Mapping Queer Hertfordshire

A new county-wide project celebrating Hertfordshire's LGBTQ+ heritage

A new co-curated project, Mapping Queer Hertfordshire, has been awarded funding through the University of Hertfordshire’s AHRC Impact Accelerator Account to document and celebrate LGBTQ+ histories and memories from across the county.

This collaboration between the University of Hertfordshire and HALS will bring together material from archives, museums, libraries, galleries, historic sites and local communities, alongside new contributions from members of the public. From historic records and museum objects to personal photographs, memories and oral histories, every contribution will help create a richer understanding of Hertfordshire's LGBTQ+ past and present.

Project outputs

Over the course of the project we will develop:

• An interactive digital map hosted on Herts Memories.

• New archive collections created through community contributions.

• A travelling exhibition that can be hosted by museums, libraries and community venues across Hertfordshire.

• A social media campaign sharing stories and encouraging public participation.

• New partnerships between heritage organisations, volunteers and LGBTQ+ communities.

How can you get involved?

We are keen to hear from heritage organisations, volunteers and community groups across Hertfordshire.

Museums, libraries, galleries and historic sites can support the project by:

• Identifying LGBTQ+ stories, objects and collections within existing holdings.

• Helping interpret collections and local histories.

• Hosting the travelling exhibition or community engagement events.

• Promoting opportunities for local people to contribute their own stories.

Volunteers and researchers can help by:

• Researching local LGBTQ+ histories.

• Supporting cataloguing and interpretation.

• Assisting with community engagement and outreach.

• Helping connect people, places and stories across the county.

We have always been here

LGBTQ+ history is Hertfordshire history.

Led in partnership by the University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire Archives & Local Studies (HALS), Hertfordshire County Council and Herts Memories, the project will build on the LGBTQ+ stories already available on the Herts Memories website by creating an interactive digital map that connects stories, places, people and collections across Hertfordshire.

By working together across museums, archives, libraries and communities, Mapping Queer Hertfordshire will create a lasting digital and physical legacy that celebrates the people, places and stories that have shaped the county.

Get in contact:

If you or your organisation would like to be involved, we'd love to hear from you.

Please email: queermap@herts.ac.uk

Follow us on IG: @mappingqueerherts