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Collection

Spectrum Center (University of Michigan) records, 1976-2012, 2019-2021 (majority within 1987-2012)

7 linear feet — 1 oversize folder — 50.42 GB (online)

Online
University of Michigan office operating since 1971 that deals with human sexuality and gender identity support and advocacy for students, faculty, and staff. Records consist of administrative and topical files of the Spectrum Center and its predecessor offices and relate to the operation of the office; outreach programs; advocacy efforts; background on university housing issues; same sex benefits; as well as local, state, and national issues pertaining to LGBTQ rights. Documentation also includes posters; photos of rights marches, gay pride events, and celebration events; audio-visual material; and oral histories.

The records of the Spectrum Center document the activities of the center from 1976 to 2012, 2019-2021 (bulk 1987-2012). Materials in this record group consist of correspondence (including electronic mail printouts and memoranda), clippings, educational training manuals, minutes, reports, topical files, photographic materials, audio and visual materials, and oral histories.

For earlier records of the office, see the Lesbian-Gay Male-Bisexual Programs Office series within the James W. Toy papers, which is also held at the Bentley Library. Note that there is some overlap between the records in the James W. Toy papers and this record group.

Folder

Oral History Interviews, 2019-2021

Online

The Oral History Interviews series contains digital oral history material—audio recordings, interview transcripts, short interviewee biographies, and images of interviewees (excluding Christopher Armstrong)—collected from 2019 to 2021 as part of the Spectrum Center LGBTQ Oral History Project. Participants in this project include University of Michigan alumni, faculty, and staff who identify as LGBTQ. Topics addressed include the interviewee's life prior to coming to University of Michigan, LGBTQ life and experiences on campus, and the university's impact on their life and coming out. Interviews conducted in late 2020 and early 2021 also address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of the murders of Black Americans like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and interviewees' reaction to the Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision.

Each interview also addresses one or more sensitive topics, which include assault, homophobia, stalking, harassment, transphobia, the AIDS crisis, and/or violence against members in the LGBTQ community.