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MSU LGBT Special Collections Resources
Within the Michigan State University libraries, there exists extensive collections, archives, papers, magazines, clippings, audio, and letters that tell hundreds of stories of the queer community all around Michigan. This resource is made for the MSU student and faculty community, as well as any interested visitor or researcher that can sift for hours through this vast collection through online finding aids, glossaries, guides and tutorials, or with the help of an outreach librarian. Librarian Eli Landaverde can be contacted at elandav@msu.edu. In-person appointments can be made Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 10am - 4pm through MSU's website (3 business days recommended in advance) or one can visit during open hours which vary by library and collection. Materials can only be used inside of the reading room and cannot be checked out. Further, MSU's library also provides services such as passport services, information literacy librarians, assistive listening devices, and motorized carts that can be used to move around the library's physical premises.
The Free Black Women’s Library- Detroit
The Free Black Women’s Library Detroit is one of the five branches of TFBWL which is self-described broadly as a social art project. Detroit FBWL is a book bike, trading/borrowing library aimed and centering Black women and femme authors. In existence since 2019, this book project and community service hosts pop-up swaps/lending/readings at community events, community spaces, and Metro-Detroit small businesses, in an effort to build radical collaboration, celebrating the brilliance of Black women/femme authors and readers at no costs to the community.
An Updated History of Gender Identity Conversations and Related Efforts at the University of Michigan
A timeline, as of October 2002, of conversations, events, and initiatives at the University of Michigan concerning gender identity. Many of the updates since the 2001 file are focused around the Gender Identity Working Group.
What is transgender? Basic definitions and concepts
An informational pamphlet introducing transgender concepts and terminology. This pamphlet was made after the Spectrum Center expanded its purview to include transgender.
Early Transgender Advocacy/Education at University of Michigan
An historical narrative documenting early transgender advocacy efforts by the University of Michigan. It presents transgender advocacy as a work in progress and lists areas the University has already made progress in.
LGBT Affairs Office name change (2 pages), 2007
A digital scan of a page of the Michigan Daily from September 17th, 2007, featuring two halves of an article about the search for a more inclusive name for the University's Office of Lesbian Gay and Bisexual Affairs—the future Spectrum Center. There was growing support for a name that would be more inclusive for transgender and other queer students. Some decried the initiative as taking inclusiveness too far.
"Living Outside the World of Sexual Categories" (2 pages), 2004
A digital scan of two pages of the Michigan Daily from November 18th, 2004, featuring two halves of an article about the experiences of transgender students at UM. This covers the 2004 University's Report of the Task Force on the Campus Climate for Transgender, Bisexual, Lesbian and Gay Faculty, Staff and Students. This includes personal accounts from transgender students (Denise Brogan, André Wilson, Stephen Rassi) and information spreading awareness about the personal and legal struggles of transgender and transsexual individuals in general.
Transgender/Transsexual photo exhibit, Michigan Union Art Lounge, 1997
A digital scan of a page of the Michigan Daily from December 5th, 1997, featuring an article about the photo exhibit "Crossing Over: Images of Transgender Performance Across Cultures" and a photo of a student viewing the exhibit. This exhibit showcased photos of Indian kinnar, drag queens in Greenwich Village, and other individuals taking part in "cross-dressing" traditions. These photos were the result of fieldwork by anthropology professor Sarah Caldwell and graduate student Brian Mooney.
Spectrum Center Gender Explorers support group ad, Sept. 14, 2009
Zoomed-in screenshot of a digital scan of a page of the Michigan Daily from September 14th, 2009, featuring an ad for a Spectrum Center support group called Gender Explorers. This was "a support group for transgender and transsexual students" hosted by the Spectrum Center.
Listing for talk "Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation" (2/28/1990)
Zoomed-in screenshot of a digital scan of a page of the Michigan Daily from February 28th, 1990 featuring a listing for an on-campus discussion called "Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation." The talk was advertised as an event that would feature "transsexual, transvestite, Lesbian and Gay male speakers."
Opinion on 1967 arrest of students for screening transvestite film "Flaming Creatures"
A digital scan of a page of the Michigan Daily from March 28th, 1967, featuring an editorial letter from Professor John E. Powers. Dr. Powers of the College of Engineering offered a "critical analysis" of the "Cinema Guild Incident," in which 4 UM students were arrested in January of that year for showing the experimental transvestite film "Flaming Creatures" on campus.
City of Ann Arbor, City of Ypsilanti, and University of Michigan Accomplishments Concerning Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
A timeline, as of June 1999, of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan's accomplishments concerning gender identity and sexual orientation. The resource is not transgender-specific, but does include transgender-specific accomplishments.
The Need for Gender Identitv Inclusion in Regental By-Law 14.06
A ten page typed document. This document contains the University of Michigan's motion to add gender identity as a protected identity under the University's non-discrimination policy.
National Transgender Library & Archive Emails
A printed document of a chain of emails. A series of emails regarding the transferal and housing of a subset of the National Transgender Library & Archive at the University of Michigan.
University of Michigan Comprehensive Gender Services Prospectus and Standards of Care
A 15 page printed document. This document outlines the University of Michigan Comprehensive Gender Services' standards of care, and the various services offered, including Hormone Replacement Therapy, Psychological Services, Surgeries, etc.
LILA Logo and Summary
A sheet of paper stating the name of the organization it represents: Lavender Information and Library Association, or LILA for short. The organization’s logo is present in the middle of the page.
Sexual Daring in the Academy
This is a flier that was handed out by the Lavender Information and Library Association to spread the word about a new exhibit coming to the University of Michigan in 1999: “Articfacts and Disclosures: Michigan’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Heritage.” It was the first exhibit of its kind to show off transgender history specific to Michigan.
Dr. Emily Blackwell
Dr. Elizabeth Cushier
Young Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok with friends
Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok
ONE: The Homosexual Viewpoint
The September 1961 issue of ONE: The Homosexual Viewpoint, a magazine written by and for members of the LGBTQ+ community. A digitized copy of the magazine is hosted on the JSTOR website.
Peron in seaweed skirt
Black and white photo of Earl Peron wearing a seaweed skirt.
Letter to Earl Peron from Unknown
This is a very romantic letter from an unknown man to his male lover, Earl Peron. In it, the anonymous man professes his deep love and trust in his partner, and expresses the wish that they would have a lasting relationship.