Archives are collections of historical records that have been preserved for future generations to study and learn from. They include physical objects like documents, photographs, audio recordings, and video footage, which can provide insight into a particular time or place. Oral histories involve collecting and preserving stories from people who experienced events or lived through particular periods in history. Both of these methods help to document and preserve culture, but they also serve another purpose: resistance against erasure. When individuals and groups are marginalized or oppressed, their cultural memory is often suppressed or forgotten. By preserving queer cultural memory, archival practices and oral histories resist this erasure and ensure that queer voices continue to be heard.
The term "queer" refers to those who identify as LGBTQ+, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, intersex, and other sexualities and gender identities. Queer cultures were once excluded from mainstream society and had to create their own spaces and communities. This resulted in unique subcultures, such as drag balls, leather clubs, and Pride parades.
There has been a long history of attempts to erase these cultures and make them invisible.
The Stonewall riots, which sparked the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, were not widely known until the 1980s because of media censorship. The police who raided the bar used a strategy called "wiping out," where they would round up all the evidence of the event before it could be reported on. Similarly, the AIDS epidemic saw queer communities targeted for discrimination and neglect by healthcare systems and governments, resulting in devastating consequences. Archival practices and oral histories can play an important role in fighting back against this erasure.
Archives collect materials related to queer culture, preserving artifacts like posters, magazines, and zines from different time periods. They provide a record of queer lives and experiences that might otherwise have gone unrecorded. These archives allow researchers to study queer history in depth and gain new perspectives on marginalized groups. One example is the Lesbian Herstory Archives in Brooklyn, New York, founded in 1974. It holds over 25,0000 items documenting lesbian culture throughout history, including letters, diaries, photographs, and video footage. The collection is open to scholars and researchers, but it also serves as a resource for the community itself. Queer people can come and see themselves reflected in these records, connecting with their own heritage and finding inspiration for future activism.
Oral histories are another way to preserve queer memory. Interviewing individuals who experienced firsthand events like Stonewall or the AIDS crisis provides an inside look at what life was really like during those times. These stories help to fill gaps in historical knowledge and bring humanity to abstract statistics. Oral historians use special techniques to ensure accuracy and authenticity, such as recording multiple versions of the same story or asking follow-up questions to clarify details. This allows them to create a complete picture of what happened while still honoring individual voices. Oral histories are often used in museum exhibits and educational programs, giving visitors a more immersive experience and helping them connect with the past.
In addition to preserving cultural memory, archival practices and oral histories can challenge stereotypes and prejudices about queerness. By collecting materials from diverse communities and perspectives, they show that there is no one "queer" experience.
The National Library of Australia has collected oral histories from Indigenous LGBTQ+ people, highlighting how colonialism has affected queer identities in different ways. Similarly, the Kinsey Institute has collected interviews with transgender people of color, showing that queer experiences are not limited to white cisgender men. By presenting a fuller picture of queer culture, these projects challenge assumptions about gender and sexuality.
Archives and oral history collections also have practical benefits. They provide resources for researchers studying queer topics and give activists tools to advocate for change.
The Lesbian Herstory Archives helped inspire the establishment of the New York Public Library's Human Rights Collection, which houses documents related to gay rights movements around the world. These collections help scholars understand the historical context behind current events and inform policies that protect marginalized groups.
Archives and oral histories play an important role in resisting erasure and preserving queer cultural memory. By documenting queer lives and experiences, they ensure that these stories continue to be told and heard long after the original participants are gone. Their records offer insights into history that would otherwise be lost, helping us to understand ourselves better and work towards a more just future.
How do archival practices, oral histories, and documentation resist erasure and preserve queer cultural memory?
Archival practices, oral histories, and documentation play an important role in preserving queer cultural memory by allowing for the collection of primary sources that provide insight into queer experiences. These materials can be used to create a more complete and accurate understanding of LGBTQ+ history, which has often been neglected or distorted in mainstream narratives. By documenting these stories, we can resist erasure and ensure that future generations have access to information about this significant part of our past.