All information is current as of January 22, 2020.
Finding Aid
Click here to view the Finding Aid for the LGBTQ History Collection
Collection Highlights (in chronological order)
- Statement of Policy and Constitution and By-Laws, Gay Alliance of Roanoke (GARV) (c. 1971) *available online*
- The Big Lick Gayzette – Volume 1, Issues 1-7 (1971), Southwest Virginia’s oldest gay publication, published by the Gay Alliance of the Roanoke Valley (GARV) *available online*
- The Virginia Gayzette – Volume 1, Issue 1 (1971), published by GARV *available online*
- The Virginia Gayzette – Volume 2, Issues 1-7 (1972), published by GARV *available online*
- Charter for an unidentified gay organization, presumably the Free Alliance for Individual Rights (FAIR) (c. 1977) *available online*
- The Virginia Gayzette – Volume 3, Issues 2-4 (1978), published by FAIR *available online*
- PALS Newsletter – Volume 1, Issues 7-10 (1980), published by Positive Alternative Life Styles *available online*
- PALS Newsletter – Volume 2, Issues 1-10 [missing no. 2] (Jan-May 1981) *available online*
- PALS Newsletter – Volume 3, Issues 1-14 (June-Dec 1981) *available online*
- PALS Newsletter – Volume 4, Issues 1-14 (1982) *available online*
- PALS Newsletter – Volume 5, Issues 1-2 (1983) *available online*
- Blue Ridge Lambda Alliance Newsletter – Issues 1-5 (1981-1982), predecessor of the Blue Ridge Lambda Press *available online*
- Skip Two Periods – Volumes 1-5 [missing vol. 1, nos. 2-3] (1983-1988), lesbian newspaper published by First Friday *available online*
- Blue Ridge Lambda Press – Volume 1, Issues 1-10 (1983-1984), published by the Blue Ridge Lambda Alliance (BRLA) *available online*
- Blue Ridge Lambda Press – Volume 2, Issues 3-8 [nos. 1-2 do not exist] (1984), published by BRLA *available online*
- Blue Ridge Lambda Press – Volume 3, Issues 1-7 (1985), published by BRLA *available online*
- Blue Ridge Lambda Press – Volume 4, Issues 1-6 (1986), published by the Roanoke Valley Gay Alliance (RVGA) *available online*
- Blue Ridge Lambda Press – Volume 5, Issues 1-6 (1987), published by RVGA *available online*
- Blue Ridge Lambda Press – Volume 6, Issues 1-5 (1988), published by RVGA *available online*
- Blue Ridge Lambda Press – Volume 7, Issues 1-6 (1989), published by RVGA *available online*
- Blue Ridge Lambda Press – Volume 8, Issues 1-5 (1990), published by RVGA *available online*
- Blue Ridge Lambda Press – Volume 9, Issues 1-6 (1991), published by RVGA *available online*
- Blue Ridge Lambda Press – Volume 10, Issues 1-6 (1992), published by RVGA, renamed mid-year the Roanoke Valley Gay & Lesbian Alliance (RVGLA) *available online*
- Blue Ridge Lambda Press – complete (1993-2008). We have yet to digitize the remainder of this newsletter.
- Blue Ridge Banner / Blue Ridge Messenger, newspaper of Metropolitan Community Church of the Blue Ridge, several volumes, c. 1990-1998
- New River Free Press, radical newspaper published in the New River Valley, various issues c. 1990 – 2007
- organizational records of the Blue Ridge Lambda Alliance (1980s)
- organizational records of the Virginia Gay Alliance, Roanoke Chapter (1980s)
- organizational records of the Roanoke Valley Gay & Lesbian Alliance (1990s)
- organizational records of the Alliance of Gay & Lesbian Organizations (ALGO), including early Pride in the Park festivals (1990s)
- organizational records of the Roanoke Valley chapter of PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) (1990s)
- Membership cards for The Park dance club (1994; 2000-2001)
- Ricketson GLBT Memorial Library records (c. 2000 – 2013)
- Roanoke Gayzette – five issues from 2009-2011
- Memorabilia, Tenth Anniversary of the Backstreet Café shooting (c. 2010)
- Roanoke Diversity Center event flyers & posters (2011-2015)
- Various items from the transgender community, including Ladies and Gents of the Blue Ridge – Transgender Alliance (2010s)
- Southwest Virginia LGBTQ+ History Project papers (2015-2017)
Founding Donors
- Sherman Bamford
- Michael Blankenship
- Mary Boenke
- Riley Chattin
- Rev. Catherine Houchins
- Edward F. “Gerry” Jennings, Jr.
- Dan Jones
- Erika Joyner
- Virginia Irene Lindsey
- Deanna Marcin
- The Park
- Roanoke Diversity Center
- Olivia Streett
- Trish Valentine
- Richard Ward III
- Carolyn Sue Wilson
- Rosemary Wyman
Thank you!!!