One of the oldest community-based archives in North America, the Lesbian Herstory Archive was founded in 1974 by a group of New York City activists who wanted to ensure that the experiences and stories of the lesbian community were preserved for generations to come. Today, the archive (currently housed in Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York) contains thousands of photographs, interviews, personal papers, and other archival materials. This database is a wonderful alternative for those who can't travel to Brooklyn to visit the physical archive. The online archive was created by graduate scholars at the Pratt Institute School of Information and features select audio and visual material from the archive. These items can be explored through a series of themed collections. One of these collections is a remarkable set of audio recordings featuring Audre Lorde, including speeches, poetry readings, and panel discussions. Another collection, the No More Invisible Women Exhibition, highlights the activism of the Women's Committee of ACT UP NY to ensure that governmental organizations recognized the experiences of women with AIDS and included women in clinical drug trials. In addition to exploring these (and other) collections, visitors may also browse by item.
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