In June 2024 the Hudson Area Library and OutHudson began the development of a new archive, the LGBTQ+ Hudson Area History collection. This community-sourced archive will include oral histories of LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies as well as donations from the community of video, photographs, memorabilia, art, documents, and ephemera related to Hudson’s vital queer history.
The collection will focus on LGBTQ+ history in Hudson, Greenport, and Stockport (the library service areas) but will extend to all of Columbia County. It will, of course, focus on people who identify/identified as LGBTQ+ and live/lived locally but will include people who were allies and/or who had impressions of their friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. who identified as LGBTQ+.
In Hudson, in particular, many artists, proprietors, and antique dealers moved from New York City to Hudson and began Hudson’s renaissance after the city’s decay in the 1970s and the advent of the Fairview Avenue strip malls that took business away from Warren Street. Many of these people were LGBTQ+ identified and they changed the fabric of our city.
Our area has a vibrant community that includes LGBTQ+ individuals who, in many instances, add to our community economically, artistically, socially, and civically. Some were local and some came as transplants bringing valuable skills and experience with them. Local history endows a community with a sense of place and a pride in local culture and heritage and whether transplant or local, LGBTQ+ identified or not we can all be proud of this history.
Anyone with materials related to Hudson’s annual Pride Parade and other events, the participation of individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ in our civic, social, religious, governmental, and family life or any other items related to queer queer history are encouraged to email history@hudsonarealibrary.org to donate or loan these materials. We are happy to answer questions about how the archive is being developed and how items donated or loaned will be handled.
This archive project is funded in part by the Spark of Hudson, in partnership with the Eutopia Foundation, and by the proceeds of this year’s Poke the Bear fundraiser in honor of Trixie Starr, founder of Hudson’s Pride Celebration.
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