Websites

“A History Resource for LGBTQ+ Communities,” Ohio Lesbian Archives, https://ohiolesbianarchives.org/

The Ohio Lesbian Archives collects materials by and about the LGBTQ+ community of Greater Cincinnati and Ohio more broadly. Their specific focus is on lesbian identity. Their archive has books, magazines, photographs, personal and organizational files, newspapers, and more. Additionally, their blog page may spark your interest in a specific topic.

Ohio History Connection LGBTQ+ Oral History Collection, https://ohiohistory.libguides.com/c.php?g=981266&p=10202478

The Ohio History Connection LGBTQ+ Oral History Collection offers videos, audio recordings, and stories about people’s lives as members of the LGBTQ+ community. It features interviews covering a diverse array of topics from the 1940s through the present day.

Ohio Memory, Digital Collection of Columbus Metropolitan Library, https://digital-collections.columbuslibrary.org/

Accessible through Ohio Memory or through the Columbus Metropolitan Library website, this site boasts a large collection of queer publications. Including “News of the Columbus Gay and Lesbian Community,” “Stonewall Union Reports,” and “Outlook Ohio.” Other primary resources on various topics are also available.

Ohio Memory, Gay Ohio History Initiative Collection, https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p267401coll30

This website offers digitized archival materials from the Gay Ohio History Initiative (GOHI) Collection, as well as descriptions of each primary source. While many items in the GOHI Collection have been digitized and are available through Ohio Memory, the rest of the collection can be accessed by appointment at the Ohio History Connection archival website.

“Our Stories: A Developing Record of Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, and Alliance at The Ohio State University,” The Ohio State University Knowledge Bank, https://kb.osu.edu/communities/56e2aa8b-4417-5818-848e-abc066c2ef5f

The archive contains materials from and describes the development of the Gay community at Ohio State. This includes the history of student-initiated organizations transforming into institutionally recognized communities within the university.

OUTWORDS: Queer History Lives Here. Our Story. Forever. https://theoutwordsarchive.org/

OUTWORDS offers interviews with individuals in the LGBTQ+ community. There are curated lists of interviews by topic or historical event.

Reclaiming Our Histories, https://reclaimingourhistories.org/.

Reclaiming Our Histories is an ongoing digital humanities project that started in the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department at The Ohio State University. It provides curated virtual exhibits on OSU’s history through the lens of feminist thought and queer studies. It especially focuses on the intersection of gender with race, sexuality, and disability. 

The Chrystal Chronicle Online, “Newsletter of the Crystal Club, Columbus, Ohio, USA,” https://www.thecrystalclub.org/index.htm

This website has the digitized newsletter of the Crystal Club, “a support group for crossdressers, transexuals, and their families.” These newsletters capture the concerns and interests of this group from 1989 to 2004. They discuss politics, news, and issues facing the transgender community.      

The Queer History of Dayton: Local LGBTQ+ Stories, https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/e7121203e1a343faa78825bc0d181e09.

This website was created by Dayton City Historic Preservation Officer Holly Hornbeak. It is a curated StoryMap created through ArcGIS, a tool to create digital curated experiences through primary sources. The website offers several primary sources on Dayton’s queer history by subject matter, including gay bars, pride and protests, and faith. 

Physical Collections

Bryan Knedler collection of gay ephemera, 1979-2007, SPEC.RARE.0314, Bryan Knedler Collection, Thompson Library Rare Books Stacks, https://library.ohio-state.edu/record=b10232444~S6

This collection includes materials from Byran Knedler, a LGBTQ+ rights activist. These materials include greeting cards and calendars that primarily targeted gay men. The materials are from 1979-2007.

Bryan Knedler papers on gay rights advocacy, 1979-2012, SPEC.RARE.0315, Bryan Knedler Collection, Thompson Library Rare Books Stacks, https://library.ohio-state.edu/record=b10232691~S6

The collection of Bryan Knedler, an LGBTQ+ rights activist, contains papers, correspondence, newsletters, and informational pamphlets related to gay rights and HIV/AIDS activism in the United States.

