gay community -- Missouri -- Saint Louis, Lesbian community -- Missouri -- Saint Louis, Sexual minorities -- Missouri -- Saint Louis

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The St. Louis LGBTQ+ Research Collection consists of local and national periodicals, conference and task force publications, buttons, t-shirts, photographs, and posters related to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community of Greater St. Louis.

Materials are primarily focused on the St. Louis area, although some regional (Midwestern, Southern Illinois) and national items are included for context.

Collection Historical Note

The St. Louis LGBT History Project was founded in 2007 by Steven Brawley. In October 2015 Washington University Libraries joined the Project as an archival partner. This partnership, which also includes the Missouri History Museum, and the State Historical Society of Missouri, aims to document and preserve lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and associated communities’ local history.

While most items in this collection were donated through the Project, some were given directly to Special Collections of Washington University Libraries. Due to the large number of donors this information is indicated throughout the finding aid. Materials continue to be added, particularly those of use for scholarly or academic research purposes.

For more information see, Gay and Lesbian St. Louis, by Steven Louis Brawley and the St. Louis LGBT History Project (Arcadia Publishing, [2016]), available through Washington University Libraries.

LGBTQ is used in the title of this finding aid to indicate persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer and / or questioning. The symbol + (plus) is used for any persons not listed, such as intersex, asexual, polyamorous, or allies. This term was selected based on the common usage of “LGBT” and “LGBTQ” for programs at Washington University, with the addition of + in the pattern of the LGBTQ+ Archives, Libraries, Museums, and Special Collections Without Borders international conference of June 2016.

Other terminology found throughout the finding aid varies, and reflect historical differences and rapid changes in common language for this subject matter.

Subject/Index Terms

Gay community -- Missouri -- Saint Louis
Lesbian community -- Missouri -- Saint Louis
Sexual minorities -- Missouri -- Saint Louis

Administrative Information

Repository: WUA University Archives

Access Restrictions: Open

Use Restrictions:

Users of the collection must read and agree to abide by the rules and procedures set forth in the Materials Use Policies.

Providing access to materials does not constitute permission to publish or otherwise authorize use. All publication not covered by fair use or other exceptions is restricted to those who have permission of the copyright holder, which may or may not be Washington University.

If you wish to publish or license Special Collections materials, please contact Special Collections to inquire about copyright status at (314) 935-5495 or spec@wumail.wustl.edu. (Publish means quotation in whole or in part in seminar or term papers, theses or dissertations, journal articles, monographs, books, digital forms, photographs, images, dramatic presentations, transcriptions, or any other form prepared for a limited or general public.)

Acquisition Method: Donated by Harold Osler in 2015, Brian Vertruba in 2016, Charlotte Ellis in 2016, and the St. Louis LGBT History Project (includes Steve Brawley, John Hilgeman, Ed Laxton, John Knowles, and the Show Me Bears Organization)

Related Materials: Tom Miles Papers (WUA00431) For more information please see http://archon.wulib.wustl.edu/index.php?p=collections/findingaid&id=985.

Preferred Citation: [Item description]. From the [title, series, box, folder]. Department of Special Collections, Washington University in St. Louis.

Processing Information: Processed by Sarah Schnuriger and Leora Baum in August 2016. Updated by Sarah Schnuriger in January 2017 and February 2018. Updated by Jasmine Han in August 2017.

Finding Aid Revision History: Created by Sarah Schnuriger and Leora Baum in August 2016. Updated by Sarah Schnuriger in January 2017 and February 2018. Updated by Jasmine Han in August 2017. Updated by Sarah Schnuriger in January 2020.

Other Note: Part of the St. Louis LGBTQ Collecting Initiative.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Periodicals and Publications (St. Louis area, including Metro East)],
[Series 2: Periodicals and Publications (National)],
[Series 3: Conference and Task Force Publications],
[Series 4: Material Culture],
[Series 5: Organizations, Businesses, and Groups],
[Series 6: Oversized],
[Series 7: Web Content],
[All]

Series 4: Material Culture

Sub-Series 1: Activity Folders

Box 12

Folder 16

Item 1: "What Weddings Need" and "Ta-cumba Goes By Himself" activity folders with coloring sheets from Rainbow Rumpus: The Magazine for Kids with LGBT Parents, 2007: Custodial History: Donated by Steven Brawley of the St. Louis LGBT History Project, 2016 (WUA2016-015a)

Sub-Series 2: Buttons

Box 14-15

Item 1: Buttons including gay and lesbian pride festivals held in Chicago, South Florida, San Diego, New York City, Topeka, Detroit, Los Angeles, Wichita, Vancouver, Toronto, Grand Rapids, San Francisco, Omaha, Boston, Seattle, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Grand Rapids, etc (1981-1991); National Gay and Lesbian Task Force March on Washington (1993); political buttons including Tim Cusick; Gay Games; and many more: Custodial History: Donated to the St. Louis LGBT History Project by Tim Cusick, 2015
Item 2: Old Lesbians Organizing for Change (OLOC) and My Hero... 2016 SAGE Advocate of the Year (2 items): Custodial History: Donated by Charlotte Ellis, 2016 (LH2016-004)
Item 3: St. Louis PrideFest 2009, PrideFest: Just Be 2003, Come Alive in 2005, Forward Together, Stonewall 20: A Generation of Pride - 2 copies, I'm Still With Mel, Pridefest 2000 St. Louis, Look to the Future: Pride '90, Metro Trans* Umbrella Group, Stonewall 25, PrideFest '96, PrideFest '92, St. Louis PrideFest 2001, Pride 1993, Proud. Strong. United., Together in Pride, Metropolitan Community Church: Loved By God, Rightfully Proud, From All Walks of Life, Pride St. Louis 1994, Everybody Out, Forest Park Ambassador, Attitudes New Year's, '94, 2004: A Quarter Century of Pride, Unity & More in '84, and Black and White Ribbon: Custodial History: Donated by Steven Brawley of the St. Louis LGBT History Project, 2017 (LH2017-002)

Sub-Series 3: Matchbooks

Box 16

Folder 1: Matchbooks