“I WANTED TO BE JUST WHAT I WAS:” DOCUMENTING QUEER VOICES IN THE SOUTH

Abstract

This thesis explores themes in queer history and the concept of archival activism to argue for development of LGBT archival collections in the South that adequately reflect the region. Chapter One discusses trends in queer history with an emphasis on regional variations in the South, as well as the obstacles historians have faced in gaining access to queer archival material. Chapter Two engages archival theory to build a framework for supporting queer archives. Chapter Three examines current collections of LGBT archival material at universities and public institutions in the South to show how oral history projects that are developed in cooperation with queer community organizations have the ability to capture the experiences of queer people who would otherwise be unrepresented in the historical record. The inclusion of participants who lived in the South before the rise of gay rights activism broadens the scope to reflect unique aspects of the region: experiences with religious institutions, rural life outside of urban queer communities, and the roles of race and class in shaping sexual identities.