Many researchers have attempted to piece together fragmentary historical records that can reveal queer pasts hidden within them.
These methods often rely on outdated assumptions about what constitutes evidence and how to interpret it. This paper will explore three approaches that have proven successful in creating more robust reconstructions of queer history using limited resources.
The first approach is a close reading of primary sources for nontraditional patterns of behavior, belief, or feeling.
One scholar found evidence of queerness among early modern women based on their rejection of gender roles. They searched through court records, letters, diaries, and personal possessions to identify examples where women acted outside societal norms related to femininity or masculinity. By doing so, they were able to demonstrate the existence of same-sex relationships in an era when such relationships were largely invisible.
The second method is archival triangulation, which involves combining multiple sources of information to create a fuller picture of the subject's life. This strategy works best when there are no clear signs of sexuality in any single document but instead requires piecing together disparate clues from different documents.
One historian combined census data, property transactions, and other legal records to suggest that two men may have been in a relationship during the nineteenth century.
Scholars have used digital humanities tools to analyze large datasets of textual material for traces of queer language or imagery. This approach has produced important findings regarding how queer identities were constructed over time. One study used natural language processing algorithms to uncover implicit references to homosexuality in literary texts spanning centuries. Another project used computer vision techniques to identify hidden symbols in artwork depicting same-sex desire.
Researchers can use these methods to uncover queer histories from fragmented archives if they challenge traditional notions about what counts as evidence and adopt more flexible approaches to interpretation. By embracing the complexity and ambiguity inherent in historical materials, we can better understand the diversity of queer experiences throughout history.
What methodologies are most effective for reconstructing queer histories from fragmented or coded archival sources?
There is no single effective methodology for reconstructing queer histories from fragmented or coded archival sources as it depends on various factors such as the type of source, availability of information, research interests, personal preferences, and cultural context. One popular approach involves using an intersectional lens that considers how race, class, gender, age, sexuality, disability, religion, and other identities intersect with each other to create unique experiences and perspectives.