Historiography
Historiography is the study of historical writing and its development. It includes the methods used to collect, analyze, interpret, present, preserve, and transmit history. In the context of LGBTQ+ histories, historiography has been a significant field since the beginning of written records.
Due to societal biases against queer individuals, many sources have been destroyed or hidden away. This makes it challenging to accurately reconstruct their stories. As such, several approaches have emerged to compensate for archival gaps and bias when studying marginalized queer histories.
Archives
Archives are collections of materials created by an organization or individual that documents its activities and operations. They can include physical documents, photographs, films, audio recordings, electronic files, and more. Due to the lack of public acceptance of homosexuality and transgenderism throughout history, many archives did not preserve LGBTQ+ material or actively censored it.
During World War II in Germany, the Nazis burned LGBTQ+ literature and arrested thousands of gay men and lesbians under Paragraph 175. Consequently, there is little to no primary source evidence available to understand how these individuals lived before they were imprisoned or murdered.
Biographies
Biographical research is another approach that scholars use to fill archival gaps. By examining the lives of well-known figures, academics can learn about their sexual identities, relationships, and communities.
Oscar Wilde's life provides insight into British society in the late nineteenth century and his struggles as a gay man. His trial and imprisonment for sodomy helped shape attitudes toward homosexuality in Britain.
Oral History
Oral history involves recording interviews with people who experienced historical events firsthand. It allows researchers to hear directly from those involved rather than rely solely on written sources.
This approach also has limitations since some interviewees may be reluctant to share their stories or recall them accurately after decades have passed.
Cultural differences can impact what people are willing to disclose. Nevertheless, oral histories remain vital in understanding marginalized queer experiences.
Ethnography
Ethnography is the study of cultures through immersion, observation, and interviews. Some scholars conduct ethnographic studies among contemporary queer populations to discover their perspectives on historical events and how they have shaped community dynamics. This approach requires extensive fieldwork and can be challenging due to ethical considerations. Nonetheless, it offers unique insights that other methods cannot provide.
Which historiographical approaches are most effective for reconstructing marginalized queer histories while accounting for archival gaps and bias?
The effectiveness of different historiographical approaches for reconstructing marginalized queer histories varies depending on various factors such as accessibility to primary sources, availability of secondary literature, and personal biases of researchers. In general, critical methods that engage with intersectionality and decoloniality can be particularly useful in addressing these challenges.