BPL Hosting Invisible Histories Project Pride Month Program on June 10

 

The Central Library has a Pride Month Display that includes LGBTQ collection from BPL Archives.  

As part of its recognition of Pride Month, the Birmingham Public Library is hosting a program at 10:00 a.m. this Thursday, June 10, called “Queer History with the Invisible Histories Project.” 

 This powerful discussion on the BPL Facebook page will focus on the Invisible Histories Project (IHP), a Birmingham-based 501©3 organization that locates, preserves, researches, and creates for local communities an accessible collection of the rich and diverse history of LGBTQ life in the deep South. Currently, IHP collects in Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. 

IHP acts as an intermediary between the Queer community and various institutions like universities, museums, archives, and libraries to preserve Southern LGBTQ histories. The Invisible Histories Project was co-founded by Joshua Burford and Maigen Sullivan and established as a nonprofit in October 2016. The Invisible Histories Project officially launched and began collecting data in February 2018, with Burford and Sullivan working on the project full time. 

During its first year of operations, IHP located 18 new LGBTQ collections in Alabama, identified three archive partners and helped develop three undergraduate courses at two state universities. The organization also hosted the inaugural Queer History South Conference, attended by 115 archivists, historians, students, faculty and staff. Thanks to receiving an Andrew W. Melton Foundation grant, the Invisible Histories Project has expanded its work into Mississippi and Georgia. 

 Besides preserving the rich history of LGBTQ Southerners, the Invisible Histories Project provides community engagement, archiving/preservation, research, making scholarships for accessible, education, and professional development/best practices by focusing on the following services: 

 • Creates opportunities for intergenerational connection with Queer & Trans people in the South 

• Creates research opportunities for students, faculty, and community members in archives, research and preservation 

• Provides a network for LGBTQ historians and archivists through the South through the Queer History South network and conference 

• Works with universities, libraries, museums, and archives to create collection and preservation partnerships throughout the South

 • Establishes a community-based, centrally-located space to display these histories and act as a space for community dialogue around Queer history. 

The Invisible Histories Project serves as an intermediary between institutions, organizations, and everyday folks. The organization strives to break barriers between organizations and their local communities to ensure that preservation and research for the LGBTQ community exists in a co-productive and relationship centered way. 

According to its website, “We focus on providing education around the Queer South to those within and outside the region through speaking, exhibiting, online materials, and publications. Finally, IHP seeks to help develop a new generation of scholars working in the Queer South as well as work alongside other professionals in the field to develop best practices for this work.” 

For more information on the Invisible Histories Project, go to its website, Invisiblehistory.org.

 To learn about the IHP’s history and mission, click here.

The Invisible Histories Project is among four programs the Birmingham Public Library is hosting on Facebook during June as part of its Pride Month recognition. For details click on the blog or read the flyer below.