Discover LGBTQ+ Iowan history resources online! This guide offers a curated collection of online resources that highlight or include LGBTQ+ Iowan histories. Sorted by topic, everything listed is available to the public and ranges in subject from college student life, to searchable newspapers, and even oral histories! In addition, you’ll find tools in the introduction for navigating LGBTQ+ archival material. At the end, you’ll find resources for community-specific histories as well as regional and national archival resources.
Digital LGBTQ+ Iowa History Resources Libguide
We also have three interactive activities based on materials found in resources featured in our digital guide. Each has a minimum age suggestion, but are intended to be fun ways for anyone to engage with LGBTQ+ histories and reflect on what these queer histories can mean to us.
Activity 1 – Lesbian workshops at a music festival?!: A Glance at Inclusivity in the 1990’s Iowa City Women’s Movement
In this activity, participants will examine primary source materials, consider their context and use, and produce a brochure for a festival on a topic they care deeply about
Activity 2 – Queer Timeshapes
This activity builds personal “timelines” of queer history and then compares with several timelines published about LGBTQ+ history from an Iowa State University collection and several websites on LGBTQ+ history timelines. It aims to discuss how context and access to knowledge influence both our understanding of history and of our own lives.
Activity 3 – Scrapbooking LGBTQ+ Histories
This activity encourages participants to research what queer histories are being preserved in their communities by using a database to look up local newspapers. After reflecting on their thoughts about what types of stories and materials are being preserved, participants are asked to make their own scrapbook page and reflect on their story.
