Founded in 1981, Gerber/Hart’s collections focus on the culture and history of LGBTQ peoples and additional marginalized sexual and gender minorities in Chicago and the Midwest. Open to all, Gerber/Hart serves these communities by collecting, preserving, and making accessible collection items of individuals, organizations, and businesses, as well as publicly distributed items. Additionally, Gerber/Hart provides programming and exhibitions related to items in its collections and on other topics in LGBTQ history and culture.
MISSION
Founded in 1981, Gerber/Hart Library and Archives seeks to preserve and make accessible the history and culture of the LGBTQ* communities in Chicago and the Midwest in order to advance the larger goal of achieving justice and equality.
Three core purposes define our work. We operate a lending library whose books illuminate the richly varied culture and experience of LGBTQ* individuals and communities. We acquire, preserve, and make accessible an ever-growing archive that documents these histories. And we offer a broad range of educational programs that illustrate this history and culture through exhibits, lectures, panel discussions, and film screenings.
Open to everyone, Gerber/Hart is dedicated to promoting research, learning, exploration, and discovery in a safe and welcoming atmosphere that reflects the diversity of the communities that it serves.
*Gerber/Hart’s collections include non-LGBTQ materials of the culture and history of people and organizations marginalized by gender and sexuality for whom a library or archives collection has not been established in the Chicago metropolitan area.
VISION
Gerber/Hart believes that knowledge of LGBTQ* history in all its diversity and complexity fosters understanding and constructive change in society. We envision a world in which justice, equality, respect, and inclusion describe how LGBTQ* people and all members of society are treated.
BYLAWS
Copies of our current bylaws are available upon request at info@gerberhart.org.
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