About the Old Lesbian Oral Herstory Project

The Old Lesbian Oral Herstory Project has been in process about four years. Just in the last year, it has become a major project for the national organization O.L.O.C. (Old Lesbians Organizing for Change), a political, anti-oppression organization.

The priority is to collect the herstories of lesbians 70 years and older before their stories are lost forever. They are an invisible population who were strong enough to live their lives and love whom they wanted in a hostile society. The project will include lesbians with backgrounds ranging from blue-collar women to those with visible high-profile careers.

Lesbians are being trained in different parts of the country to take these herstories. The herstories are being transcribed, supplemented with pictures and documents, compiled into books, and archived here in Houston. This is not a means of "outing" old women. Binding contracts and confidentiality are part of the process.

The project has three needs: The need for transcribers is critical. Information about old lesbians in the Gulf Coast area who might be willing to tell their stories would certainly be welcomed. And, of course, contributions (tax-deductible) to help fund the project would be gratefully accepted. For any of the above, contact: P.O. Box 980422, Houston TX 77098, fax 713/802-2989, or e-mail chardenea@worldnet.att.net. –Arden Eversmeyer