Lesbian Herstory Archives

Archive · South Slope

1

@atlasobscura

"In a limestone townhouse around the corner from Bartel-Pritchard Square in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood is the largest collection of items relating to lesbian history—or herstory—in the world. The Lesbian Herstory Archives has its roots in the gay liberation movement of the 1960s and ’70s. A group of women involved in the Gay Academic Union, which itself had been founded to represent the interests of gay workers and students at the City University of New York, started their own group out of concerns about sexism within the GAU. The women were also concerned about how difficult it was to get any information about lesbian history through traditional academic channels. Even when it could be found, the research process itself could be dehumanizing, requiring searching under categories like “deviant” and “abnormal.” In 1974, the group of women, which included Joan Nestle and Deborah Edel, sent a press release to established lesbian organizations announcing their efforts to create a comprehensive lesbian archive, run by lesbians, and easily accessible to anyone who might need it for academic or personal reasons.  As the collection grew, the archives took up residence in Nestle’s apartment on West 92nd Street in Manhattan, but it soon outgrew the space she had available. In 1993, the Lesbian Herstory Archives officially opened in its new home, a townhouse less than a block from Prospect Park. The collection is now very large and very diverse, taking up nearly every inch of available space in the townhouse. There is even a display of buttons in the second floor bathroom. Fiction and nonfiction, biography and poetry, audio and visual, the archive hosts thousands of items, mostly donated. Digitized materials can be found online, preserved in the spirit of the archives’s motto: “In memory of the voices we have lost.”" - ATLAS_OBSCURA

14 Places Created By and For Women
Istolethetv/CC BY SA 2.0 (Creative Commons)

484 14th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215 Get directions

lesbianherstoryarchives.org
@lesbianherstoryarchives

1 Postcard

See full details

More Places For You

Rosemary's

Italian restaurant · West Village

At Rosemary's in Greenwich Village, you’ll find a warm and inviting Italian eatery with seasonal dishes, house-made pastas, and a lovely rooftop farm.

11 Postcards

The Tusk Bar

Cocktail bar · Midtown East

Tusk Bar at the Evelyn Hotel is an upscale spot that serves delightful seafood bites and inventive cocktails, all wrapped in a cozy, jazzy atmosphere.

9 Postcards

P.J. Clarke's On The Hudson

American restaurant · Battery Park City

P.J. Clarke's in Battery Park City serves up classic American comfort food like burgers and seafood, all while you soak in views of the Hudson and Lady Liberty.

6 Postcards

Vatan

Indian restaurant · Kips Bay

Vatan brings the charm of a Gujarati village to Midtown, serving up an exuberant all-you-can-eat vegetarian feast amidst a canopy of vibrant murals and a faux banyan tree.

9 Postcards

Winnie Said

Restaurant · Hamilton Heights

Winnie Said is your delightful getaway in Harlem, serving up cozy cabin vibes, killer cocktails, and delicious bites—perfect for a chill night out.

1 Postcard

Shaxian Snacks

Fujian restaurant · Lower East Side

Casual eatery specializing in Fujian cuisine, including popular peanut butter noodles.

1 Postcard

Nudibranch

Korean restaurant · East Village

Nudibranch fuses Korean and Spanish flavors in a chic East Village spot, serving inventive small plates and expertly crafted cocktails that create unforgettable dining experiences.

9 Postcards

Elvis

Wine bar · NoHo

Welcome to Elvis, a cozy Parisian-style wine bar in NoHo, where you can sip natural wines and indulge in delectable small plates amid vibrant street views.

5 Postcards

Mountain House East Village 川山甲

Sichuan restaurant · East Village

At Szechuan Mountain House, experience a vibrant blend of authentic Szechuan dishes served in a serene, mountain-inspired setting that dazzles and tingles.

25 Postcards

SARA'S

Art gallery · Financial District

SARA'S, a vibrant New York gallery founded by the brilliant Sara Blazej, offers captivating exhibitions and live performances in a chic atmosphere.

1 Postcard