Independent. Inspired. Relentless.
Founded by Don Schwamb, the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project seeks to reconnect Wisconsin with its lost history and heritage. Since 1994, the Project has partnered with the University of Wisconsin Archives to create the state’s largest digital collection of historical LGBTQ media.
Our mission is to reconnect Wisconsin with its long-hidden history and heritage to inspire a more colorful and inclusive future. We are committed to researching, documenting, preserving, celebrating and elevating our local LGBTQ history.
The project provides inclusive education, guided tours, outreach events, curated exhibits, presentations, articles, publications, podcasts, media support, research services, and consulting services.
Our collection continues to grow every day through ongoing crowdsourcing, conversations, and collaborations.
We honor Louis Stimac (1941-1994,) gay rights activist and founding member of Gay People's Union, who is considered to be Wisconsin's first true LGBTQ historian.
The Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project is powered entirely by volunteers. Since 2021, we have been led by a Board of Directors and a statewide network of 25+ Community Advisors.
We are an independent non-profit organization organized and operated exclusively for the purposes of education, charitable giving, and public good, as defined in section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. We graciously accept tax-exempt donations to support our mission and purpose.
We are a founding member of the National LGBTQ History Network, an associate of the LGBTQ History Association, and a partner of History UnErased.
Our world has changed tremendously since 1994, when Jim Kepner of the ONE Institute of Los Angeles toured America to seed local LGBTQ history projects in the wake of Stonewall's 25th anniversary, including ours.
What will never change is our purpose: to document and make widely available the historical record of LGBTQ people, places, organizations and events throughout the state of Wisconsin.
Contact Us
By E-mail: info@wislgbthistory.com
By Mail:
Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project
315 W. Court St
Milwaukee WI 53212
