NOVEMBER 17. 2006 jUStpUt¡15
northwest
a
Queering Local History
Archives preserved on a volunteer basis
by Sassafras Lowrey
ince 1994, Queer History Month has been
celebrated in the United States every
October to raise awareness of the histori
cal significance and existence of sexual
minorities and to combat the erasure of
the queer experience from historical texts.
The Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific
Northwest (GLAPN), a nonprofit group based in
Portland also established in 1994, is committed to
preserving historical records and information of the
queer community in the region. Its goal is to
“create a diverse, meaningful collection of artifacts
and oral histories...so that future generations will
have access to an awareness of our queer history,"
says president Christa Orth.
The GLAPN archives are housed at and prop
erty of the Oregon Historical Society (OHS) in
downtown Portland’s Park Blocks. GLAPN’s work
in recent years has, however, been significantly
affected as a result of OHS losing state funding two
years ago. OHS is now run solely on donations.
According to Jeff Wexler, the senior archivist of
OHS, the primary impact of the funding shortfall
came in the loss of staff to process the collections.
“The staff members that were left had to do more
jobs, and as a result of that, [we] couldn’t have peo
ple dedicated specifically to processing collections."
Prior to the funding loss, OHS granted free
admission to all residents of Multnomah County.
The public must now pay admission to view any of
the collections, including the GLAPN archives.
Despite the finding problems, Wexler says OHS
remains firmly committed to preserving the diversi
ty of the human experience in the region, including
that of the sexual minorities community. “GLAPN
is involved in the community in Oregon and under
stands the nuances of that, what are the important
things to be collecting and important issues to be
documented.”
Since the budget cuts, volunteers—not
archivists—now process physical documents such as
letters, records and photographs into acid-free
folders to prevent deterioration, organizing them in
such a way that they can be accessed by researchers
and members of the community. These volunteers
also conduct oral history interviews with elders and
others to preserve the experiences of people within
the community.
“Oral history interviews really capture the
thoughts and feelings on any given topic about their
experience, this queer community or as a queer
person that really fill in the gaps,” explains Orth.
This archival preservation is detailed and time
intensive work, a great deal of which is done by
Portland State University students through a
partnership with GLAPN. To fulfill graduation
requirements, students are required to complete a
“senior capstone" to “further enhance student learn
ing while cultivating crucial life abilities that are
important both academically and professionally,
establishing connections within the larger commu
nity, developing strategies for analyzing and address
ing problems and working with others trained in
fields different from one’s own,” according to the
PSU Web site.
One option for students is a course titled
“Preserving LGBTQ History." In this course,
I’mAVAILABLE,
whenjoW are!
('.arcful and energetic handling of
all your home financing needs
MORTGAGE
d Advocates
67OOSW 105th Xve„ Suite 200 Beaveilon, OR 97005
Toll Free (877) 83W.I00 Fax (503) 297-0824
E-Mail: colleenu*/ intgadvocales.com www.inlgadvucates.com
Colleen Weed
Office 503«297»9900
Jf^^llamette Financial Group, LLC
Retirement • Life Insurance • College Planning • Long-Term Care • Sustainable Investing
Floreid Walker
GLAPN president Christa Orth views Portland's
queer past.
students process collections for GLAPN prior to
their donation to OHS and conduct, record and
transcribe oral history interviews with members of
the local community. In addition to its work with
PSU, GLAPN has recently received a grant from the
Chip Mayhue Memorial Fund of Equity Foundation,
which has allowed GLAPN to “process more collec
tions and gather more oral histories,” says Orth.
The GLAPN archives contain a variety of items
of historical significance. A current project is process
ing the Ann Shepherd collection, containing histo
ry of Oregon’s first chapter of Parents, Families anil
Friends of Lesbians and Gays. One of GLAPN s pri
mary goals is the preservation of the diversity of the
queer community and expanding the collection.
“We want more stuff from the African-
American community and the Latino and Asian
Pacific Islander communities and more stuff that
presents working-class culture and more stuff that
represents the trans experience," says Orth. In
increasing diversity, the organization also hopes to
diversify the texts in the archive by the inclusion
of more “personal papers.”
In addition to diversifying the collection to
more accurately represent the diversity of the queer
community, GLAPN will be making a concerted
effort to increase visibility for the organization.
This community outreach will include the creation
of a Web site as well as long-term goals such as “a
permanent historical exhibit somewhere in the city
which...gives visitors to that exhibit ideas of the
importance of our queer presence,” says Orth.
She adds, “The stuff that people collect and
save is significant to them, and so it will be signif
icant to future researchers and people that are
interested in learning about the queer experience.”
She encourages people to think about preserving
their experiences through a donation to GLAPN
in life or as property in a will. ©
For donation and volunteer information about the
G ay and L esbian A rchives
of the
P acific
NORTHWEST contact Christa Orth at
christamae@yah<N). com.
SASSAFRAS L owrey is a Portland freelance writer.
Financial Planning Strategist
tloreidwwfgadvisors.com
Greg Look *
Financial Specialist
gregWwfgadvisors.com
503-445-9390
www.wfgadvisors.com
3529 NE Broadway Suite 100 • Portland,OR 97232
3550 Liberty Rd. S Suite 230 • Salem,OR 97302
Floreid Walker* is an Investment Representative ottering Securities and Investment Advisory Services through AIG Financial Advisors. Inc.,
a registered broker-dealer and SEC registered investment adviser Member NASO/SIPC
Greg Look* is a Registered Representative ottering Securities through AIG Financial Advisors. Inc., a registered broker dealer Member NASO/SIPC
WORLD AIDS DAY
Commemorative Program
November 30, 2006
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
WELCOME - AIDS Action Project Northwest
ABUNDANTLY BLESSED - Gospel Choir
“IN LOVING MEMORY WE GATHER ...”
Hospital Chaplain Rick Freeman
LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES
• Past • Present • Future
GOVERNOR’S PROCLAMATION
Dr. Bruce Goldberg, MD
Oregon Director Human Services
Introduction by Dr. David Rosenstein
Followed By
AFRICAN AIDS RESPONSE
Ticketed Events
Tiffany Center • 1410 SW Morrison
STOP AIDS "Keep the Premise"
AIDS ACTION PROJECT NORTHWEST