Park Slope Makes 'Herstory' With Landmarked Lesbian Archive

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — New York City made "herstory" today after declaring the Lesbian Herstory Archives in Park Slope a landmark.

The city's Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the nation's oldest and largest collection of lesbian-related historical material as an individual landmark, the first LGBTQ+ landmark in Brooklyn.

“I am delighted Commission has designated the home of the Lesbian Herstory Archives, an important community space and a nationally important collection of LGBTQ+ historical materials,” said Landmarks Preservation Commission Chair Sarah Carroll.

“This designation draws attention to the importance of the Lesbian Herstory Archives to New York City and the country’s history and to LGBTQ+ communities.”

The Lesbian Herstory Archives — housed at 484 14th St. since 1991 — was founded in 1974 by activists who wanted to integrate lesbian history into American history.

Joan Nestle and Deborah Edel's collection had grown so large that, by the late 1980s, the pair decided to move from the Upper West Side.

The archives raised enough money to purchase its current Park Slope home where it has become a center of New York City's lesbian culture.

But because the Park Slope Historic District was designated prior to the founding of the archives — and its move to the neighborhood — it left "herstory" out, until now.

Materials in the archives dates back to 1950, including a recording of Audre Lorde's famous "The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle The Master’s House" speech, promotional material from the first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights and personal photos from the collection of Black lesbian activist Mabel Hampton.

The approval comes after a hearing in June during which a motion to calendar the request received unanimous support from the board.

"The Lesbian Herstory Archives plays an essential role in telling the story of a mostly unseen community of women who contributed to America's cultural, political and social history," said Margaret Herman, the commission's deputy director of research, at the time.

"Designating 484 14th Street as an individual landmark would highlight this important story and emphasize an additional period of significance associated with the Lesbian Herstory Archives."