Highlighting Pride Month: Palouse LGBTQ+ History Project and Inspiring Juneteenth Display

As Pride Month unfolds, WSU Libraries highlights their Palouse LGBTQ+ History Project and inspiring Juneteenth display.

Historian and queer scholar Brian Stack’s dedication to LGBTQ+ history led to the creation of the Palouse LGBTQ+ History Project. This inspiring initiative emerged during his time as a doctoral candidate at WSU. The project focuses on documenting and archiving the experiences, including struggles and triumphs, of LGBTQ+ individuals in the Palouse region, focusing on Pullman and Moscow.

WSU Libraries have played a pivotal role in supporting the Palouse LGBTQ+ History Project. The libraries serve as a hub for access to LGBTQ+ literature, resources, and archival materials. Through their LGBTQ+ collections, WSU Libraries aim to foster understanding, awareness, and appreciation for the diverse journeys.

By engaging the community and providing access to resources, WSU Libraries serve as a beacon of inclusivity, creating spaces where all individuals can find support and information.

We invite you to explore the Palouse LGBTQ+ History Project in our digital exhibits, where you can immerse yourself in the captivating stories, documents, and photographs that Stack curated.

Additionally, dive deeper into the project’s digital collection, which showcases digitized copies of The Daily Evergreen. Stack meticulously searched through these archives to uncover valuable insights and pivotal moments in LGBTQ+ history.

As we celebrate Pride Month, we encourage you to join us in honoring the important work done by Stack and the Palouse LGBTQ+ History Project. His dedication and passion have opened new avenues for understanding, acceptance, and inclusion. Together, let’s continue to promote LGBTQ+ visibility and celebrate the vibrant diversity of our community.

In celebration of Juneteenth, a day dedicated to the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States, the WSU Libraries have unveiled a thoughtfully curated display in the entrance of Terrell Library thanks to the creative efforts of Lorena O’English, social sciences and government documents librarian at the Holland and Terrell Libraries. This display aims to educate and inspire visitors by showcasing a wide array of literature and online resources that delve into the history and significance of Juneteenth.

O’English’s diligent research of and dedication to creating an inclusive and informative exhibit have resulted in an impressive collection of materials that shed light on the experiences of African Americans during and after the era of slavery. Visitors to Terrell Library can engage with a variety of books, both physical and digital, as well as explore online resources that offer a deeper understanding of Juneteenth and its historical context.

Among the notable books featured in the display are:

  • “Envisioning Emancipation: Black Americans and the End of Slavery” by Deborah Willis
  • “On Juneteenth” by Annette Gordon-Reed
  • “Closer to Freedom: Enslaved Women and Everyday Resistance in the Plantation South” by Stephanie M. H. Camp
  • “Festivals of Freedom: Memory and Meaning in African American Emancipation Celebrations, 1808-1915” by Mitch Kachun
  • “Remixing the Civil War: Meditations on the Sesquicentennial” edited by Thomas J. Brown
  • “O Freedom! Afro-American Emancipation Celebrations” by William H. Wiggins Jr.
  • “Celebration: Studies in Festivity and Ritual” by Victor Turner
  • “To ‘Joy My Freedom: Southern Black Women’s Lives and Labors after the Civil War” by Tera W. Hunter
  • “Freedom Narratives of African American Women: A Study of 19th Century Writings” by Janaka Bowman Lewis
  • “Juneteenth: A Novel” by Ralph Ellison
  • “Juneteenth: The Story Behind the Celebration” by Edward T. Cotham Jr. (ebook)
  • “Freedom’s Journey: African American Voices of the Civil War” edited by Donald Yacovone (ebook)

Additionally, O’English has included online resources to enhance the display, ensuring that visitors have access to a comprehensive range of information. These resources consist of:

Visitors to the WSU Libraries are encouraged to explore the Juneteenth display and take advantage of the opportunity to expand their knowledge of this significant celebration of freedom and empowerment. Through O’English’s efforts, the libraries have become a hub for fostering dialogue, education, and appreciation of African American history and culture.