Dykes on Bikes® through the years
Dykes on Bikes® through the years
About the GLBT Historical Society

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Transgender Historical Society (GLBTHS) collects, preserves, and interprets the history of GLBT people and the communities that support them. We sponsor exhibits and programs on an on-going basis.

Our exhibit galleries are open Tuesday through Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. The archives of the GLBTHS is one of the world's largest collections of primary source materials about GLBT history. Filmmakers, academics, journalists, students, and others use the archives to craft truthful and inspiring representations of GLBT people.

The professionally-staffed archives and reading room are open to GLBTHS members by appointment Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and to the general public on Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. The GLBTHS is a community-supported, 501c3. All contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

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News and Events

In Our May 2008 Newsletter:

 May 13 - Queer Storytellers: Enlightening Conversation with Writers Robert Glück and Kevin Killian (Press Release)

 May 14 - Radar Reading Salon: Readings From Historian Authors Nan Alamilla Boyd, Terence Kissack, Susan Stryker & Joshua Gamson

 May 15 - Gala Opening Reception: New DYKES ON BIKES® Exhibit (Press Release)

 May 17 - SF Eagle Tavern: Toast the Dyke Bikers: Pre-Eagle Soda & Beer Bust Ride-By, 1:00-3:00 (Soda & Beer Bust, 3:00-6:00)

 May 17 - Allan Bérubé Memorial: Nan Alamilla Boyd, Estelle Freedman & Gayle Rubin Celebrate the Life and Work of a Great Historian (Press Release)

OPENING RECEPTION:
DYKES ON BIKES® - 30 Years At The Forefont
Thursday, May 15, 6:00-8:00pm
GLBTHS celebrates the 30th anniversary of a community phenomenon with an exhibit honoring the famous group DYKES ON BIKES®. The exhibit invites the general public to revel in the mythic power of DYKES ON BIKES® and to learn about their history, mission, structure and challenges. Visitors can even hop on a bike amid the sights and sounds of past parades. Throughout the run of the exhibit, many special events are scheduled. This reception is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.  (find out more)

PASSING ON THE PEN:
GLBT Organizations Build Bridges Between Generations of GLBT Storytellers
March 23 - December 9, 2008
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Transgender (GLBT) Historical Society and the Lambda Literary Foundation have joined forces to celebrate the contributions of three generations of GLBT Storytellers. The two organizations will host a series of conversations, entitled “Passing On The Pen,” designed to pair some of the pioneers of GLBT literature with today’s emerging GLBT storytellers. (find out more)

Main Exhibit Now Open
Out Ranks: GLBT Military Service from
WWII to the Iraq War
June 2007-June 2008, Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m.
The nation's first major historical exhibit about GLBT lives in the military--and the ways queer veterans fought for justice, peace, and our country. (find out more)

 View the curator's web trailer.

 Read the San Francisco Chronicle review.

Call for Volunteers!
Polk Gulch History Project
The history of San Francisco's Polk Gulch neighborhood is dynamic, joyous, heartbreaking, and wholly unique. It's a history that is also almost completely unexplored and, during a time of rapid neighborhood change, at risk of being lost. As part of a sponsored project of San Francisco's GLBT Historical Society, we seek people's stories of Polk Gulch, from the 1960s to 2000s.  (find out more)

Now on Flickr!
GLBTHS Online Photo Gallery
The GLBT Historical Society launches its Flickr site! Check out the inaugural exhibit on our Flickr site: “Capturing the Moment: The Photojournalism of Rick Gerharter,” an encore version of a gallery exhibit held in 2006. Also take a sneak peek at preview images from our upcoming gallery exhibit of the artwork of 1960s leather scene icon Chuck Arnett.  (find out more)

The Los Angeles Times
Reviews New AIDS Research Collection
The GLBT Historical Society's newly-completed AIDS archive that documents and memorializes the AIDS epidemic and its effects in California and beyond is described in this article, along with companion collections at the ONE Archive, Los Angeles and UCSF. These federally funded efforts make available hundreds of thousands of previously unsorted documents and artifacts for visiting scholars, with summaries being readied for wider Internet exposure. (read article)

The New York Times
Reports on Gay Neighborhoods
In a front-page article on October 24, 2007, the New York Times provided a look at changes in gay enclaves like the Castro district in San Francisco. Much of their story focused on the GLBT Historical Society's 2007 public inquiry into the matter. Check our video archive, below, to view our panel discussions on this topic. (read article)

S.F. Bay Guardian
GLBT Historical Society
Wins Best of the Bay
We're proud the Bay Guardian's editors selected us as the "Best Repository of Past Perv Pride!" Check out what they've got to say about our one-of-a-kind, world-class queer archive. (read article)

KQED
See GLBT Historical Society leaders on the June 2007 edition of "FAQ"
GLBTHS board members Don Romesburg and Gerard Koscovich discuss GLBT history and aging issues. (view the program; requires Real Player)

Video Archive

Tour the GLBT Historical Society Archives
with Gerard Koskovich

Are Gay Neighborhoods Worth Saving?
Nov 28 2006 panel discussion

What Do Queer Neighborhoods Do For Cities?
Jan 30 2007 panel discussion

Queer Neighborhoods of the Future
Mar 27 2007 panel discussion

How Did The Gay Pride Flag Originate?
Nov 30 2006 news item on CBS/Ch 5

Volunteer Profile: John Fagundes
Feb 5 2007 report on CBS/Logo

Historic GLBT Video Clips
your home movies
2007 Folsom Street Fair Beneficiary