October 1994

Thomas Cook, Jeanine Wittcke, Pat Young, and other community-based historians form the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest (GLAPN). They find inspiration from Allan Berubé and his advocacy for communities to preserve LGBTQIA2S+ heritage.

1999

Co-founder Thomas Cook authors the 1999 Portland Gay History Walking Tour as a "guide to historic gay, lesbian, and transgender buildings and locations in Downtown Portland."

Co-founder Pat Young helps create a Portland State University (PSU) LGBT Capstone class to conduct oral history interviews with Portlanders. The first two instructors are Women's Study Professor Anne Mussey and Christa Orth.

2008

"Our Stories" panel presentations begins at Q Center, with planning and moderation by Dave Kohl. Kohl recruits LGBTQIA2S+ Oregonians and allies drawn from connections made during research for A Curious and Peculiar People. The first panels center on "Our Stories: Pioneers in Oregon's Fight for Gay Rights."

2009 - 2011 

Additional "Our Stories" panels are produced and provide insight into various intersections and experiences.

2010

George T. Nicola authors "Early Attempts at Oregon Gay Civil Rights." GLAPN publishes Nicola's article on our website, while Washington State University Professor Peter Boag uses the content for an Oregon Encyclopedia article.

2011

GLAPN provides information about gay bars, bathhouses, and LGBTQIA2S+ history to McMenamin's, who purchased a building which previously operated various LGBTQIA2S+ businesses. 

Rob Douglass and Dave Kohl conduct a walking tour full of "juicy anecdotes about queer life in Portland over the last century or so." Proceeds benefit Oregon Safe Schools and Communities Coalition.

2012

Q Center's librarian Ismoon Maria Hunter-Morton is elected President and becomes the first bisexual President. C. Allen Giles, a professional archivist working with Cascade AIDS Project's archives, is elected Treasurer. Robin Will serves as Secretary and webmaster. 

GLAPN initiates a 20 year celebration of defeating Oregon's Ballot Measure 9 with Q Center, Human Rights Campaign, and Basic Rights Oregon.

In partnership with Q Center, the inaugural Queer Heroes Northwest Awards program and exhibit commences. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian Brown attends the opening of the exhibit at Q Center and expresses interest in sharing our community’s stories with the staff at the Department of Justice. At her request, a copy of the exhibit is displayed in Portland’s U.S. Attorney Office.  

GLAPN joins local professional association for archives and archivists, Northwest Archivists, Inc.

GLAPN holds the second annual Queer Heroes Northwest Awards. GLAPN features a replica of the display at its Portland Pride booth, donated by New Seasons. 

GLAPN launches its Youtube channel. 

GLAPN supports Sandy Polishuk's panel discussion of Social Justice Organizing. The first panel includes LGBTQIA2S+ activists.

GLAPN supports a second Social Justice Organizing panel focuses on Portland Gay Press with founders of local LGBTQIA2S+ paper, Just Out.

GLAPN provides extensive expertise to Oregon State Bar's Diversity & Inclusion Story Wall, at the Bar's request. The Story Wall chronicles the legal system and profession's gradual progress toward reflecting diverse communities.

GLAPN celebrates the third annual Queer Heroes Northwest Award Program and our Portland Pride booth features the year's display.

GLAPN, the LGBT Bar Association of Oregon (OGALLA), and Oregon State Bar Diversity and Inclusion Department jointly sponsor the class "LGBT Rights in Oregon: A Historical Perspective." George Nicola presents on the state's legal history, followed by a panel discussion with openly LGBTQIA2S+ attorneys and law professors.

GLAPN launches several resources on Oregon's diverse and politically active history. These include the Oregon Trans Timeline, edited by Danni/y Rosen and Ampersand Crates; an article on Bisexual Oregonians edited by former president Ismoon Maria Hunter-Morton; and two articles by George T. Nicola. Nicola's articles, "A History of Oregon's Major LGBTQ Equality Organizations" and "A History of Oregon LGBTQ Equality Law Since 1970" are comprehensive, thoroughly researched, and cited legal chronologies of Oregon's LGBTQIA2S+ movement. 

GLAPN partners with PFLAG Portland Black Chapter and Portland Black Pride to honor February as Black History Month. GLAPN President Robin Will and PFLAG Portland Black Chapter Chair Khalil Edwards plan an event that includes a video, panel discussion, and artwork. 

GLAPN hosts the fourth annual Queer Heroes Northwest Award program at the Q Center and replica posters are displayed at Portland Pride.

GLAPN hosts a booth at Out on the sQuare, a part volunteer fair and part block party for LGBTQIA2S+ organizations at Pioneer Courthouse Square. 

George T. Nicola presents to a Multnomah County Board meeting as part of National Coming Out Day. Nicola recalls Gretchen Kafoury, mother of County Board Chair Deborah Kafoury, mentored him in writing and lobbying for Oregon's first sexual orientation civil rights bill in 1973.

