USC Libraries

The ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives recently processed 59 collections as part of a project that received a $133,577 grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). The project includes many diverse collections that document the beginnings of the LGBT civil rights movement in the United States and the daily lives of prominent artists, activists, and writers. The newly processed collections include photographs dating to 1850 and the records of organizations such as the Lambda Literary Foundation and LGBT running clubs. Another highlight is the papers of intersex activist Lynn Edward Harris. Keep reading for a complete list of the newly processed collections.

The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) recently awarded $203,200 to Out West: The LGBTQ Community Archive Cataloging Project, a collaborative effort to process rare archival materials held by the ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives and the GLBT Historical Society in San Francisco. Included in the project are 111 archival collections featuring a wealth of rare materials, ranging from the suit worn by Harvey Milk when he was assassinated to early gay and lesbian wedding photos, matchbooks from 1950s gay bars, and memorabilia from José Sarria’s 1961 campaign for San Francisco city supervisor. Keep reading for photos and details about the project.

Thanks to a $133,577 grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), the ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives launched a project that will make its archival holdings on LGBT activism and history dramatically more accessible to researchers. The collections selected for the project document the beginnings of the LGBT civil rights movement in the United States and the daily lives of a number of prominent artists, activists, and writers. Keep reading for photos from several collections that will be made available through this project. 

The Los Angeles Times' Culture Monster blog recently highlighted Queer Worldmaking, the USC Libraries' exhibition in Doheny Memorial Library's Treasure Room. Keep reading to learn more about the exhibition, drawn from the ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, and ONE's Cruising the Archive series, which the Times' Sharon Mizota describes as "inspiring in its depth and vibrancy."

The symbiotic relationship between meticulous research and good writing was celebrated at the recent Friends of the USC Libraries Literary Luncheon as USC Professor Lois Banner discussed her latest book, MM—Personal: From the Private Archive of Marilyn Monroe. Keep reading to learn more about the luncheon and about Banner's research.

Authors Lois Banner and Adrienne Sharp will be the featured speakers at the next two Friends of the USC Libraries Literary Luncheons, scheduled for October 27 and November 17. Keep reading to learn more about Banner, Sharp, and the Literary Luncheon series.

Ninety-one years ago this August 26, U.S. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby certified that the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution had been duly ratified, guaranteeing women the right to vote within the United States. A new exhibit curated by archivist Katherine Richardson, Celebrating the 91st Anniversary of Women's Suffrage, features materials from the USC Libraries' Special Collections related to the struggle for women's voting rights. Among the items on display are placards from the libraries' Amy C. Ransome Collection on Women's Suffrage, rare books, letters, and photographic prints. The exhibit also addresses the debate over women's suffrage; among the items is a pamphlet by George S. Patton, Sr. (father of the famous World War II general) titled "Why Women Should Not Be Given the Vote." Stop by the Special Collections display case on the second floor of Doheny Memorial Library to see the exhibit.

The USC Libraries have added 33 new electronic resources to support USC's teaching and research needs. By mid-July, USC students, faculty, and staff will be able to access to the new databases, electronic journals, and other digital resources through the E-Resources tab on the USC Libraries homepage.

More than one hundred finding aids for the USC Libraries' archival collections are now available online. These finding aids, which provide basic information about the collections as well as detailed inventories of the collections' contents, help researchers discover the riches of the libraries' archival collections. Keep reading for a list of available finding aids, organized by subject area.

On Tuesday evening, USC Annenberg student Katherine Schwarzenegger and USC Professor of History and Gender Studies Lois W. Banner sat down together in Doheny Memorial Library's Nazarian Pavilion to discuss Schwarzenegger's new book, Rock What You've Got: Secrets to Loving Your Inner and Outer Beauty from Someone Who’s Been There and Back. Keep reading to learn more about the event, organized by the USC Libraries.