Smithsonian adds LGBT history to museum collection

The National Museum of American History, part of the Smithsonian Institution, has embarked on its largest effort yet to document LGBT history. According to an MSN News article by Brett Zongker of Associated Press, LGBT history is “an area that has not been well understood at the museum” in the past.

Museum curators are collecting materials from LGBT political, sports and cultural history. As noted by Zongker:

“Some items being donated include the diplomatic passports of Ambassador David Huebner, the first openly gay U.S. ambassador confirmed by the Senate, and his husband; materials from a gay community center in Baltimore; and photography collections from Patsy Lynch and Silvia Ros documenting gay rights activism.”

As the article also notes, the creators of 1998-2006 sitcom Will & Grace are donating a range of objects relating to the show, including original scripts, props and memorabilia.

Donated to the National Museum of American History: Production scripts and press materials from the sitcom Will & Grace

– Brett Zongker

Published: 22nd August 2014

Categorised in: For the Record