The Transgender Archives: Past, Present & Future

We are thrilled to have the Transgender Archives back at OUTstages, with this free OUTreach event!

University of Victoria Libraries is home to the world’s largest Transgender Archives (TGA). We are exceptional in our focus, size, and scope when compared to other archives in that our collections are explicitly dedicated to the preservation of the original documents recording the history of pioneering activists, community leaders, and researchers who have contributed to the betterment of trans, non-binary, and Two-Spirit people.  In this presentation, Michael Radmacher (MLIS, MA) will discuss the past, present, and future of the Transgender Archives.  The presentation will answer questions such as: How did the TGA start at UVic?  What unique and one-of-a-kind materials are housed at the TGA?  What new collections have been recently donated? What are the TGA’s current and future projects related to community outreach, accessibility, and digitization?  Lastly, this presentation will offer a hands-on experience with a selection of the TGA’s rare materials and will show historical “follie” video clips from the world’s longest running trans conference, Fantasia Fair.   Come put your hands on history!

Presenter: Michael Radmacher, MLIS, MA