Sharing Iowa’s LGBTQ history is a central facet of our mission. We accomplish this work in multiple ways. One method is by building our archives and oral history collections to provide more material to support research and the exploration into Iowa’s queer past. The second way is to narrativize Iowa’s LGBTQ history and to share it widely via mail, online, and through public presentations. Iowa Histories is home to the varying ways we share the queer history of our state.
History-By-Letter
History-by-letters are short narratives mailed directly to your door! Each letter features a different Iowa-based history in a concise, footnoted narrative inviting you to learn and read more about each topic. To read our past mailings, click here.
Oral History
Oral history as a methodology allows individual members of our community to share their memories and maintain autonomy over how their narratives are crafted and shared. We offer oral history training and resources and also conduct interviews to build a robust archive of queer Iowan lives. Our growing oral history archives invites you to learn about our history directly from the voices of Iowa’s LGBTQ people. Learn more about our oral history work.
LGBTQ Research Guide
Discover LGBTQ+ Iowan history resources online! This guide offers a curated collection of online resources that highlight or include LGBTQ+ Iowan histories. To explore some interactive activities inspired by archival materials, click here.
