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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.
Search LGBT History Project
LGBT History Project
Date: 1960s to 1980s
This collection documents the earliest known organizational history of the LGBTQ+ community in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley region. The Lehigh Valley Homophile Organization ("Le-Hi-Ho") held its first meeting on June 22, 1969. The goal of the...
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: Lehigh Valley Homophile Organization (Le-Hi-Ho)
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Date: undated
Amanda Porter [now known as Amanda Hecker] was born in 1950 in Lansdale, PA and was assigned male at birth. She attended Grove City College, receiving her BA in History, and enrolled in ROTC. After college, she joined the Air Force, and after...
Collection: LGBT-069 - Porter
Topics: Transgender Experiences
Organizations: Renaissance Transgender Association Lehigh Valley Chapter
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LGBT History Project: LGBT-069 Amanda Porter Collection
Date: 1940 - 2017
Joseph F. Christ was born in 1927 with Klinefelter Syndrome and assigned male at birth. The seventh of eight children, Christ was placed into an orphanage during the Great Depression until the age 18. Two weeks later, Christ was drafted into the...
Collection: LGBT-068 - Anonymous
Topics: Klinefelter Syndrome
Organizations:
View Item: LGBT History Project: LGBT-068 Anonymous Collection
Date: 2017
Katie Ward was born in 1952 and assigned male at birth. She was drafted after graduating from high school, and spent 22 years in military service, including active duty on a nuclear submarine in the Navy and Air Force National Guard. After Ward...
Collection: LGBT-067 - Ward
Topics: Transgender Experiences
Organizations: TransCentral PA
View Item: LGBT History Project: LGBT-067 Katie Ward Collection
Date: 2017
Sophie Kandler was born in Spring City, PA in 1966. After graduating from high school, Sophie attended Drexel University, but transferred after two years to Pennsylvania State University where she graduated with a degree in Secondary Education in...
Collection: LGBT-066 - Kandler
Topics: Transgender Experiences
Organizations:
View Item: LGBT History Project: LGBT-066 Sophie Kandler Collection
Date: circa 1976
This collection contains an embosser for the PA Governor’s Council for Sexual Minorities. The council was an officially appointed advisory committee created by Governor Milton J. Shapp in 1976. Governor Shapp, by executive order, declared that...
Collection: LGBT-063 - PA State Archives Transfer
Topics:
Organizations: PA Governor's Council for Sexual Minorities
View Item: LGBT History Project: LGBT-063 PA State Archives Transfer Collection
Date: circa 1995
Two rainbow chain necklaces.
Collection: LGBT-035 Anonymous Collection
Topics:
Organizations:
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Date: 2006
Central PA Vipers dark blue sweatshirt. The front has the Viper's logo, and the back says in white font "Women's Semi Pro Football No Limits - No Boundaries."
Collection: LGBT-032 - Snowden
Topics:
Organizations: Central PA Vipers
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Date: 1990
Handmade chain vest created by Thomas Pfeiffer for Pennsman Inc.
Collection: LGBT-017 - Pfeiffer
Topics:
Organizations: Pennsmen Inc.
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Date: 2006
The Central PA Vipers', a women's semiprofessional full contact football team, dark blue gym shorts with logo.
Collection: LGBT-032 - Snowden
Topics:
Organizations: Central PA Vipers
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Date: 2006
A white STUDS Magainze t-shirt with "Handsomely Beautiful Men" logo.
Collection: LGBT-032 - Snowden
Topics:
Organizations: STUDS Magazine
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Date: circa 1972
White matchbook from the Netpunes Lounge in Harrisburg, PA.
Collection: LGBT-006 - Anonymous
Topics:
Organizations:
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Date: circa 1978
Red matchbook from La Rose Rouge in Harrisburg, PA
Collection: LGBT-006 - Anonymous
Topics:
Organizations:
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Date: circa 1975
White matchbok from Club 1031 in Harrisburg, PA.
Collection: LGBT-006 - Anonymous
Topics:
Organizations:
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Date: circa 1990
A black and white pin depicting a protest. The pin reads in white and yellow text on a purple back ground "Speaking out for Equality," and then in smaller text under that, "The constitution, Gay Rights & The Supreme Court."
Collection: LGBT-013 - Selvey
Topics:
Organizations:
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Date: circa 1972
White and blue matchbooks from the Neptune's Lounge in Harrisburg, PA.
Collection: LGBT-013 - Selvey
Topics:
Organizations:
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Date: circa 1990
Pink Lily White & Company T-Shirt.
Founded by Paul Foltz in 1982, Lily White and Company was a south central Pennsylvania organization composed of entertainers and female impersonators. Lily White and Company produced numerous shows...
Collection: LGBT-013 - Selvey
Topics:
Organizations: Lily White & Company
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Date: circa 1985
Three matchbooks from Stallions in Harrisburg, PA, two silver, one black. Both the black and silver matchbooks are identical except for the colors.
Collection: LGBT-023 - Maurer
Topics:
Organizations:
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Date: circa 1990
A black matchbook with silver text from Stonewall in Allentown, Pa.
Collection: LGBT-023 - Maurer
Topics:
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Date: circa 1990
A white matchbox from The Cartwheel Night Club & Restaurant in New Hope, Pa.
Collection: LGBT-023 - Maurer
Topics:
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Date: circa 1990
Two empty white matchbooks from The Courtyard, a Women's Bar on the top floor of Stallions, and was considered "The Woman's Bar of the 90's."
Collection: LGBT-023 - Maurer
Topics:
Organizations:
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Date: 2000
Buisness card for Liquid 891, a lesbian bar in Harrisburg, PA.
Collection: LGBT-023 - Maurer
Topics:
Organizations:
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Date: 1990
A creneck sweatshirt for the Harrisburg Men's Chorus.
Collection: LGBT-023 - Maurer
Topics:
Organizations: Harrisburg Men's Chorus
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Date: 1990
Two handmade, black leather spats covered in metal studs created by Thomas Pfeiffer for Pennsman Inc.
Collection: LGBT-017 - Pfeiffer
Topics:
Organizations: Pennsmen Inc.
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Date: 1977
Wooden nickeles from the Neptune's Lounge in Harrisburg, PA.
Collection: LGBT-015 - Barns
Topics:
Organizations:
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