Committee on LGBT Historians

Committee on LGBT Historians is an organization dedicated to promoting the study and understanding of LGBT history and queer studies, with a focus on supporting LGBT historians and LGBT scholars such as John Boswell, Martin Duberman, and Estelle Freedman. The committee works closely with institutions like the American Historical Association, Organization of American Historians, and National Council on Public History to advance the field of LGBT history. By collaborating with LGBT archives and LGBT museums like the GLBT Historical Society and Lesbian Herstory Archives, the committee aims to preserve and make accessible LGBT historical records and LGBT cultural artifacts. This work is also informed by the research of LGBT historians such as George Chauncey, Leila Rupp, and Susan Stryker.

● History

The Committee on LGBT Historians was established in the 1980s, a time of growing awareness and activism around LGBT rights and LGBT social movements, with key events like the Stonewall riots and the founding of organizations such as GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign. The committee's early work was influenced by the scholarship of LGBT historians like Jonathan Ned Katz and Allan Bérubé, who were instrumental in shaping the field of LGBT history. As the committee grew, it began to collaborate with other organizations, including the National Park Service, Library of Congress, and Smithsonian Institution, to promote the preservation and interpretation of LGBT historical sites and LGBT cultural heritage. This collaboration has involved working with LGBT historians and LGBT scholars such as Eric Marcus, Lillian Faderman, and Marc Stein to develop LGBT history exhibitions and programs at institutions like the National Museum of American History and the New York Public Library.

● Purpose and Activities

The Committee on LGBT Historians has several key purposes, including promoting the study and teaching of LGBT history in academic and public settings, supporting the work of LGBT historians and LGBT scholars like Jennifer Terry, Joanne Meyerowitz, and Kevin Mumford, and advocating for the preservation and accessibility of LGBT historical records and LGBT cultural artifacts. The committee achieves these goals through a range of activities, including organizing conferences and workshops, such as the annual American Historical Association meeting and the National Council on Public History conference, and collaborating with institutions like the University of California, Los Angeles, New York University, and University of Michigan to develop LGBT history courses and programs. The committee also works with LGBT archives and LGBT museums like the GLBT Historical Society and Lesbian Herstory Archives to promote the preservation and interpretation of LGBT historical records and LGBT cultural artifacts, and partners with organizations like the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Archives and Records Administration to support LGBT history research and programming.

● Organization and Membership

The Committee on LGBT Historians is a volunteer-based organization, with a membership that includes LGBT historians, LGBT scholars, and other individuals committed to promoting the study and understanding of LGBT history. The committee is led by a board of directors, which includes prominent LGBT historians and LGBT scholars such as John D'Emilio, Estelle Freedman, and George Chauncey. The committee also has a number of working groups and committees, focused on specific areas such as LGBT history education, LGBT archives and LGBT museums, and LGBT historical preservation, which involve collaboration with institutions like the National Park Service, Library of Congress, and Smithsonian Institution. Membership in the committee is open to anyone interested in promoting the study and understanding of LGBT history, and the committee welcomes individuals from a range of backgrounds and disciplines, including history, sociology, anthropology, and queer studies, and institutions like the University of California, Berkeley, Harvard University, and Yale University.

● Notable Initiatives and Projects

The Committee on LGBT Historians has undertaken a number of notable initiatives and projects over the years, including the development of LGBT history exhibitions and programs at institutions like the National Museum of American History and the New York Public Library, and the creation of LGBT history educational resources, such as the LGBT History Month toolkit and the Queer History curriculum guide. The committee has also collaborated with LGBT archives and LGBT museums like the GLBT Historical Society and Lesbian Herstory Archives to promote the preservation and interpretation of LGBT historical records and LGBT cultural artifacts, and has worked with organizations like the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Archives and Records Administration to support LGBT history research and programming. Additionally, the committee has partnered with institutions like the University of Chicago, Stanford University, and Columbia University to develop LGBT history courses and programs, and has collaborated with LGBT historians and LGBT scholars such as Susan Stryker, Leila Rupp, and Kevin Mumford to advance the field of LGBT history.

● Impact and Legacy

The Committee on LGBT Historians has had a significant impact on the field of LGBT history and queer studies, and has played a key role in promoting the study and understanding of LGBT history in academic and public settings. The committee's work has helped to establish LGBT history as a recognized field of study, and has supported the development of LGBT history courses and programs at institutions like the University of California, Los Angeles, New York University, and University of Michigan. The committee's collaboration with LGBT archives and LGBT museums like the GLBT Historical Society and Lesbian Herstory Archives has also helped to promote the preservation and interpretation of LGBT historical records and LGBT cultural artifacts, and has ensured that the history of LGBT individuals and LGBT communities is preserved for future generations. As a result, the committee's legacy continues to be felt, with its work informing and inspiring new generations of LGBT historians, LGBT scholars, and LGBT activists, including those involved in organizations like the Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights.