Several years after the University of North Texas began collecting documents, photographs, periodicals and other memorabilia from the North Texas LGBT community, the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. has begun to do the same.
UNT proved that those collections can be valuable. Its archived copies of Dallas Voice have been accessed more than any of its other regional and specialty periodicals. Filmmakers used the archives to gather information about Ron Woodroof, the Oak Lawn man who created the Dallas Buyers Club.
While UNT’s collection is geared toward academic study, the Smithsonian’s is for exhibit.
The National Museum of American History already has Dorothy’s shoes from The Wizard of Oz and Edith and Archie’s chairs from All in the Family. The LGBT collection began with a donation from NBC with pieces from the set of Will & Grace. While All in the Family broke taboos on TV discussing bigotry and intolerance, Will & Grace did the same for LGBT issues.
Other items included in the initial collection are the diplomatic passports of Ambassador David Huebner, the first openly gay U.S. ambassador confirmed by the Senate, and his husband. At the time of his confirmation, Huebner’s dog was transported to his overseas post at government expense, but his husband had to pay for his own ticket because the Defense of Marriage Act prevented recognition of their marriage.
The museum had already collected items from Westboro Baptist Church, which will grace the LGBT exhibits.
