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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.
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LGBT History Project
Date: 1987
The Harrisburg Hustler's volleyball team received this Charm City Invitational Baltimore (MD) trophy in 1987.
Collection: LGBT-010 - Wilson
Topics:
Organizations: Harrisburg Hustlers Volleyball Team
View Item:
Date: 1985
The Pennsmen is a leather and Levi men's group in Central Pa. This item is a round, metal belt buckle with the Pennsmen logo on the front. The Logo consists of a sword pointing into the Harrisburg Capital Dome, cross by two arrows, which are...
Collection: LGBT-028 - Twaddle
Topics:
Organizations: Pennsmen Inc.
View Item:
Date: 1985
A gay trivia game in a pink, black and white box. It has questions about politics, romance, history, fads, entertainment, arts, people and places. The game includes score cards, two pencils, a die, instructions, and 1800 trivia questions.
Collection: LGBT-016 - O'Leary
Topics:
Organizations:
View Item:
Date: 1983 - 1984
This trophy was received by the Harrisburg Hustlers volleyball team. It is labelled as the L.P. Rec. "B" Division League 2nd place trophy for 1983-84.
Collection: LGBT-010 - Wilson
Topics:
Organizations: Harrisburg Hustlers Volleyball Team
View Item:
Date: 2004 - 2007
This collection contains documents from the Gay and Lesbian Switchboard of Harrisburg (GLSH). Items include a Fall Achievement Benefit Program, information on the Alternative Central (a LGBTQ+ positive publication published by the GLSH), GLSH...
Collection: LGBT-052 - Anonymous
Topics:
Organizations: Gay and Lesbian Switchboard of Harrisburg
View Item: 
LGBT History Project: LGBT-052 Anonymous Collection
Date: circa 2008 & 2010
Marlene Kanuck was born in 1949 in Hazleton, PA. Kanuck was a founder of the LGBT Center of Central PA, served as Vice President of the Central Pennsylvania Womyn’s Chorus, and was involved in a Harrisburg-area lesbian group called the...
Collection: LGBT-050 - Kanuck
Topics:
Organizations: Gay and Lesbian Switchboard of Harrisburg
View Item: LGBT History Project: LGBT-050 Marlene Kanuck Collection
Date: circa 1970 - circa 1993
This collection contains an informational flyer on The Lesbian Connection, LGBTQ+ and feminist activist buttons and pins, and LGBTQ+ artist vinyl records.
Collection: LGBT-051 - Laughlin
Topics:
Organizations: The Lesbian Connection (TLC)
View Item: LGBT History Project: LGBT-051 Mary Jo Laughlin Collection
Date: 1973
Julia “Julie” Lobur was born in New Kensington, Pennsylvania in 1955 and moved to Harrisburg in 1970. She received her bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) and received a master’s degree in Computer Science in 2003....
Collection: LGBT-049 - Lobur
Topics:
Organizations:
View Item: LGBT History Project: LGBT-049 Julia ''Julie'' Lobur Collection
Date: 2015
Nancy Helm was born in Lancaster, PA and graduated from Manheim Township High School in 1981. After graduating, she worked for a printing company and had other odd jobs before opening a hair salon with her partner. In 1991, she decided to open a...
Collection: LGBT-048 - Helm
Topics:
Organizations: Pink Triangle Coalition (PTC)
View Item: LGBT History Project: LGBT-048 Nancy Helm Collection
Date: April/May 1986
Newsletter for Susquehanna Lambda, a LGBTQ+ organization that provided services to the LGBTQ+ community in the greater Susquehanna Valley. In this newsletter an introduction of the group, infromation on membership, and a list of upcoming events...
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: Susquehanna Lambda
Date: October 1993
The Tassle Newsletter was produced by The Gay & Lesbian Organization of Reading & Allentown.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: The Gay & Lesbian Organization of Reading & Allentown (GLORA)
View Item: Tassle Newsletter - October 1993
Date: circa 1978
List of Gay Organizations in the Allentown/Reading Area of Pennsylvania created by the Gayline of Allentown.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: Gayline of Allentown
View Item: Allentown/Reading Area Gay Organizations List - circa 1978
Date: circa 1978
A list of essential gay services created by Gayline of Allentown, which include but are not limited to switchboards, local organizations, centers, and religious groups, in Berks County, Harrisburg, and Philadelpha, PA.
