Archives contains hundreds of folders of information on any topic of interest to the gay and lesbian community, from gay and lesbian ACTORS, through CENSORSHIP issues, historic gay rights struggles in LOUISVILLE, LEXINGTON, and KENTUCKY, the GAYS IN THE MILITARY debate, gays in the THEATRE, to gay life in ZIMBABWE. We maintain extensive files on nearly all national GLBT groups as well and are a growing national resource center. These materials include newspaper clippings, correspondence, newsletters, protest signs, banners, buttons, and even matchbook covers, swizzle sticks and napkins from various gay bars around the country.
We also maintain files on the Kentucky state gay and lesbian community and the groups it has nurtured since the beginnings of the gay movement in Kentucky in 1970.
Our videotape library contains nearly 300 videotaped television and news broadcasts as well as feature films and documentaries. We maintain an active photographs file, with photos going back to the early 1970s. In our magazine collection, we have over 200 titles, including early gay magazines from the 1950s and a near complete collection of Advocates going back to the late 1960s.
Our library contains over 1000 books at present.
501c(3) tax-exempt status has been applied for and is currently pending, but we are legally able to accept a total of $5,000 in donations each year, in the form of cash, checks, or in-kind donations of books, magazines, and other archival materials.
Currently the Kentucky Gay and Lesbian Library and Archives is housed in a private residence and accessible by appointment only, evenings and weekends. Call in advance. We hope to find a permanent home for the collection in 1997.
David Williams, Director.