Lesbian Herstory Archives

Lesbian Herstory Archives "In Memory of the Voices We Have Lost" - "hold those things that tell our history and protect them." There is no room for hatred or bigotry at the Archives.
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The Le***an Herstory Archives exists to gather, preserve and provide access to records of Le***an lives and activities. Doing this also serves to uncover and document our herstory previously denied to us by patriarchal historians in the interests of the culture that they served. The existence of the Archives will thus enable current and future generations to analyze and reevaluate the Le***an expe

rience. We have always had, and continue to have, an expansive and inclusive understanding of Le***an. We have worked to preserve for the future the complexity of who we were and who we are. We honor and stand on our history that has always included, and continues to include, le***an women, butches, femmes, cross dressers, passing women, and those who are trans, two spirited, same-gender-loving, as well as others, all of whom at times were, and still can be, made to feel unwelcome in the world by others, sometimes even by other Le***ans. It is critically important to us that all⁠—in the most diverse and expansive understanding of the complexity of who we are⁠—feel accepted and welcomed at the Archives not disrespected or excluded. All have been and remain an important part of our community history, contributing to the building of our world. This has been the Le***an Herstory Archives position since its inception and continues to be our position.

07/21/2026

Collection highlight - Special Collections ✨

Special Collections intern, Amber amber , talks to us about Michelle Cliff. Amber has been processing Michelle’s collection this summer and shows other materials at LHA related to her work!

Here are some of our summer interns and friends. They do a lot of work: processing, preserving, organizing and creating ...
07/16/2026

Here are some of our summer interns and friends. They do a lot of work: processing, preserving, organizing and creating order so that visitors and researchers can enjoy our collections.
We are very grateful for all the work they do, their insight and their enthusiasm. Thank you all!

In order of appearance from left to right:
Frankie, Baylor, Yujin, Maria, Ayva, Amber, Colleen, Thu, Olive, Isabelle, Ruthie

Collection highlight - International Periodicals 🌍Periodicals published in the US may make up the bulk of our collection...
07/14/2026

Collection highlight - International Periodicals 🌍

Periodicals published in the US may make up the bulk of our collection, but we also have a robust international collection! We have periodicals from 6 of the 7 continents (still looking for Antarctica). Our oldest international title is Die Freudin: Das Ideale Freundschaftsblatt from 1928 Germany.

Enjoy this selection of beautiful covers!

The collection at LHA is non-circulating but available to view during browsing hours. Check out our calendar on the website and sign up to for an upcoming slot

Periodicals featured:
1. Le***ana, February 1999, no 76 (Australia)
2. Dai Suki D**e, spring 1987 (Japan)
3. Homophonies, June 1984, no 44 (France)
4. Les Voz, May-June 1998, no 7 (Mexico)
5. Effe, July-August 1979, no 7-8 (Italy)
6. Circle, fall-winter 1977, no 26 (New Zealand)
7. Galz, July 1997 (Zimbabwe)
8. OUT, October-November 1985, vol 1, no 6 (Ireland)
9. Boletim, July 1994, no 13 (Brasil)
10. Die Tolle Lesbenseitung, July 1979 (Germany)

07/10/2026

Not sure how to fold your favorite LHA t shirt? Check out this video of researcher Noémie, who is quite the expert at this! Thank you for this demonstration, it looks lovely.
And to buy one of our shirts, follow the merch link in our bio. Any color you want!

Collection highlight - US Periodicals Here’s a preview of what you can find in our periodicals collection. LHA’s collect...
07/07/2026

Collection highlight - US Periodicals

Here’s a preview of what you can find in our periodicals collection. LHA’s collection contains over 3,000 individual titles. United States publications make up the bulk of the collection. Periodicals in our collection span from 1947 (with Vice Versa) to today (represented in this post by Sinister Wisdom).

Check back next week for a look at our International periodicals!

The collection at LHA is non-circulating but available to view during browsing hours. Check out our calendar on the website and sign up to for an upcoming slot!

Periodicals featured:
1. Deneuve (now called Curve), February 1993, vol 3, no 1
2. The Ladder, September 1957, vol 1, no 12
3. Sinister Wisdom, spring 2026, no 140
4. Buffalo Hide, spring 1992, vol 2, no 1
5. On Our Backs, summer 1987, vol 4, no 1
6. TransSisters, September-October 1993, no 1
7. GirlJock, 1993, no 11
8. Aché, October-November 1991, vol 3, no 5
9. THING, bound version of all 10 issues, 1989-1993

Collection highlight - pulp novels ❤️‍🔥We’re showcasing a few interesting pulp novels from our collection. Our co-founde...
07/02/2026

Collection highlight - pulp novels ❤️‍🔥

We’re showcasing a few interesting pulp novels from our collection. Our co-founder Joan Nestle calls pulp novels “survival literature.” Printed on leftover pulp paper, these novels were cheap to produce and sell. Readers could buy them cheaply and dispose of them afterwards. Le***an pulp novels reached their height in popularity post WWII. For many this was the first time they saw themselves in mass produced media.

Authors were frequently trapped in exploitative contracts to get the books published. Publishers required “unhappy endings” for the pulp novels. The le***ans had to end up institutionalized, renounce their le***anism, and/or get back together with their boyfriend. Many readers endured the endings just to see a representation of their lives in the preceding pages.

The library at LHA is non-circulating but available to view during browsing hours. Check out our calendar on the website and sign up to for an upcoming slot!

