CLGAS’ NEW NAME: THE ARQUIVES
23 Mar 2019.  -

Photos are of the ARQUIVES website and database portal.

The Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives, which for more than 45 years has served as the largest archive of LGBTQ2+ life in Canada, has a new name: The ArQuives (pronounced archives). This is their fourth name since their inception in 1973 and coincides with the launch of their online database, a public search engine of their extensive library, archive, and artifact collections. 

Creating a public digital space was an important goal for The ArQuives team, as it makes their collection more accessible. The online database will allow the public and researchers alike to delve into the collection, see connections between items, and request more information. 

Executive Director Raegan Swanson describes the current name change as an exciting step forward, “Changing the name gave us an opportunity to show LGBTQ2+ communities that we are actively trying to make our space and collections more inclusive. Trans, bisexual, queer, and 2-spirit folks are no longer excluded from our name, which is often the first point of engagement with our organization.” 

This openness and commitment to accessibility will have an enduring impact, and allow many more people to learn about LGBTQ2+ communities. Books, periodicals, audio and visual collections, posters, photographs, artwork, artifacts, personal, and organizational records will be available online to inspire and inform.