A chronology of the Archives

A brief history of the Archives in point form is offered below. So far it focuses on our early years, to 1977, with a few highlights thereafter.

Another source is available for our progess since then: our newsletter, Lesbian and Gay Archivist, begun as Gay Archivist in May 1977. The link here leads to a list of all issues -- with extensive highlights offering an overview of nearly two decades of development.

Late October 1971: The first issue of The Body Politic (TBP) is published, dated Nov / Dec 1971. Collective member Jearld Moldenhauer plays a key role in giving the paper a strong sense of history. TBP's records, along with material it saves from gay groups elsewhere, will later form the core of the Archives.
Summer 1973: Ron Dayman sorts out historical material from TBP's business papers and removes it to his house at 203 Boulton Avenue. He gets down (in a basement) to work on the collection.
October 6, 1973: At Canada's first national gay conference, in Quebec City, Ron Dayman announces formation of the Canadian Gay Liberation Movement Archives, set up by The Body Politic -- which promotes it and solicits material in a late-1973 editorial.
Summer 1974: The Archives -- then only of a few boxes and books -- moves to 193 Carlton Street, a storefront shared by TBP and Toronto's Gay Alliance Toward Equality. Ron Dayman moves to Ottawa. Ed Jackson takes charge of the collection.
March 1975: Ed Jackson solicits gay groups across Canada for material -- and for people experienced in library and archival work. In a move to broaden the scope, "Liberation Movement" is removed from the name: it becomes the Canadian Gay Archives. A brochure is prepared for the 3rd national gay conference, set for June in Ottawa.
November 1975: Ed Jackson speaks on the Archives at the Gay Academic Union conference, Columbia University. Back in Toronto he recruits more help. The Archives Collective is formed.
December 1975: The Collective turns down an offer from the Archives of Ontario to take some material. It produces a formal statement of purpose with seven objectives for arrangement of material, acquisitions, creation of references aids and bibliographies, public awareness of the Archives -- and solicitation of volunteers. But energy wanes.
May 1976: The Archives moves, with TBP, to a 5th-floor warehouse loft at 24 Duncan Street. Stored in a corner, it remains nearly untouched for months.
September 1976: At the 4th national conference in Toronto, New Brunswick archivist James Fraser finds the Archives' brochure and decides to get involved. He joins the Collective in October.
April 1977: James Fraser has put in more than 500 hours of work, bringing new order and energy to the Archives. He recruits others to help; in May they report their progress in the first issue of Gay Archivist.

As noted above, much history beyond 1977 appears in Gay Archivist, now Lesbian and Gay Archivist. Some key dates recorded there:,/p>

June 1979: Launch of the Archives Publication Series. (For all titles see What we've published.)
March 31, 1980: Incorporation of the Archives (since 1975 part of Pink Triangle Press, publisher of The Body Politic) as an independent, non-profit organization.
October 18, 1980: First Archives co-sponsorhip of a major conference, "Whitman in Ontario."
September 1981: A tag line augmenting the Archives' name appears in the banner of Gay Archivist: "National Archives for Lesbians and Gay Men."
November 1981: Approval by Revenue Canada of registered charitable status, allowing tax-deductible donations to the Archives.
June 30 to July 3, 1982: "Wilde '82", the world's first international gay and lesbian history conference, hosted by the Archives as part of Toronto's "Doing It!" gathering.
Mar 11, 1985: Death of James Fraser, who had moved to Vancouver in 1983. The James Fraser Library will be named for him in early 1986.
July 3 to 7, 1985: Toronto hosts the world's third international gay and lesbian history conference, "Sex and the State: Their Laws, Our Lives".
February 1988: Move to a 1,000-square-foot space at 464 Yonge Street, 2nd floor, next door to the AIDS Committee of Toronto and down the hall from Pink Triangle Press -- now publishing only Xtra, The Body Politic gone since early 1987. The James Fraser Library gets its own room.
May 3, 1992: The end of the Archives Collective, with adoption of a new constitution and election of an expanded, nine-member Board of Directors.
December 1992: Move of the Archives to its first fully independently space -- 2,000 square feet -- at 56 Temperance Street, 2nd floor.
September 19, 1993: A second change of name -- to the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives -- approved by members at the annual meeting.
September 11 to November 23, 1995: "Pass It On!", a major exhibit of lesbian and gay histories, 1975 to 1995, co-sponsored by the Archives with the Lesbian and Gay Community Appeal and the Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights in Ontario, and mounted at the headquarters of the Toronto Historical Board. A successful lecture series accompanies the display.
February 21, 1997: Launch of this new site, making the resources of the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives available on the World Wide Web.

[Lesbian and Gay Archivist]