The Northeast Ohio Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Archives, a joint of the Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS) and the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, was founded in 1991. The Northeast Ohio LGBT Archives’ mission is to “foster greater understanding of the region’s LGBT history by documenting the lives of Northeast Ohio’s LGBT residents and organizations and their contributions to our community.” The LGBT Archives was preceded by the formation of the Cleveland Lesbian/Gay Archives (formerly titled the Cleveland Gay History Project) in 1983. The Cleveland Lesbian/Gay Archives were established to “collect and preserve material relevant to the history of the lesbian/gay community in the Cleveland metropolitan area.” This early project was housed in a private residence and managed by Case Western Reserve University student Charles Callendar and archivist Max McLarty. Materials contained within the Cleveland Lesbian/Gay Archives later came under the care of the LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland. The partnership later born between the Western Reserve Historical Society and LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland and subsequent formation of the Northeast Ohio Gay/Lesbian Archives in 1991 has since provided a permanent space for the archives’ collections to be properly processed, stored, and preserved according to archival standards. Since 1991, the Northeast Ohio Gay/Lesbian Archives (later renamed the Northeast Ohio LGBT Archives) has expand in both content and scope through the addition of community materials and the formation of a community-led oral history project in 1995. The Northeast Ohio LGBT Archives are currently housed at the Western Reserve Historical Society, 10825 East Boulevard. Notable collections include the Gay Educational Awareness Resources Foundation Records, Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center of Greater Cleveland Records, and more.
Additional information coming soon.
Resources
- “Archives Seeks Materials.” Gay People’s Chronicle. February 1, 1985. Page 11.
- DeWitt, Brian. “Preserving Our Past, and Our Present.” Gay People’s Chronicle. April 20, 2007. Page 1.
- Finding aid for the Gay Educational Awareness Resources Foundation Records (MS 4614). Western Reserve Historical Society.
- Finding aid for the Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center of Greater Cleveland Records (MS 5498). Western Reserve Historical Society.
- Galbincea, Barb. “Growing Archives Tell Story of Lesbian, Gay Communities.” Plain Dealer. May 29, 2007.
- Glassman, Anthony. “History is Still Being Made.” Gay People’s Chronicle. October 26, 2007. Page 10.
- Glassman, Anthony. “Senior Group May Resume LGBT Oral History Project.” Gay People’s Chronicle. December 31, 2004. Page 3.
- “LGBT Archives.” Western Reserve Historical Society. (Archived webpage ca. 2021.)
- Marshall, Tim. “Ohio’s First Lesbian-Gay Center Began 30 Years Ago.” Gay People’s Chronicle. Pride Guide 2005. Page B-10.
- Martin, Sean, and Sidney Negron. “Pride, Then and Now.” Western Reserve Historical Society. May 24, 2023.
- “Opening July 14 at Western Reserve Historical Society.” Cleveland 2014-15 LGBT Visitor’s Guide. Cleveland: Positively Cleveland, 2013. Page 18.
- “Oral History Training Starts.” Gay People’s Chronicle. August 18, 1995. Page 12.
- Pontoni, Martha. “Western Reserve Historical Society Opens Gay Archive.” Gay People’s Chronicle. August 1991. Page 4.
- Purvis, Alyssa. “LGBT Exhibit Constructed in Honor of GG9.” Western Reserve Historical Society. February 11, 2015. (Archived webpage ca. 2023.)
- “The Northeast Ohio Lesbian/Gay Archives: A Whole New Perspective on Our Past.” LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland. (Archived webpage ca. 2006.)
- Strassmeyer, Mary. “Archives About Gays, Lesbians.” Plain Dealer. September 11, 1992.