Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives
| Abbreviation | CLGA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1973 |
| Type | Archive organization based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Legal status | active |
| Purpose | advocate and public voice, educator and network |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
|
Region served
|
Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
|
Official language
|
English, French |
| Website | Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives |
The Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives is a Canadian non-profit organization, which acquires, preserves and provides public access to material on the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities in Canada and internationally. Based in Toronto, Ontario, it is the largest independent LGBTQ+ archive in the world.
The Archives were established in 1973 by The Body Politic's editorial collective (also known as the Pink Triangle Press). Originally named the Canadian Gay Liberation Movement Archives, the organization became the Canadian Gay Archives in 1975; established a separate collective in 1976; incorporated in 1980; received Charitable status in 1981; formed a board of directors in 1992; and adopted its current name in 1993.
Beginning as a one-cupboard reference collection co-housed with Pink Triangle Press, the Archives relocated to an independent location on Temperance Street in downtown Toronto in 1992.
In November 2005, the CLGA moved to a temporary location at 65 Wellesley Street in the city's Church and Wellesley gay village, launched a fundraising campaign, and began the search for a permanent home in the same area. The historic Jared Sessions house at 34 Isabella Street,built in 1860, was donated to the Archives by the city's Children's Aid Society after CAS began construction on a newer, larger building next door. After major renovations to 34 Isabella Street, the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives re-opened in September 2009. In December 2016, the Archives received a $50,000 grant from Toronto City Council to improve the building's accessibility for people with disabilities.
Today the Archives host a reading room and rare book library, vertical file room, offices, AV room, and gallery space for exhibitions. Additional holdings remain at 65 Wellesley and in deep storage.
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