Archives – Lesbian / Feminist / LGBTQ
Lesbians are everywhere but it can still be difficult to find each other.
We also know that many Lesbians have already donated their papers and collections to various archives around the world.
We have compiled an extensive list of Lesbian, Feminist, & LGBTQ archives. We’re always interested in updating this list, so please inform us of updates or errors.
Download Archive ListLesbian Peoples and Organizations
These are some of our favorite Lesbian Organizations and Resources.
Girlfriends of Dorothy
A Homage To Girl Friends Of Dorothy: Uber Slick Lesbians In History
A H.U.G.E & warm celebration of trailblazing lesbians and girl friends of Dorothy who across the world, throughout history, have helped change the world for the better!
Goldenrod Music
Merging music, politics and culture for 40 years!
Goldenrod was started in 1975 as a women’s music distribution company, selling CDs by artists like Holly Near, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Cris Williamson, Linda Tillery, Margie Adam and many many more. In addition to retail representation for Sweet Honey in the Rock, Goldenrod Music also sells at festivals and events and welcomes new projects.
Lesbian Connection
Lesbian Connection is the free worldwide forum of news, ideas and information for, by and about lesbians. They’ve been publishing this bimonthly magazine since 1974. [Wanderground has nearly a complete set of issues!] This magazine is a grassroots forum, which means it’s truly written by the readers. You’ll find info for lesbians on places to live and where to travel, lesbian B&Bs and guesthouses, websites, cruises, festivals, conferences, lesbian land and retirement communities, products (books, CDs, DVDs, etc.), campgrounds and retreats, lesbian lawyers and realtors, as well as the comic strip “Dykes to Watch Out For” and much more. There are also reviews, articles and letters dealing with whatever issues LC‘s readers are thinking about, from gay marriage to health issues, relationships and politics.
Lesbians WriteON
Lesbians WriteOn™ celebrates Lesbian voices around the world with writing workshops, open mics, readings, author panels, playwrights, etc. and conversations by, for, and about lesbians. Contact LesbiansWriteOn@gmail.com OR Facebook.
OLOHP – Old Lesbian Oral Herstory Project
Founded in 1998, the Old Lesbian Oral Herstory Project (OLOHP) has gathered and preserved the life stories of hundreds of lesbians 70 years of age and older, told in their own words. Since the inception of the OLOHP, the Project has worked to gather, document and preserve the life stories of lesbians born in the early decades of the past century.
OLOC – Old Lesbians Organizing for Change
OLOC represents Lesbian Elders in a spirit of inclusiveness to promote Lesbian visibility. We come together to preserve our herstory, to confront social injustice, and to give and receive support for our later years.
We Want the Land Coalition
WE WANT THE LAND COALITION, INC. (“WWTLC”) is a recognized nonprofit organization in the state of Michigan whose mission is to sustain and administer 650 acres of undeveloped land in Walkerville, Michigan for the use and benefit of women and girls around the globe. WWTLC strives to empower, embolden, and educate women and girls in all aspects of their lives, both on and off The Land. As the former location of the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival, The Land is considered by many to be a site of historical, spiritual, and emotional significance because of its deep association with an event that incubated, created, and held lesbian and women’s culture in the United States and beyond for four decades.
Lesbian Publishers / Publications
Bella Books
Bella Books publishes fiction for and about women-loving-women. From romance to mystery and science-fiction, to erotica and thrillers, Bella Books embraces and celebrates the worldwide community of our lesbian, queer, non-binary readers and authors of all ages, cultures and colors.
Bywater Books
Bywater Books is a queer literature imprint that publishes lesbian and feminist fiction.
Curve
A source of information for lesbians, bisexual, transgender, queer women and non-binary folks — the Curve Community. (Now online – previously Curve Magazine and, prior to that, Deneuve)
Sapphire Books
Sapphire Books Publishing, the gem in lesbian publishing was founded by Christine Svendsen in 2010. They produce and publish fiction, non-fiction and biographical lesbian literary works of art. Sapphire Books is dedicated to quality outcomes that respectfully reflect the lives of the lesbian community. They publish and promote lesbian literature that embraces and reflects those diverse experiences.
ylva publishing
Ylva Publishing is the home of quality books about women loving women. NOTE – only has e-books and audiobooks.
Additional Resources of Note
Many of these organizations include significant Lesbian voices and perspectives.
Feminist Bookstores – list by Charis Books
Small list of remaining feminist books in the USA and world.
Rain & Thunder: A Radical Feminist Journal of Discussion & Activism
A Radical Feminist Journal of Discussion and Activism: Rain and Thunder is a grassroots publication created and distributed by a collective of radical feminist women. Published three times a year, Rain and Thunder brings you the very best in radical feminist news, analysis, theory, community building, and activism.
** Please look at Issue 80 (January 2023) pp. 20-22 for in interview with Mev Miller about Wanderground!
Trivia: Voices of Feminism
The new TRIVIA: Voices of Feminism was founded as a public online forum for creative and critical thinking of diverse women who insist on our primacy, and who in league with and in the name of all the other endangered species on this planet, refuse to accept the life-destroying status quo. May we find the forms we need to meet the urgencies of this time. And may we encourage each other.
Especially note:
Issue 10: Are Lesbians Going Extinct? #1
Issue 11: Are Lesbians Going Extinct? #2
WE LEARN (Women Expanding Literacy Education Action Resource Network)
This organization was founded by Mev Miller (current Wanderground Instigator) in 2003. She passed it along to the current board in 2013. Their mission: WE LEARN is a community promoting women’s literacy as a tool that fosters empowerment and equity for women. WE LEARN celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2023.
WINGS – Women’s International News Gathering Service
WINGS produces a free weekly half-hour radio series by and about women around the world. It’s really diverse, well produced, widely carried. WINGS also has a Facebook page.
Women Make Movies
Established in 1972 to address the under representation and misrepresentation of women in the media industry, Women Make Movies is a multicultural, multiracial, non-profit media arts organization which facilitates the production, promotion, distribution and exhibition of independent films and videotapes by and about women.
Background illustration by Alison Bechdel