Archives open the vault

The Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives (ALGA) will offer the public a rare glimpse at their unique GLBT history collection this month.

ALGA has been preserving Australia’s queer history since 1978 and will hold an open day on July 31.

The day will showcase the ALGA’s new acquisitions, as well as guest speakers, and show Sally’s Story, a documentary on local trans activist Sally Goldner.

Former gay newspaper editor Bill Calder will be on hand to discuss his current research into the start of gay media in Australia during the 1970s.

The public will also be able to view a rare 1920s book featuring nude watercolours by lesbian artist Janet Cumbrae Stewart; the first edition of gay publication Butch (1972); letters of support for and opposition to Ralph McLean’s election as Mayor of Fitzroy in 1984; photographs of the famous Queen’s Birthday picnics from the 1960s onwards;
material from Noel Tovey, including photos of the 1951 Arts Ball, theatre programs from the ’50s to the ’70s and posters about his activism on Indigenous issues and HIV/AIDS fundraising; plus materials from Australia’s first lesbian organisation, the Australasian Lesbian Movement, including an annotated copy of the play The Boys in the Band performed by an all-lesbian cast in 1972.

Recently released queer books will be available for purchase and a tour of ALGA’s new storage space at the Victorian AIDS Council will be run.

The open day runs 2–5pm at 6 Claremont St, South Yarra.

INFO: www.alga.org.au