Collection: LGBT-001 - Burns
Topics:
Organizations: Gayline of Allentown
View Item: Essential Gay Services Berks County, Harrisburg to Philadelphia - circa 1978
Date: January 14, 2018
Steve Glassman was born on September 20, 1954 in Chicago. He was fortunate enough to grow up in a rather liberal household with accepting parents who were involved in political activism and social justice during the Civil Rights era. Glassman’s...
Collection: LGBT Oral History
Topics:
Organizations:
View Item: Transcription of LGBT Oral History 041: Steve Glassman
Date: November 28, 2017
Melita McCully was born on December 11, 1952 in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. After the death of her father, Melita moved to Florida with her family and became both the breadwinner and the caretaker of her six brothers and sisters, mother and...
Collection: LGBT Oral History
Topics:
Organizations:
View Item: Transcription of LGBT Oral History 079: Melita McCully
Date: September 28, 2017
Sophie Kandler was born in Spring City, Pennsylvania in 1966. After being bullied at home and at school, Sophie finally graduated from high school. After graduating and applying to colleges, Sophie decided to attend Drexel University. After...
Collection: LGBT Oral History
Topics: Transgender Experiences
Organizations:
View Item: Transcription of LGBT Oral History 053: Sophie Kandler
Date: September 16, 2017
The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Center of Central PA (Harrisburg) began to form in the late 90s. To receive fundraising though the National Lesbian and Gay Community Funding Partnership of New York, the founding group was led...
Collection: LGBT Oral History
Topics:
Organizations: LGBT Center of Central PA
View Item: Transcription of LGBT Oral History 065: LGBT Center History Group Interview
Date: September 15, 2017
Mara Kiesling was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 1959. Mara is a transgender woman, who is a transgender rights activist and founding executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality based in Washington D.C. In this interview...
Collection: LGBT Oral History
Topics: Transgender Experiences
Organizations:
View Item: Transcription of LGBT Oral History 056: Mara Kiesling
Date: August 23, 2017
For more than a decade, Jeanine Ruhsam was an advocate in Central Pennsylvania’s transgender community. With the primary goal of providing support and resources for transgender people and their loved ones, she spearheaded the Trans Central...
Collection: LGBT Oral History
Topics: Transgender Experiences
Organizations: TransCentral PA
View Item: Transcription of LGBT Oral History 099: Jeanine Ruhsam
Date: August 16, 2017
Amanda Porter was born in 1950 in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Amanda Porter is a trans woman and transgender rights educator and activist. In this interview, Amanda repeats her goal of wanting to make transgender people visible everywhere. She...
Collection: LGBT Oral History
Topics: Transgender Experiences
Organizations:
View Item: Transcription of LGBT Oral History 093: Amanda Porter
Date: August 6, 2017
Harry Long was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania in 1951 and attended Lebanon High School. After attending Millersville State College, now Millersville University, and becoming involved with an underground newspaper, Harry began his career of working...
Collection: LGBT Oral History
Topics:
Organizations:
View Item: Transcription of LGBT Oral History 069: Harry Long
Date: July 29, 2017
Robert Sevensky was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 1948. Despite having an unpleasant experience in early education and having financial issues, Robert persevered and ended up pursuing an academic career in college. After two years at the...
Collection: LGBT Oral History
Topics: HIV/AIDs
Organizations:
View Item: Transcription of LGBT Oral History 105: Robert Sevensky
Date: June 9, 2017
Marty Tornblom was born in Utah and was raised in the greater Salt Lake City area, as a member of the Mormon Church. She decided to get a degree in education which lead her to teaching. Following her marriage, she converted to Presbyterianism and...
Collection: LGBT Oral History
Topics: HIV/AIDs
Organizations: South Central Aids Assistance Network (SCAAN)
View Item: Transcription of LGBT Oral History 114: Marty Tornblom
Date: April 25, 2017
Kerry Wiessman was born on October 26, 1954 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. She grew up in Wayne, New Jersey in a lake community. Kerry discusses her upbringing in a large family and her relationship with her mother. Kerry also discusses her career in...
Collection: LGBT Oral History
Topics:
Organizations: Gay Affirming Interfaith Network
View Item: Transcription of LGBT Oral History 125: Kerry Wiessman
Date: March 26, 2017
James Tompkins was born and grew up in Southern Pennsylvania, where he lived on a farm with his one brother, three half siblings, and parents. In this interview, James discusses his experiences coming out to his family, his art, and various bars...
Collection: LGBT Oral History
Topics: HIV/AIDs
Organizations: Act UP
View Item: Transcription of LGBT Oral History 113: James Tompkins