“LGBT Archives,” Western Reserve Historical Society, https://www.wrhs.org/research/library/significant-collections/lgbt-archives/

This website lists the collections of the Western Reserve Historical Society’s LGBT archives. The archive is not digitalized and must be viewed in-person at either the WRHS Library at the Cleveland History Center.

“LGBTQ+ History Research at the Archives & Library of the Ohio History Connection,” Ohio History Connection Collections, https://ohiohistory.libguides.com/LGBTQ/collections 

This site provides a detailed breakdown of Ohio History Connection’s LGBTQ+ collections, including newsletters, newspapers, magazines, books, and pride collections. Additionally, this webpage includes “GOHI Starter Kits,” which curates primary sources through a few specific topics, such as Pride, Politics and Protest, Drag, Community, Military, and more. This section could be helpful in choosing a topic to pursue for your research. 

LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning) zines and ephemera, SPEC.RARE.0203, boxes 1-6, Thompson Library Rare Books Stacks,  https://library.ohio-state.edu/record=b8203558~S6

This collection at OSU contains materials on Columbus LGBTQ+ history and OSU LGBTQ+ organizations including the first LGBTQ+ group at OSU.

Websites

“Cincinnati Pride History”, Accessed April 4, 2024, https://www.cincinnatipridehistory.org/intro

This website details the history of Cincinnati’s pride parade. The primary resources they used in their research are included on the history page as well. The site is made with the support of the Ohio Lesbian Archives, and links other useful resources, like the Cincinnati Public Library and the Cincinnati Pride website.

GLSEN, the Anti-Defamation League and StoryCorps. “Unheard Voices: Stories and Lessons for Grades 6-12, "Unheard Voices: Stories and Lessons for Grades 6-12 | GLSEN

This website includes audio interviews/oral histories of LGBTQ+ individuals who were a part of or helped shape LGBTQ+ history. The interviews all have accompanying transcripts and classroom materials, handouts, discussion questions, and activities.  Additionally, lesson plans on broader themes of LGBTQ+ history are available.

“LGBTQ+IA+ Studies A Resource Guide,” Library of Congress, https://guides.loc.gov/LGBTQ+-studies/

This research guide offers overviews of a manage of LGBTQ+IA+ historical topics, including the Homophile Movement, The Stonewall Uprising, and more. Each overview includes additional subjects and external resources that may be of interest.

LGBTQ+ History, National Museum of American History, LGBTQ+ History | National Museum of American History (si.edu)

This website links Smithsonian resources on LGBTQ+ topics. Resources include curated exhibitions like “Illegal to be You,” videos, and links to archive collections.

LGBTQ+ Oral History Digital Collaboratory, https://LGBTQ+digitalcollaboratory.org/

This resource contains oral histories of the LGBTQ+ community in the U.S. and Canada. The Collaboratory blog covers a range of topic in the LGBTQ+ public and digital history space, written by their research team, it offers reflections on projects and special interests.

One Institute, https://www.oneinstitute.org

One Institute is dedicated to telling the history and stories of queer and trans people and culture. In addition to public programs and exhibitions, One Institute also offers a variety of educational initiatives that may be of use to History Day students. Additionally, One Institute supports ONE Archives at the USC Libraries, which holds the world's largest collection of LGBTQ+ materials.

Our Family Coalition. “Teaching LGBTQ+ History: Instructional Resources for California Educators, Students, and Families” LGBTQ+History.org,  Courses Archive » Teaching LGBTQ+ History

LGBTQ+History.org is a free resource covering a variety of topics relating to LGBTQ+ history. Resources include lesson plans, books, and videos for Elementary, Middle and High school.

Smith, Kaitlin. “10 Resources for Teaching LGBTQ+IA+ History,” Facing History & Ourselves, June 3, 2022, 10 Resources for Teaching LGBTQ+IA+ History | Facing History & Ourselves

This article offers a curated list of resources on LGBTQ+ history. The list includes online exhibitions and primary resources.

