What We've Got

Archival holdings and library collections -- of many different kinds

As the links above indicate, material in the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives and its James Fraser Library is broadly divided into two categories: archival holdings and library collections.

Both categories include material in different physical formats. Those links give you some idea of these formats -- as well as letting you move quickly to pages with more detailed information.

But -- especially if this is your first visit -- don't scoot off just yet. This page offers a brief explanation of each of those different kinds of material ("Records", for instance, may not be what you think), and lets you know what to expect from those links -- which are repeated both in the text of this page and at the bottom.

Archival holdings and library collections are handled and recorded in quite different ways. Understanding those differences will help you in exploring this website. A good place to start is our page on Terms and concepts, a glossary of archival principles and terminology.

Despite their different physical formats, all archival holdings are related in one significant way: they came from, and remains identified with, specific people and organizations. They are direct evidence -- much of it unique -- of many distinct histories.

Our library collections are much like those in any library in terms of format -- but are distinct in being of special relevance to gay and lesbian history.

On some of the pages giving more details about each kind of material, you will find other links, leading to:

• Inventories: We've used this as a generic term for guides, directories and finding aids for specific material. Some inventories offer not just lists of holdings, but summaries, annotations, and other direct historical information. We've listed all available inventories, with links to any accessible online.

• Related documents: A list of other items available (some online) that will tell you more about specific material -- or about the people, organizations and events whose stories are recorded there. We add essays, commentaries, notes and reviews as we can, as well as links to related pieces we find on other sites.

• Search options: Where we have a way to help you find particular titles, items, or other material -- through lists of our holdings or access to our databases -- we'll let you know and will guide you through whatever search functions we're able to offer.
  
  See our Search page for more details.

Archival holdings

• Records: Material donated by individuals and organizations -- including everything from business files to personal correspondence. Such unique holdings are the heart of any archives. This is the best place to begin if you're interested in a person or group whose records are likely to be held in the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives.

• Vertical files: More than 9,000 files we've compiled over the years, mostly on people and groups, with a few covering specific events. Another place to look if you've got a name or occasion in mind.

• Photographs: More than 7,000. A partial inventory is available -- but so far only in print.

• Posters: Our collection includes more than 2,000, promoting everything from dances to demos to films, plays, and displays. There's a partial, printed inventory of these, too.

• Sound recordings: More than 1,300 LPs, CDs, 45s, and over 2,000 hours of audiotape, including radio programs, interviews and oral histories.

• Moving images: Films and videos, including gay & lesbian-produced features, documentaries and TV shows.

• Art works: Original creations in various media.

• Artifacts: Hundreds of historical objects -- T-shirts, banners, badges, buttons, matchbooks and much more.

James Fraser Library collections

• Books: More than 5,000 titles, including a growing collection of rare volumes and limited editions.

• Monographs: Pamphlets, chapbooks, offprints, scripts, theses -- more than 1,000 in all, including many rare finds.

• Lesbian and gay periodicals: The world's largest single collection -- more than 5,900 titles. Also available here online: an international directory of more than 7,200 queer publications -- covering the last 100 years.

• General periodicals with content by or about lesbians or gay men -- about 1,500 titles -- as well as extensive files of Canadian daily press clippings.

Books / Monographs / Lesbian & Gay periodicals / General periodicals