Old Lesbian Oral Herstory Project facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Lesbian Oral Herstory Project Collection in the Sophia Smith Archive at Smith College |
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|---|---|
| Established | 1997 |
| Location | Smith archive located Northampton, MA |
| Collection | |
| Size | more than 500 oral histories |
| Website | http://olohp.org https://findingaids.smith.edu/repositories/2/resources/963 |
The Old Lesbian Oral Herstory Project (OLOHP) is a special collection of interviews. It gathers and saves the life stories of women born in the early 1900s. These women identified as lesbians, meaning they loved other women. The project helps us understand and appreciate their lives and experiences.
Contents
What is the Old Lesbian Oral Herstory Project?
The OLOHP is like a big library of spoken memories. It collects "oral histories," which are interviews where people share their life stories. The project focuses on women who are 70 years old or older.
Why Was This Project Started?
Arden Eversmeyer created the OLOHP in 1997. She was inspired to start it when her friends began to pass away. Arden worried that their important life stories would be lost forever. She wanted to make sure these stories were saved and shared.
Who Are the Interviewees?
The project has interviewed over 750 women. These women come from many different backgrounds and places. Most live in the United States, but some are from other countries. The main goal is to talk with women aged 70 and above.
What Kinds of Stories Are Collected?
Each "Herstory" (as the project calls them) includes a written copy of the interview. It also has other items related to the person's life. These can be photographs, artwork, or old newspaper clippings. The interviews ask about their lives as lesbians. They also share many other parts of their life story. This helps put their experiences into context.
Where Can You Find These Stories?
About 500 of the OLOHP interviews are kept in a special place. They are stored at the Sophia Smith Collection at Smith College. This collection is like a museum for women's history. It helps researchers and students learn from these important stories.
