“In the Deepest Sense, a Political Act"

One may not be quick to perceive of archival preservation as a form of activism, but the work achieved by the women behind the Lesbian Herstory Archives may change that understanding. As queer radical activism began to flourish in the early 1970s, it became clear that queer history needed to be preserved before it was lost or destroyed. After facing exclusion from both the Gay Liberation Movement and Radical Feminist Movement, it was necessary for lesbians to carve spaces of their own. The Lesbian Herstory Archives became one such space. Embracing the histories of all lesbians regardless of race, class, or ability, the Archives embedded inclusion into their framework. In order to maintain their personal autonomy, the Archives rejected any public funding and was financially supported by members and organizations in the queer community. Not only the history preserved in the Archives, but the physical and social space it provided created a welcoming and inclusive space for lesbians to embrace their identity. While more subtle than some other political actions, the Lesbian Herstory Archives should be understood as a political and radical entity.