In celebration of its 21st anniversary, GLAPN creates an Oregon LGBTQIA2S+ history exhibit at the Q Center, and hosts a reception.

GLAPN connects Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) to former faculty, Dr. Ira Pauly, who was an early supporter of gay rights, a major advocate in trans health, and an early provider of affirming care. Danni/y Rosen and Ampersand Crates are consulted, and an oral history is conducted at Pauly's Arizona home. The oral history is recorded, transcribed, and available online.

GLAPN is featured in the America Archives Month celebration, "History: Feed Your Head" hosted at the City of Portland Archives and Records Center.

GLAPN co-sponors storytelling and oral history events, including a roundtable on the history of lesbians during the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. 

Margaret-Ann Jones and GLAPN President Robin Will organize a second annual Black History Month celebration with an exhibit at the Q Center. 

GLAPN hosts the 5th annual Queer Heroes Northwest Award Program with replica posters at Portland Pride.

GLAPN partners with Know Your City on the Pride Forever Tours. These tours examine the compelling stories of LGBTQIA2S+ history in Portland.

Margaret-Ann Jones and Robin Will organize a 3rd annual Black History Month celebration with an exhibit, reception, and film screening at the Q Center. 

GLAPN supports Manumalo “Malo” Ala’ilima, Co-Chair of Portland Asian and Pacific Islander Pride, and Q Center Co-Director Justin Pabalate in creating an exhibit at Q Center. The exhibit, potluck, and panel discussion honors May as Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Pride Northwest selects GLAPN as the Grand Marshal for the Portland Pride Parade. Suzanne Deakins, Margaret-Ann Jones, Kristan Knapp, Robin Will, Valerie Whittlesey, and George T. Nicola are in the parade. 

GLAPN hosts the 7th annual Queer Heroes Northwest Award Program. Margaret-Ann Jones, Fern Wilgus, and Harold Strong organize a reception at the Q Center. Past and current Queer Heroes speak to about 140 attendees. 

GLAPN participates in the Portland Art Museum's "Powerful Self: LGBTQIA2S+ Lives Today," organized by Emily Squires and Paul Iarrobino. 

We all want to be seen as we truly are. The people in this exhibition, and the groups from which they come, have not always been allowed to belong. Stories connected to their personal objects tell us a little about why. Get to know them. Relate to their vulnerability, recognize their resilience, and appreciate their joy and power as they live to be their most authentic selves. Listen to these stories of change in a community over time, and stories of personal change.

GLAPN works to get Oregon Governor Kate Brown to issue a proclamation designating October 2017 as LGBTQ History Month.  

GLAPN joins QDoc in the screening of Conversations with Gay Elders by David Weissman.

GLAPN collaborates with Portland Asian Pacific Islander Pride to create an ongoing virtual exhibit on our website. Oregon Asian Pacific Islander LGBTQ History is the result!  

GLAPN creates additional virtual exhibits: Oregon Latinx LGBTQ History and Oregon LGBTQ Black History.

Jean Wynn accepts GLAPN Secretary position, becoming the first bisexual secretary. 

GLAPN presents the 7th annual Queer Heroes Northwest Awards, with a reception organized by Margaret-Ann Jones, Harold Strong, and others. 140 people attend the ceremony at the Q Center and Bev Standish records the event.

The George T. Nicola LGBTQ+ History Fellowship is created. It is a collaboration between GLAPN and Pride Northwest to "uplift LGBTQ+ scholarship, foster public access to LGBTQ+ archives, and illuminate the vibrant LGBTQ+ history of the state of Oregon." Annual awardees receive a stipend to support research and are mentored by historians around the region. 

GLAPN is invited to host an informational table at Evergreen Middle School in Hillsboro, Oregon in December. 

Organizer and historian Melissa Cornelius Lang accepts the position of GLAPN Vice President, becoming the first bisexual VP. 

GLAPN participates in the street renaming project for Harvey Milk Street, providing local historical expertise and insight. 

GLAPN selects the first awardees of the George T. Nicola LGBTQ+ History Fellowship: Shir Bach and Jayden Dirk. 

GLAPN hosts the 8th annual Queer Heroes Northwest Awards. As has become tradition, Margaret-Ann Jones and Harold Strong are involved in organizing and emceeing the reception at Q Center. 120 people attend, and Bev Standish records the event.

Portland State University LGBTQ History Capstone professor Pat Young retires. Sarah K. Loose begins solo teaching. 

GLAPN participates in Portland Pride Waterfront Festival by tabling and marching in the parade. GLAPN President Robin Will designs the banner carried in the parade. 

GLAPN curates an LGBTQIA2S+ history exhibit at the Q Center's Imperial Sovereign Rose Court Gallery in October. The reception, "Celebrating 50 Years of LGBTQ Activism" is held on October 26. 

