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When determining how to describe creators what’s at stake are two main things – ensuring that we accurately and respectfully describe how collection creators identify and understand their lives, AND that collections documenting queer lives and activism can be findable to our users. Applying standardized vocabularies like Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) to catalog records or finding aids is one important way for users to find and access materials. However, for LGBTQ+ individuals there can be a wide chasm big difference between how a person self identifies and the LCSH term that is available. LCSH is also often slow to update outdated terminology and because it is insufficient we cannot rely on it entirely.
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The key is to ensure that accurate descriptors (as much as we know them) are being used when identifying the creator within the historical note or other narrative sections. Involve the creator, if living, as much as possible. If not possible, use print or online sources (and consider citing them within the finding aid). When you can’t be in touch with a creator consider adding a processing note or sentence in the biographical or scope and content note that addresses gender and sexual identity/sexuality.
The Manuscripts Department will be documenting how and where to incorporate this type of description and to help develop language and best practices for creating or updating finding aid description. The Manuscripts Department can also explore and document the best descriptive options for those creators who do not have a clearly stated identity and are no longer living but whose life story can be seen as part of LGBTQ+ visibility.
- Be cognizant of using the correct pronouns.
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- Be cognizant of using the correct pronouns.
Apply the pronouns that are used by the creator, if clearly known. Possible examples include She, He, Ze, Hir, they, etc. If pronoun use changes or has changed over time, address that in the narrative.
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Explore other controlled vocabularies that are more rooted in the community. For example, Homosaurus is now widely used in the library and archives field. You can go beyond Library of Congress Subject Headings keeping in mind that other vocabularies, even those based in the LGBTQ+ communities (like Homosaurus) may still be insufficient.
Resources:
[GLBT Controlled Vocabularies and Classification Schemes: https://www.ala.org/rt/rrt/popularresources/vocab ]
Digital Transgender Archive Style Guide
[I think it’s an open question whether a creator needs to have input/control over LCSH choices. I think bio description of identity, absolutely, but I think controlled terms are ones where librarian/archivist make judgements based on a number of things, and the goal is to colocate material to aid research. See my comment below re biography vs content description. I think Jean Wolfe is a good example of clearly stating her preference and using our available term to aid researchers.] [GJ1]At the Schlesinger Library, the Manuscripts Department will be documenting how and where to incorporate identity description in finding aids and to help develop language and best practices for creating or updating finding aid description. The Manuscripts Department will also explore and document the best descriptive options for those creators who do not have a clearly stated identity and are no longer living but whose life story can be seen as part of LGBTQ+ visibility.
Resources
[GLBT Controlled Vocabularies and Classification Schemes: https://www.ala.org/rt/rrt/popularresources/vocab ]
Digital Transgender Archive Style Guide