Boston's LGBTQ+ History: Published Histories and Biographies
Rita Hester + TDoR
LGBTQ+ in the News
Bostonian LGBTQ+ Histories & Biographies
The Hub of the Gay Universe by Publication Date: 2019This LGBTQ history of Boston and Provincetown begins with the coming of Europeans to Massachusetts in 1620 and ends with the victory over the referendum to overturn transgender rights in 2018. It includes the many high points of these four hundred year and it describes the tragedies. This is an important book for anyone who has lived in or visited this historic city and fabulous resort or anyone who cares about the history of LGBTQ people.
An Army of Ex-Lovers by Publication Date: 2007Provocative, informative, inspiring, and absurd, with a small circulation but a huge influence, Gay Community News produced a generation of leaders, writers, and friends. Hoffman's memoir is her personal story, written with wit and insight, of growing up in a political movement; of her deepening relationships with charismatic, talented, and sometimes utterly weird coworkers; and of trying to explain it all to her large Jewish family.
Since My Last Confession by Publication Date: 2008Scott Pomfret serves as a lector at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston. He also writes gay porn. His boyfriend is a flaming atheist, and his boyfriend's Protestant grandmother counts Catholicism a sin worse than sodomy. From Pentecost to Pride, from the books of the Bible to the articles of The Advocate, Pomfret's wry, hysterically funny memoir maps with matchless humor the full spectrum of the gay Catholic experience.
Improper Bostonians by Publication Date: 1998"Drawing on newspaper accounts private archives, advertisements, and other sources, Improper Bostonians introduces us to men and women who flouted conventional gender rules, were unapologetic about their lifestyles, and tried to make sense of their sexuality - sometimes at great cost."
The Boston Sex Scandal by Publication Date: 1980In the 1970's, massive police round-ups were launched in L.A., New Orleans, Boston and other cities, using the cover of sensational press lies and false charges of rape and abuse of minors. The Boston Sex Scandal is a detailed story of the official attack unleashed in Boston and the panic of established gay leaders in the midst of a witchhunt. It is also the story of a resistance, begun by a few radical homosexuals. The Boston Sex Scandal is the history of a beginning.
Borrowed Time: An AIDS Memoir by Publication Date: 1990This "tender and lyrical" memoir (New York Times Book Review) remains one of the most compelling documents of the AIDS era-"searing, shattering, ultimately hope inspiring account of a great love story" (San Francisco Examiner). A National Book Critics Circle Award finalist and the winner of the PEN Center West literary award.
- BAGLY Photographs by Zoe Perry-Wood
Digitzed photographs held by BPL from the BAGLY (Boston Alliance of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Youth) Prom. Since 1981, the BAGLY Prom has given queer and transgender youth a safe place to connect and to celebrate their freedom to be, to become, and to explore who they are. - Emily Dickinson Collection, 1862-1907
This collection contains approximately 70 letters and 43 poems sent by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) to Thomas Wentworth Higginson (1823-1911). In 1862, Emily Dickinson responded to an article by Thomas Wentworth Higginson entitled "Letter to a Young Contributor," which formed a personal and professional relationship between the two and resulted in the first-time publication of many of Dickinson's poems. - Gay Community News
Gay Community News was an American weekly newspaper published in Boston, Massachusetts from 1973 to 1999. Designed as a resource for the LGBT community, the newspaper reported a wide variety of gay and lesbian-related news. View the digitized collection via Digital Commonwealth. Internet Archive also provides access. - Boston Oral Histories from the Digital Transgender Archive
Based in Boston, Massachusetts at Northeastern University, the purpose of the Digital Transgender Archive (DTA) is to increase the accessibility of transgender history by providing an online hub for digitized historical materials, born-digital materials, and information on archival holdings throughout the world. Items linked here are histories from Boston, there are more digitized oral histories outside the area. - Christine Jorgenson, 1926-1989 Photograph Collection at BPL
Christine Jorgensen (May 30, 1926 – May 3, 1989), born George William Jorgensen Jr., was an American actress, singer, recording artist, and transgender activist. A trans woman, she was the first person to become widely known in the United States for having sex reassignment surgery. - Boston Gay Men's Chorus Collection on Digital Commonwealth
The Boston Gay Men's Chorus, founded in 1982, is a 175-voice ensemble focusing on creative programming and community outreach. The collection documents the Chorus's live performances through audio and video recordings, photographs, concert programs, posters and marketing materials, and planning and logistics files. Also included are studio recordings and materials pertaining to the Chorus's membership in the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses, which hosts the triennial GALA Festival for LGBTQ choruses. The collection also documents the Chorus's advocacy work, internal administration, and fundraising efforts.
