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The Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library
Gay Couple Hugging. Gay March and Rally; Stonewall Riot Anniversary, 1979 June 24. William Gedney Photographs and Writings. Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library. Duke University.

Gender and Sexuality History Collections

The Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library has extensive holdings of a wide range of materials documenting the history of gender and sexuality history, with a particular strength in the history and culture of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) communities. The library owns over 4000 books on sexuality and gender dating back to the 17th century as well as manuscript collections. Much of the collecting in these areas is enhanced by other primary collecting areas, e.g., women’s history and culture, Southern writers, religion, documentary photography and in conjunction with other collecting in the larger Perkins Library system.

Representative Collections

    Digital Collections

    William Gedney Photographs and Writings (Digital Exhibit)
    Documents from the Women's Liberation Movement Collection

    Collection Guides / Finding Aids

    The Sallie Bingham Center for Women’s History and Culture maintains a number of guides and bibliographies that are useful for identifying materials relating to gender and sexuality topics. In addition, materials may be found by searching the Duke University Library online catalog under known authors or topics in this area, especially by using the “Advanced” search option and limiting location to “Special Collections.”

    Collection Policies

    In general, the scope of collecting gender and sexuality materials is determined by other collecting foci where gender and sexuality issues and culture are significant, with special emphasis on the total diversity of LGBTQ culture. Collectible materials include personal papers, organizational records, printed ephemera, photographs, oral histories, and monographs and periodicals that are rare, scarce, or otherwise in need of special security and preservation. Every effort is made to acquire rare and out of print publications which serve to document pre-Stonewall gay and lesbian culture as well as cultural attitudes towards homosexuality primarily in Victorian America and Britain.

    Contact Information

    Laura Micham is Curator of Gender and Sexuality History Collections. For questions about the collections or programs, you may e-mail her, or contact her by telephone at: 919-660-5828.

    For general information about finding materials in the library's collections and how you can use them, requesting permission to reproduce, or other information as well as reference questions about the holdings in this area:

    E-mail: special-collections@duke.edu
    Phone: (919) 660-5822
    FAX: (919) 660-5934

    If you are getting in touch via e-mail, please be sure to include your return e-mail address in the body of the message, since it sometimes gets stripped from the header in transit. Also, if you expect a response, make sure to include a phone or fax number or postal address where we can reach you, since sometimes it is difficult or impossible to respond via e-mail. Thank you!