Books featured:
1. Campus Kitten by Joan Ellis
2. Spring Fire by Vin Packer
3. L*z be Lustful
4. Pajama Party by Peggy Swenson
5. Le**os Jungle by Peter Willow
6. All-Girl Office by Arthur Adlon
7. Ranch Boss by Bruce Corwin

Join IndieCollect and IFC Center for the New York premiere of the new 4K restoration of Rate It X (1986), directed by Pa...
06/29/2026

Join IndieCollect and IFC Center for the New York premiere of the new 4K restoration of Rate It X (1986), directed by Paula de Koenigsberg and Lucy Winer. Presented as part of Declaration of Independents!, a nine-day celebration of American independent cinema, this newly restored documentary remains as provocative and relevant today as it was nearly forty years ago. The restoration was completed through a partnership between the Women’s Film Preservation Fund of NYWIFT, IndieCollect, the UCLA Film & Television Archive, and the Sundance Institute, ensuring this important documentary can be experienced by new generations of audiences.

LHA is proud to be the steward of Winer’s collection of outtakes from one of her subsequent films, Silent Pioneers. We’re excited to see the beautiful and important restoration work done on Rate It X

Q&A with directors Paula de Koenigsberg and Lucy Winer, moderated by filmmaker Jan Oxenberg on Sunday, July 5th. Q&A with Paula de Koenigsberg and Lucy Winer, moderated by filmmaker and former NYWIFT Executive Director Terry Lawler on Monday, July 6th.

Run Time: 93 minutes

Following the July 5 matinee screening, the Women’s Film Preservation Fund will host a reception for attendees.

We hope to see you there!

06/25/2026

Meet Hugo and Margo, here at one of our browsing hours, to donate “An Anthology of Us,” a collection of trans masc writings and images, focused on butches, studs, and trans men. Thank you for coming to visit us, and thank you for this beautiful donation! Come check it out, at LHA all are welcome. Our calendar is available via our profile.
an anthology of us
Margo Wallace

an anthology of us

Collection highlight - the Library ✨📖We’re showcasing a few interesting books you can find in our library. We collect bo...
06/23/2026

Collection highlight - the Library ✨📖

We’re showcasing a few interesting books you can find in our library. We collect books by, for, and about le***ans and q***r life. You’ll find books about sexuality, politics, poetry, film, cookbooks, and humor

The library at LHA is non-circulating but available to view during browsing hours. Check out our calendar on the website and sign up to for an upcoming session!

Books featured:
1. The Le***an Erotic Cookbook by Ffiona Morgan
2. The History of Le***an Hair by Mary Dugger
3. New York Head Shop and Museum by audre lorde
4. Women Who Kill by Ann Jones
5. Eye to Eye: Portraits of Le***ans by JEB
6. The Drag King Book by Del LaGrace Volcano and Judith “Jack” Halberstam
7. Wild Roses by Tee A. Corinne
8. Viewfinders: Black Women Photographers by Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe

✨ D**E PROM ON FILM ✨A few photos from our second annual D**e Prom. Thank you all for an incredible night! These photos ...
06/21/2026

✨ D**E PROM ON FILM ✨

A few photos from our second annual D**e Prom. Thank you all for an incredible night! These photos can’t capture the fun and excitement you brought to the event. Big thanks for showing up to support the archive and looking hot in Leather and Lace. We couldn’t do this without you!

Thank you to the DJs and performers: Naija Couture (𝕹𝖆𝖎𝖏𝖆 𝕮𝖔𝖚𝖙𝖚𝖗𝖊 🇳🇬 Conjurer/Psychic 🫧) and Master Dahlia kept us dancing. Oliver Herface (Oliver Herface/Angel Inferno🇵🇷✨🏳️‍⚧️) gave an interactive performance we won’t forget! Thanks to Daddy Avery Carter (Saint Avery Carter) for the kink tastings and Siren (Siren 🧚🏾‍♀️) for the leather work you provided

Our prom royalty for the evening were Lottie Valiente, Maia McDonald, and Nina Kennedy. Thank you all for the incredible work you do to uplift the community! 💜

Thank you to the Gemini and Scorpio for another amazing prom. Eve Beatrice Weiner (eve) for photos and NY Mag (New York Magazine Curbed) Look Book for documenting everyone’s amazing outfits. Thank you to the new film Girls Like Girls (Girls Like Girls) for offering advancing screening tickets to prom attendees!

Also, HUGE thanks to everyone who donated something for the raffle. Brooklyn Brainery (Brooklyn Brainery), Kirrin Finch (Kirrin Finch), Prospect Bark Doggy Daycare, Sock Dreams, NewFest (NewFest), Kinetic Studio, FlameCon, Hand of Glory Tattoo, homebodybk Pilates, Please S*x Toys, Red Moon Wellness Bodywork, Athena Keke, Boyfriend Co-op, Gladys Books and Wine (Gladys Books & Wine), ForThem, Outbox Gym, Distributed Art Publishers, New York Liberty (New York Liberty), Sirens Motorcycle club (Sirens Women's+ MC of NYC), Dreamer Isioma (dreamer isioma), Halie Torris (Halie Torris), Sinister Wisdom (Sinister Wisdom), and Chappell Roan (･ﾟ: *✧ Chappell Roan ✧*:･ﾟ)

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484 14th Street
New York, NY
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