LGBTQ Oral History Digital Collaboratory

We’re building a usable past for LGBTQ+ people today.

What We Do

We work with communities and archives to preserve queer and trans life stories.

Founded in 2014 by Professor Elspeth Brown at the University of Toronto, the Collaboratory is a public and digital humanities initiative.

Featured Projects

A curated look at our collaborative research initiatives.

Drag Kings

Drag Kings

Oral History Project

2025-Present

Documenting drag king cultures across Canada and the United States through performance, embodiment, and community memory.

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Pussy Palace

Pussy Palace

Oral History Project

2021-2025

Preserving the rise, culture, and legacy of Toronto’s preeminent queer women’s and trans bathhouse.

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All Projects

Our Blog

Reflections on LGBTQ2+ public and digital history, creative interventions, and the people who make them happen. Catch-up on latest news, explore special series, or dive into our full archive.

How Montreal’s Drag Kings Are Reshaping Francophone Language: A Q&A with Jennifer Kaplan

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Zine or Zine Simulacrum?: On 1990s Queer Print Culture Revival

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A Prescription Refill in the Age of Transgender Liberalism

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All Blog Posts

Discover More

Explore our mission, meet the people we work with, browse our hub, or access resources for your own work.