- The History Project Digital Archive
The History Project is a Boston-based community archives - a repository, historical society, and museum for the LGBTQ+ community's history. THP is an independent non-profit organization founded in 1980 that holds LGBTQ+ historical records and ephemera, supports LGBTQ+ history research, and shares LGBTQ+ history through public exhibits and events. - Regional Digitization in Massachusetts administered by the Boston Public Library
Hosted by the Internet Archive. Search these digitized materials for LGBTQ+ materials from in and around Boston. - Rhode Island LGBTQ+ Community Archive Hosted by Providence Public Library
a community archives initiative to collect and provide access to the current and past stories of LGBTQ+ people in Rhode Island. We are focused on ensuring the preservation of materials chronicling the social, cultural & political history of RI LGBTQ+ people and organizations. - LGBT Community Center National History Archive
The LGBT Community Center National History Archive is a community-based archive that collects, preserves, and makes available to the public the documentation of LGBTQ+ lives and organizations centered in and around New York. To find Boston-based materials, simply search "Boston" in the search box. - Zine Web Archive from the Library of Congress
The Zine Web Archive was created to supplement the physical zine collection. In general, zines are: self-published, self-created, self-distributed, and non-commercial. The independent nature of these publications allows for an unprecedented freedom of expression, and as such, these materials are incredibly valuable primary source materials. Collection priorities include zines by people of color, women, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ and transgender and gender non-conforming individuals and organizations. - LGBTQIA+ Issues in Records at the National Archives
This collection documents the experience of the full range of our diverse society, with records that constitute a rich documentary history of the experience of LGBTQIA+ individuals. Materials are grouped into four collections: Federal Employment, Military, Protest & Reform, and LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
Finding LGBTQ+ Materials at BPL
In the upper right corner of any bpl.org webpage, you will find a search bar where you can 
search our catalog. Under the search bar click the hyperlink "Advanced Search."
- Once in Advanced Search, scroll to the drop down menu that says "Keyword Anywhere" and change it to "Genre"
- Search in "Genre" using one or any of these search terms (this is not an exhaustive list, try any term or phrase you would like): LGBT, LGTBQ, Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Queer
- If using more than one term, select the "Add Another" link underneath the search bar or type all words separated by a space in one search bar
- If you want to search for items that have any of these terms, change "ALL" to "ANY" in the drop down menu. Searching "ALL" will exclude items that do not include every term included.
What doesn't this search achieve?
If you are looking specifically for LGBTQ+ authors, this search may not suffice. There is no way to search our catalog for only LGBTQ+ authors. However, BPL librarians have created numerous booklists for LGBTQ+ materials.
What is Digital Commonwealth?
Digital Commonwealth provides access to thousands of digitized images, documents, and sound recordings. Boston Public Library manages DC and is also a member institution. See DC's About page to learn more about who contributes materials.
How do I search for materials in Digital Commonwealth?
Option 1: Directly from bpl.org. On any webpage on bpl.org there is a search bar. Change the dropdown menu from "Catalog" to "Digital Commonwealth" enter keywords, and hit enter.
Option 2: Go to digitalcommonwealth.org. In the search bar, enter your keywords.
Which Subject terms will unveil the LGBTQ+ materials I'm looking for?
Make use of DC's Subject terms. As an example, try searching "LGBT". The menu on the left automatically lists Subject terms used by Digital Commonwealth. All terms are hyperlinked for easy searching.
What is Special Collections?
Special Collections manages BPL's rare, distinctive, and culturally significant materials. They have different finding aids, in addition to our regular catalog, that will help users discover their materials.
How Do I Find LGBTQ+ Materials in Special Collections?
Search bpl.org: Items in SC are noted in our regular
catalog. The first clue you will get after running a search will be to "Request an Item" (see right).
Archives: BPL archival collections are not fully described. Try searching different Subject headings, or make use of this list of Subject Headings.
Arts Collection: Search here to find works of art, documentary photography, original musical scores and so much more. Use the Subject search box to narrow down to LGBTQ+ subjects. For example, typing "Gay" automatically narrows the options to include "Gay Rights" and "Gays", amongst others.
Ask Special Collections: Due to the age and amount of items in Special Collections, many items are not findable using online catalogs. Librarians are happy to help you find LGBTQ+ materials! Email ask@bpl.org for more help or use this form: bpl.org/have-a-question-about-our-special-collections
What is the Internet Archive?
The Internet Archive is a digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Like a paper library, they provide free access to researchers, historians, scholars, people with print disabilities, and the general public. IA has a scan center located at the BPL's Central Library. BPL has been working closely with the IA since 2007.
How Do I Find Boston LGBTQ+ Materials on IA?
Organizations have their own webpage on IA. Here are the pages f
or Boston Public Library, The Boston Library Consortium, and Regional Digitization in Massachusetts. Type in the "Search this collection" box to search within a specific collection. Try various LGBTQ+ terms and see what you find (example to the right)! This same search process is applicable for searching all of IA, but going through these organizations will significantly narrow your search results.