About us
The Archive
Sadly, we had to close the archive in September 2013 but this is what it used to be like...
When Ourstory was founded in 1989, our collection was a mere shelf of books and papers in a private house. It now occupies 71 shelves of archival steel in a rented storage space, awaiting the wand of a Fairy Godmother or Godfather for its transformation into the full glory of a Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual History Centre, where our heritage can be permanently displayed and understood by current and future generations.
Our collection includes:
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Magazines and newspapers, from Fifties beefcake to yesterday's scene rag.
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Books covering every aspect of our lives from 1747 to the present day.
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Photographs and videos from the snapshots of a Forties bar-dyke to TV coverage of the Nineties.
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Every variety of clothing from posing pouches to purple Doc Martens. -
Love letters, cottage notes, club flyers, the personal papers of activists and campaigners, and the archival records of groups including Sussex Gay Liberation Front, Brighton CHE, Brighton Lesbian Group, Brighton Area Action Against Section 28, Project Zorro and Disabled Dykes.
A full catalogue of these riches is underway.
Meanwhile we welcome further donations and financial help with the costs of conservation and storage. The yearly cost of housing even a shoebox on a shelf is £5 and we hold material equal in volume to a thousand shoeboxes.
Access
Access to the archive often can be arranged for specific research enquiries. We are all volunteers, so the office is open only at certain times. Contact us and we will reply by email or phone to arrange an appointment.
You can also send us your archive enquiries by email or letter. We will do our best to find the answers for you, but please be prepared to wait for a response.