The LGBTQ+ History Project, LGBTQ+ HISTORY PROJECT (LGBTQ+hp.org)

This website contains articles and interviews on LGBTQ+ activists and individuals detailing their experience in the community, as members of organizations, or involvement in historic events. Additionally, their Queercore podcast covers topics and individuals relating to the LGBTQ+ community and its history. The podcast episodes often audio interviews of the individuals being discussed. The LGBTQ+ History Project also includes the Ruby Lynn Reyner Archive, which includes a description of her life and digital access to her archival materials.

“Vibrant Kin Project,” Cincinnati Pride History, Accessed April 4, 2024, https://www.cincinnatipridehistory.org/vibrant-kin-project

This website hosts the project “Vibrant Kin- Fifty Years of Activism: A Continuing Conversation.” The project details Cincinnati’s history of LGBTQ+ activism. The project includes images of primary resources like newspaper clippings and pins. This is a good example of how to use physical objects in a project.

Books (or Monographs)

Baume, Matt. Hi Honey, I’m Homo!: Sitcoms, Specials, and the Queering of American Culture. Dallas, TX: Smart Pop Books, 2023.

This book explores how the LGBTQ+ liberation was depicted and transformed in sitcoms from Bewitched to M*A*S*H. The author details impact of LGBTQ+ storylines and characters in sitcoms that transformed America.

Heyam, Kit. Before We Were Trans: A New History of Gender. New York, NY: Seal Press, 2022.

This book describes the stories of people across the globe and history whose experience with gender defies the binary categories. Times and locations range from Renaissance Venice, Edo Japan, seventeenth-century Angola, and early America.

Jones, Cleve. When We Rise: My Life in the Movement. New York, NY: Hachette Books, 2016.

This book details Cleve Jones’ life as an activist and a gay man. His story touches on gay bars and the role they play in the LGBTQ+ community, Harvey Milk and his assassination, the impact of HIV and AIDS, and more. His story does not just detail his individual life but captures the emerging and transformative LGBTQ+ community.

Possanza, Amelia. Lesbian Love Story. New York, NY: Catapult, 2023.

This book details the author’s experience doing archival research to uncover the lost and forgotten stories of lesbians in the 20th century.

Ryan, Hugh. The Women’s House of Detention: A Queer History of a Forgotten Prison. New York, NY: Bold Type Books, 2022.

From 1929 to 1974, the Women’s House of Detention in New York’s Greenwich Village, housed thousands of women, transgender men, and gender non-conforming individuals. The book explores the roots of modern-day women’s imprisonment and the lives of incarcerated New Yorkers.

Schneck, Ken. LGBTQ+ Cincinnati. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2020.

This book explores the history of Cincinnati’s LGBTQ+ community. It contains different organizations, events, places, and activists who played a part in their history. The book also contains photographs and who contributed them to the book.

Schneck, Ken. LGBTQ+ Cleveland. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2018.

This book explores the history of Cleveland’s LGBTQ+ community. It contains different organizations, events, places, and activists who played a part in their history. The book also contains photographs and who contributed them to the book.

Schneck, Ken, Shane McClelland. LGBTQ+ Columbus. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2019.

This book explores the history of Columbus’ LGBTQ+ community. It contains different organizations, events, places, and activists who played a part in their history. The book also contains photographs and who contributed them to the book.

Schulman, Sarah. Let the Record Show: A Political History of ACT UP New York, 1987-1993. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2021.

This book is described as the most comprehensive political history on the activisms of ACT UP and AIDS activists. The book details the work of ACT UP and its inner workings based on over two hundred interviews with ACT UP members.

Shilts, Randy. And The Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press, 1987.

This book, written at the time of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, chronicles the discovery and spread of HIV and AIDS. The focus of the book is the government indifference and politics to the disease, as it was seen as a specifically gay disease.

Shilts, Randy. The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Griffin, 1982.

The book explores the personal and political life of Harvey Milk. The story of Harvey Milk mirrors the emergence of the gay community during the 1970s.