Queer history archives

We have curated an ever-growing list of queer archives and museums from cities around the globe. These invaluable institutions are dedicated to preserving and celebrating queer history, offering a rich tapestry of stories, artifacts, and experiences. Each entry on the list represents a unique facet of LGBTQ+ heritage. This collection is continuously expanding, ensuring that more voices and histories are recognized and remembered. Explore the list to discover the diverse and vibrant legacy of queer communities worldwide.

Australia

AQuA – Australian Queer Archives

St Kilda, Victoria

A national queer archive


Germany

Schwules Museum

Berlin

The Schwules Museum (English: Gay Museum) in Berlin, Germany, is a museum and research centre with collections focusing on LGBTQ+ history and culture. It opened in 1985 and it was the first museum in the world dedicated to gay history. The institution also has a library and archives.


Hungary

Háttér Archive and Library

Budapest

Part of Háttér Society. Founded in 1995, collects LGBTQI documents related to Hungary and Hungarians.


Labrisz Archive

Budapest

Hungary’s only lesbian archive. Public, semi-public and personal documents from the history of Hungarian lesbian artists, relationships and movements. Organisational documents of the Labris Lesbian Association. Films and oral history videos.


Italy

Centro di documentazione Cassero

Bologna

Community archive


Paolo Poli Documentation Centre

Naples

Antinoo Arcigay Napoli is a registered association working in the field of anti-discrimination, based in Naples, at 17-20 Vico San Geronimo. Arcigay is a member organisation of ILGA (International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association). The association also has a documentation centre named after Paolo Poli.


The Netherlands

IHLIA – LGBTI Heritage

Amsterdam

IHLIA is the heritage organisation with a socially relevant and indispensable collection. IHLIA is continuously involved in collecting information about the LGBTI community and making it accessible.


Norway

Skeivt arkiv / The Norwegian Queer Archive

Bergen

Founded in 2015, based at the University Library of the University in Bergen.


Romania

Muzeul Istoriei și Culturii Queer / Queer Culture and History Museum

Bucharest

Physical space in Bucharest, Romania, curated and hosted by LGBT rights activist Florin Buhuceanu.


Sweden

The Unstraight Museum

Stockholm

The Unstraight Museum is a Swedish non-government, non-profit, volunteer-run LGBTQ+ organisation working with culture as a mean of change, globally.


United Kingdom

Bishopsgate Archive

London

A brillian and very accessible archive. Full of LGBT+ material including Schools OUT and Sue Sanders archive


Queer Britain

London

The first and only queer musem


United States

The American LGBTQ+ Museum

New York City, New York

Founded in 2018 in collaboration with the New-York Historical Society, the nation’s oldest history society, the American LGBTQ+ Museum is devoted to collecting and disseminating the national history of the American LGBTQ+ community.


Gerber/Hart LGBTQ Library and Archive

Chicago, Illinois

Founded in 1981, dedicated to the LGBTQ history of the Midwest of the United States.


Lesbian Herstory Archives

Brooklyn, New York

Lesbian Herstory Archives was founded in 1974 to collect and preserve the history of lesbian life and culture.


ONE Archives at the USC Libraries

West Hollywood, California

Founded in 1952, ONE Archive is the oldest active LGBTQ+ organization in the USA dedicated to LGBTQ+ history.