Lesbian Herstory Archives

Lesbian Herstory Archives
Logo
Map
Established1974
Location484 14th St.
Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York 11215
Coordinates40°39′42.79″N 73°58′49.2″W / 40.6618861°N 73.980333°W / 40.6618861; -73.980333
TypeArchive, history museum
Public transit access
Websitelesbianherstoryarchives.org
DesignatedNovember 22, 2022
Reference no.2662

The Lesbian Herstory Archives (LHA) is a New York City-based archive, community center, and museum dedicated to preserving lesbian history, located in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The Archives contain the world's largest collection of materials by and about lesbians.[1][2]

The Archives were founded in 1974 by lesbian members of the Gay Academic Union who had organized a group to discuss sexism within that organization. Co-founders Joan Nestle, Deborah Edel, Sahli Cavallo, Pamela Oline, and Julia Penelope Stanley[3] wanted to ensure that the stories of the lesbian community were protected for future generations. Until the 1990s, the Archives were housed in Nestle's Upper West Side, Manhattan apartment. The collection eventually outgrew the space and was moved to a brownstone that the group had purchased in Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood. The Archives hold all manner of historical artifacts relating to lesbians and lesbian organizations and have grown to include some 11,000 books and 1,300 periodical titles, as well as an unknown number of photographs.

In 2005, the LHA received the Michele Karlsberg Leadership Award from the Publishing Triangle.[4]

  1. ^ Vanessa (June 19, 2012). "The Lesbian Herstory Archives: A Constant Affirmation That You Exist". Autostraddle. Archived from the original on January 1, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  2. ^ McCroy, Winnie (February 5, 2009). "Lesbian Herstory Archives turns 35". Edge. Archived from the original on January 1, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  3. ^ "Who We Are". Lesbian Herstory Archives. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  4. ^ "The Michele Karlsberg Leadership Award". The Publishing Triangle. Retrieved May 22, 2024.