ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how an institution might work with gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ) populations in collecting artifacts and narratives and interpreting history. It discusses the Gay Ohio History Initiative (GOHI), part of the New Face of Ohio multicultural collecting initiative at the Ohio Historical Society (OHS) in Columbus, Ohio. The Ohio Historical Society has taken an active role in preserving the history of Ohio's GLBTQ community. The New Face of Ohio, instituted in 2005, is a multicultural collecting program focusing on diverse communities around the state. Before GOHI and OHS accepted any collections, the curatorial committee created a collection plan in conjunction with curatorial staff at OHS. Since GOHI is the first project within OHS's New Face of Ohio initiative, it is serving as a prototype for future work with underrepresented communities. Furthermore, practitioner-based research in the area of GLBTQ collecting initiatives will provide institutions with the tools and encouragement to pursue their own relevant projects.
