Invisible Histories—creators of community-based, educational programming about LGBTQ history in the Deep South—is opening a new archive focused on research, community outreach, exhibits, and engagement.
This new space – scheduled to open in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2026 – will allow us to expand our reach and to position ourselves as a safe and accessible archival repository for the amazing collection of Queer and Trans Southern history.
It will also be a place where people can gather and experience the amazing historical materials that we’ve collected since 2018.
Invisible Histories is also working with other LGTBQ archives around the country to make sure that we remain connected to this very robust network of professionals who are also working to preserve history in other states and countries.
In 1974 Ray Green founded the free serial Atlanta Barb, the first LGBTQ newspaper published in the city.
Since we will be moving from our current home in Birmingham, Alabama, we’ve also added North and South Carolina in our network of states where we are directly collecting and soliciting new materials.
There is some incredible history in these two states that will complement the work we are already doing in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Florida.
In October 1979, a small group of gay men in Asheville established the Community Liaison Organization for Support, Education and Reform . This LGBTQ-serving organization launched a newsletter in 1987 which eventually grew into a full-fledged newspaper called “Community Connections,” running until the early 2000s.
We are excited to build partnerships with community organizations and other archives in the Carolinas as we grow over the next several years.
It is going to be a monumental undertaking to create this one of a kind space, but we know that our community supports our work and with their help we can make the new archive a success.
If you want to donate either financially or with your own collections, reach us at www.invisiblehistory.org or [email protected].
