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Lesbian Herstory Archives Calendared for Landmark Designation

Already located within the Park Slope Historic District, the Lesbian Herstory Archives will now be considered for landmark designation.
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The Lesbian Herstory Archive, located at 484 14th St. in Park Slope. Photo: Google Maps.

Already located within the Park Slope Historic District, the Lesbian Herstory Archives will now be considered for a designation as an Individual Landmark, reports City Land.

In a recent meeting, the Landmarks Preservation Commission unanimously voted to calendar the archival building for designation. Calendaring, as its name suggests, is the first step in the preservation process, to be followed by a public landmark designation vote. 

Located at 484 14th Street in Park Slope, the row-house constructed in 1908 has housed the renowned Lesbian Herstory Archives since 1991. The archives was founded in 1974 at a time when LGBTQ+ rights were under attack. But, the initiative only raised enough funds to purchase 484 14th Street, an already prominent site within the lesbian community, in 1990.

After completing renovations in 1991, for over three decades the archives rose to national acclaim, growing their collection by digitizing files to help improve public access.

The building is located within the Park Slope Historic District, which was designated a landmark in 1973. However, there is no additional recognition for the property’s history since the archives moved in. And in looking at the organizations significant contributions to both LGBTQ+ and women’s history, the Landmarks Department recommended that the Lesbian Herstory Archives be calendared for consideration as an Individual Landmark.

Landmarks Chair Sarah Carroll discussed the Commission’s ongoing effort to designate influential LGBTQ+ landmarks. She went on to note that the archives are an invaluable national resource, that the Commission’s own research department has relied on in the past.

"I'm very excited to be recognizing the Lesbian Herstory Archives in this particular moment as we wrap up Pride month and also recognize the significance of women in our nation today," Carroll stated.




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