LGBT History Project

About LGBT History Project Resources

The LGBT Center of Central PA and the Dickinson College Archives and Special Collections have partnered to document the stories and history of LGBT life and activism in the greater Central Pennsylvania region. This site contains oral histories that have been recorded for the LGBT History Project, as well as fully accessible digital versions of documents, images, and artifacts that have been donated to the project.

This is a quickly growing collection, and not all items are available through this website. Please contact Malinda Triller-Doran at archives@dickinson.edu for information about how to access all of the resources of the LGBT History Project, as well as how to donate additional materials.

Generous support to make these unique resources accessible has been provided by the Schlegel Deibler Charitable Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

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LGBT History Project

Joanne Carroll

Date: November 18, 2016

Joanne Carroll was born in Alberta, Canada in 1940 as John Carroll. She spent the first 60 years of her life as a man, marrying twice and having two children. She worked a number of jobs throughout the country, primarily in the Air Force but also...

Collection: LGBT Oral History

Topics: Transgender Experiences, Coming Out

Organizations: TransCentral PA

View Item: PDF icon Transcription of LGBT Oral History 014: Joanne Carroll

Lavender Letter (Harrisburg, PA) - January 1997

Date: January 1977

Created by Lorraine Kujawa, Cindy Mitzel, Mary Nancarrow, and several others in 1983, the Lavender Letter Newsletter was a calendar of events for, by, and about lesbian women to create community in the Central Pennsylvania area...

Collection: LGBT-009 - Lavender Letter

Topics:

Organizations: Freedom to Marry Coalition

View Item: PDF icon Lavender Letter (Harrisburg, PA) - January 1997

John Barns

Date: December 16, 2015

John Barns was born in Perry County, Pennsylvania. He comes from a family of farmers and is Pennsylvania Dutch. He grew up on a farm, joined the military during Vietnam, and then worked for the Pennsylvania government for 30...

Collection: LGBT Oral History

Topics:

Organizations: Dignity/Central PA

View Item: PDF icon Transcription of LGBT Oral History 005: John Barns

LGBT History Project Logo

Date: November 19, 2015

In this oral history, Anonymous_001 starts off discussing his family life. He states that his family life was not the best but not the worst, however after his mother left and his father developed borderline personality disorder, he decided to...

Collection: LGBT Oral History

Topics: Addiction

Organizations:

View Item: PDF icon Transcription of LGBT Oral History 001: Anonymous

PA Rural Gay Caucus Statistics Report - June 1976

Date: June 1976

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter...

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics:

Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus

View Item: PDF icon PA Rural Gay Caucus Statistics Report - June 1976

PA Rural Gay Caucus Reasons for Repeal of Sodomy Statute - 1976

Date: 1976

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a...

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics: Sodomy Laws

Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus

View Item: PDF icon PA Rural Gay Caucus Reasons for Repeal of Sodomy Statute - 1976

PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislation Report - May 25, 1976

Date: May 25, 1976

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a...

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics: PA Senate Bill 743, Sodomy Repeal Bill

Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus

View Item: PDF icon PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislation Report - May 25, 1976

PA Rural Gay Caucus Liaison Committee Report - May 22, 1976

Date: May 22, 1976

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a...

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics:

Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus

View Item: PDF icon PA Rural Gay Caucus Liaison Committee Report - May 22, 1976

PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislative Committee Report - 1976

Date: 1976

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a...

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics: US House Resolution 166, US House Resolution 5452

Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus

View Item: PDF icon PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislative Committee Report - 1976

PA Rural Gay Caucus Pride '78 Brochure - January 20, 1978

Date: January 20, 1978

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a...

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics:

Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus

View Item: PDF icon PA Rural Gay Caucus Pride '78 Brochure - January 20, 1978

Peggy Allan

Date: March 20, 2015

Peggy Allan grew up in Oregon, where she attended Northwest Christian College for a year before marrying and having two sons with her first husband, Gary, a pastor. After 10 years of marriage, while the two were living together in Northern...

