Qualitative case study reveals diverse perspectives on archival use among LGBTQ+ community members, highlighting the importance of community agency in preserving queer history.
Community archives have presented as an alternative to traditional institutions that center community agency in the collecting and creating of their archival materials, as well as the narratives of their histories and experiences. However, community archives cannot assume to meet their users’ needs or desires for these spaces without research into their perspectives. This case study of one LGBTQ+ community archive aims to explore how community members view the purpose of community archives, how they currently use or relate to the community archive, and what they imagine for its future within the context of queer archival practice rooted in the now southeastern United States. The research uses qualitative thematic analysis to present findings that can inform both community archives practice and the archival field at large.
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cal caughron (2026) studied this question.
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