Collecting and preserving LGBT history in metropolitan Washington DC
Collecting and preserving LGBT history in metropolitan Washington DC

Using Our Collections

Who counts as a “researcher”?

Our researchers have ranged from high school students to professional academics. We welcome everyone with an interest in LGBT history to take advantage of our resources.

How can I access the Rainbow History Project’s physical archives?

We have an ongoing partnership with the Historical Society of Washington, D.C.  –  the permanent repository of our physical collections. In order to review the following collections, researchers should make arrangements directly with the HSW.  RHP materials already-available at HSW include:

  • Visit the Historical Society of Washington, D.C.

  • The LGBT related publications available include:

    • BGM, 1989-1991 (P3798);
    • Black / Out: The Magazine of the National Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays, 1986-1989 (P3746);
    • Blacklight: BL, 1979-1982 (P3797);
    • Blade, 1970-1996 (P4092)
    • Come Out Fighting: The Newspaper of the Lavender and Red Union, (P 4429);
    • Cruise, (P 5265)
    • Dorian Book Quarterly, 1964 (P3762);
    • From the Center: A Publication of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center, (P 5153)
    • The Furies, 1972-1973 (P3796);
    • The Gay alternative, 1973 (P3764);
      • Issue 8, only
    • Habari-Daftari: The Newsmagazine of the National Coalition of Black Gays, (P 4438);
    • The James White Literary Review (P 2018.August.08)
    • The Ladder, 1968 (P3763);
    • Lambda Rising Book Report (RHP Index).  (P 5264)
    • (P 2017) is not part of RHP MS 0764; separate donor
    • (P 5264) are the RHP donations
    • Magnus: A Journal of Collective Faggotry (P 4437);
    • Mattachine review, 1955-1964 (P3761);
    • Metro Weekly, (P 4573)
    • Michael’s Entertainment Weekly (P 5150);
    • Motive (P 4439);
    • One magazine, 1953-1967 (P3760);
    • The Other Pages, (P 4412) see also (P 5259);
    • Out Magazine  (P 5258)  
    • Mapping courtesy of Washingtoniana DCPL (c. 2001)
    • Reel Affirmations (P 5268)
    • Silk Road (P 2018.August.08)  
    • P 1716 Survey of Recent DC GLBT History
      • a 45-page printed slide show by RHP.
    • TAGG Magazine (P 5277)
    • Vector, 1967-1976 (P3765);
    • The Whole Gay Catalog (P 5267)
    • Women in the Life: The Premiere Women’s Monthly (P 5266)
    • Woman’s Monthly: a periodical calendar for the women’s community, 1992-2005 (P3759);

Are there any Rainbow History Project resources available online?

We have digitized over a thousand items at our Archives Online. The Archives Online also contain catalog entries for our Oral History Collection, which are available to researchers by request (info@rainbowhistory.org).

We also invite researchers to take advantage of our Places & Spaces Database, which tracks the addresses of places and spaces of key importance to our communities.