Collection: LGBT Oral History

Topics: Affirming Faith Communities, Family Unit

Organizations:

View Item: PDF icon Transcription of LGBT Oral History 003: Peggy Allan

PA Rural Gay Caucus Memo - June 22, 1976

Date: June 22, 1976

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter...

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics: Sodomy Repeal Bill

Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus

View Item: PDF icon PA Rural Gay Caucus Memo - June 22, 1976

PA Rural Gay Caucus Position Paper Draft - 1976

Date: 1976

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter...

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics: Sodomy Repeal Bill

Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus

View Item: PDF icon PA Rural Gay Caucus Position Paper Draft - 1976

PA Rural Gay Caucus Meeting Notice - May 1978

Date: May 1978

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter...

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics:

Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus

View Item: PDF icon PA Rural Gay Caucus Meeting Notice - May 1978

PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislative Committee Meeting Notice - July 10, 1976

Date: July 10, 1976

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter...

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics: Sodomy Repeal Bill

Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus

View Item: PDF icon PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislative Committee Meeting Notice - July 10, 1976

PA Rural Gay Caucus Meeting Notice - April 3, 1976

Date: April 3, 1976

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter...

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics:

Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus

View Item: PDF icon PA Rural Gay Caucus Meeting Notice - April 3, 1976

Arlene and Jacquie Bogle Ackerman

Date: August 17, 2014

Arlene Ackerman was born in San Francisco, California, then adopted and raised in Lodi, California. Jacquie Bogle Ackerman was born and raised in northern Minnesota. Arlene became licensed as clergy with the Metropolitan Community Church in 1977...

Collection: LGBT Oral History

Topics: Adoption

Organizations: Metropolitan Community Church (MCC)

View Item: PDF icon Transcription of LGBT Oral History 002: Arlene and Jacquie Bogle Ackerman

PA Rural Gay Caucus Minutes - February 1978

Date: February 1978

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a...

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics:

Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus

View Item: PDF icon PA Rural Gay Caucus Minutes - February 1978

PA Rural Gay Caucus Minutes - June 4, 1977

Date: June 4, 1977

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter...

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics: PA Senate Bill 531

Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus

View Item: PDF icon PA Rural Gay Caucus Minutes - June 4, 1977

PA Rural Gay Caucus Meeting Minutes - October 1976

Date: October 1976

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” 

...

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics:

Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus, Lehigh Valley Homophile Organization (Le-Hi-Ho), Gay Coordinating Society of Berks County, Reading (GCS Berks)

View Item: PDF icon PA Rural Gay Caucus Meeting Minutes - October 1976

PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislative Committee Minutes - May 22, 1976

Date: May 22, 1976

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter...

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics: Hill's Bill

Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus

View Item: PDF icon PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislative Committee Minutes - May 22, 1976

PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislative Committee Minutes - May 8, 1976

Date: May 8, 1976

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter...

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics: PA Senate Bill 743, PA House Bill 2220, Hill's Bill

Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus, Homophiles of Penn State (HOPS)

View Item: PDF icon PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislative Committee Minutes - May 8, 1976

PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislative Committee Minutes - April 24, 1976

Date: April 24, 1976

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter...

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics:

Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus

View Item: PDF icon PA Rural Gay Caucus Legislative Committee Minutes - April 24, 1976

PA Rural Gay Caucus Memo - February 18, 1977

Date: February 18, 1976

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.”

In this memo, Joseph W. Burns...

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics: PA Senate Bill 83

Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus

View Item: PDF icon PA Rural Gay Caucus Memo - February 18, 1977

PA Rural Gay Caucus Memo - June 20, 1976

Date: June 20, 1976

The Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus was “an association of interested individuals and groups, formed with the objective of promulgating the concerns and freedoms of gay people and all sexual minorities.” The report was used as a type of newsletter...

Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns

Topics: Sodomy Laws

Organizations: PA Rural Gay Caucus

View Item: PDF icon PA Rural Gay Caucus Memo - June 20, 1976

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