Black and Gay in Black and White
Black and Gay in Black and White, one of the first exhibitions to document the contributions of Boston's African American LGBTQ community, was mounted at Northeastern University in October of 1997. Featuring the work of Boston-area photojournalists, the exhibition highlights the cultural and social contributions of made by local African American LGBTQ artists and activists.
¡Aquí Estamos!
¡Aquí Estamos!, which chronicles the contributions of Boston 's Latino/a LGBTQ community, debuted at Northeastern University in October of 1998. The exhibition featured photographs of a broad spectrum of Boston-area Latinos and Latinas - from entrepreneurs and academics to activists and artists - with commentary in Spanish and English.
Above + Beyond: Our Community Responds to HIV/AIDS
Above + Beyond: Our Community Responds to HIV/AIDS is both a free-standing and online exhibition, as well as a database project, undertaken by The History Project to mark the 25th anniversary of the first HIV/AIDS diagnosis and document the Boston LGBTQ community’s response to the AIDS crisis.
Joan Ilacqua, Executive Director
joan.Ilacqua@historyproject.org
Joan Ilacqua (she/hers) became The History Project's inaugural Executive Director in January 2020. She previously served as Co-Chair of The History Project’s board of directors and as Harvard Medical School’s Archivist for Diversity and Inclusion.
Joan serves on the steering committee of the Community Archives Collaborative and Boston Commemoration Commission. She is a former member of the New England Archivists’ Inclusion and Diversity Committee and the Massachusetts State Historic Records Advisory Board.
Joan is a graduate of UMass Boston’s Public History master’s program, and earned her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Puget Sound. In her free time, Joan likes to read queer romance novels and spend time with her wife and two cats. You can learn more about Joan's work atilacquajoan.com.
Mik Hamilton, Archivist
mik.hamilton@historyproject.org
Mik Hamilton (they/any pronouns) earned their Master of Library and Information Science in Archives Management from Simmons University. Since 2016, Mik has worked and interned with various archives, including positions at Cornell University, the Smithsonian National Museum for the American Indian, and Harvard University. Mik's research interests include queer organizational histories, local LGBTQ+ grassroots efforts, and reparative archival practices.
Mik earned their BA in Classics and Archaeology at Cornell University. In their spare time, Mik is a bit of a Wikipedia enthusiast. They have facilitated several Wikipedia edit-a-thons and created an instructional LibGuide,Wikipedia for Archivists, which demonstrates how to improve archival discoverability using Wikipedia. When their mind isn’t on archives, they enjoy spending time outdoors with friends, or indoors with their mischievous cat.
Matisse DuPont, Director of Engagement & Advancement,
matisse.dupont@historyproject.org
Matisse DuPont (they/any pronouns) earned an MA in Gender and Cultural Studies from Simmons University, where they focused on queer and trans history, media representation, and identity formations. After years of being an educator and consultant for LGBTQIA+ issues, they are now helping with the behind-the-scenes work at The History Project. Matisse also founded Queer Artists & Players, an all-volunteer recreational community theatre company by and for the LGBTQIA+ community in the Boston area. Beyond all this, they are a painter, dog mom, and love to take road trips with their partner.
Rescued NPS Audio Tour
Erased by the NPS but preserved by Queer History Boston, "Their Dreams, Their Rights, and Their Love:" A LGBTQ+ Audio Tour of Beacon Hill and Downtown Boston highlights the different ways the LGBTQ+ community in Beacon Hill and greater Boston area have lived, thrived, and fought for their rights.
Improper Bostonians: Lesbian and Gay History from the Puritans to Playland
The History Project has produced two important publications documenting Boston’s LGBTQ history.
Routes of Pride
Published in June of 2001, Routes of Pride traces the evolution of the Boston Pride celebration – from a few dozen lesbians and gay men marching as part of a Vietnam War protest, to a massive celebration that often draws more than 100,000 participants.