GLAPN receives the Imperial Rose Crown Organization of the Year at Portland's Imperial Sovereign Rose Court Coronation Ball held on October 19. Rose Emperor XLII Daniel Surreal Foxx and Rose Empress LX Kimberly Michelle Westwood present George T. Nicola the plaque.

In recognition of your service to our Community and the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court.

GLAPN hosts the George T. Nicola LGBTQ+ History Fellowship 2019 Reception. Shir Bach discusses his paper, "Tracing Trans Surgery Through the Archives in Portland, Oregon," and Jayden Dirk discusses "There is No Place in the City." GLAPN President Robin Will and Vice President Melissa Lang speak, and special guests provide feedback. About 50 people attend the event.

GLAPN President Robin Will tables at Evergreen Middle School's Pride Fair in Hillsboro. The event is a district-wide, after-school program for LGBTQ students and staff. 

For us, it's history-making to be doing this sort of outreach in a middle school, and we meet several teachers and some incredibly savvy students interested in learning more about our LGBTQ history. - Robin Will 

In late March, GLAPN shares the April 2, 2020 meeting is canceled, and "we won't be meeting again for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis. We'll announce plans here, via email, and on our Facebook page when meetings resume.”

GLAPN organizes a multi-part series reflecting on the history and lessons learned during the No on 9 campaign. Events include panel discussions, a film screening at Clinton Street Theater, and an exhibit co-curated with Portland State University Library Special Collections & University Archives.

In March, Cayla McGrail becomes GLAPN Secretary. 

GLAPN President Robin Will and Secretary Cayla McGrail install a Pride Exhibit at Willamette View.

GLAPN members travel to Yachts, Oregon during their Pride weekend in early June. 

GLAPN tables at Portland Pride and launches a survey to gain insight into how best to serve our community. During the August general meeting, results were shared centering around uplifting BIPOC voices, telling Rural Oregon histories, and engaging with the community in more interactive ways. 

Melissa Cornelius Lang is elected GLAPN President, and Robin transitions to Treasurer. James Rodgers joins as Vice President with Harold Strong as a co-VP, though Harold eventually steps down. Cayla remains Secretary. Alecia and Wing join the board as members at large.

Following extensive conversations and community dialogue, GLAPN elects to rename the organization to Oregon Queer History Collective. 

Oregon Queer History Collective begins participating in conversations with Portland Parks and Recreation regarding the construction of Darcelle XV Plaza in downtown. Members are also invited to provide lived experience and feedback to the City of Portland's LGBTQ+ Historic Sites Project, led by the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.  

OQHC participates in the Darcelle XV Plaza Open House events. We bring materials related to queer history and heroes to inspire ideas on a "Walk of Fame" and inquire about what Portlanders want to see in public interpretation. 

OQHC Board holds a retreat. OQHC President Melissa Lang presents an accountability structure, and a model for a committee structure. Members begin to develop project plans. Alecia moves off the Board to be the Archives Committee Chair. 

OQHC releases a "Fence Free Darcelle XV Plaza" petition to invite continued community engagement concerning the proposed fence at the new park. GLAPN Board and community members later meet with the Parks and Recreation Project Team to discuss the petition and next steps.

OQHC Secretary Cayla McGrail invites community members to post on social media. Former President Christa Orth is one collaborator who shares information about their book and early 2000s drag history.

OQHC Secretary Cayla McGrail develops a collaborative relationship with Friendly House Elder Pride Services, hosting regular intergenerational lunches for community members to connect. 

OQHC Board meets with Oregon Historical Society Research Library to discuss the name change, identify additional needs, and work on building a deeper relationship. 

OQHC is invited to table at Portland's Drunk Herstory show. 

OQHC attends the celebration event for Erv Lind Field's National Register of Historic Places nomination. 

OQHC tables at the City of Portland Archives' Open House event. This begins a deeper relationship with City Archivists who allow OQHC to use their space to host archive meetings.  

Pacific Northwest College of the Arts invites OQHC to table during their Trans Geographies symposium. Members attend to drop flyers off around the school and meet staff. 

Friendly House Elder Pride Services awards OQHC with a EPS Award.

QDOC invites OQHC to be a community partner for the premier screening of Outliers and Outlaws: A Story of Lesbian World-Builders. OQHC Secretary Cayla McGrail speaks on stage to invite audience members to join the Collective. Cayla also meets the marketing and outreach coordinator and begins tot develop a collaborative relationship. 

​​​​​​​Archives Committee Co-Chair Jozie Billings makes a Collective Discord Server for members to connect outside of general meetings. 

Kristan Knapp is inspired by Outliers and Outlaws project. With support from OQHC Secretary Cayla McGrail, OQHC begins to develop a project of "Building Lesbian Archives." 

OQHC is invited to table during Outliers and Outlaws screening at Cinema 21. Members promote "Building Lesbian Archives." 

OQHC calls for student work to encourage students of all ages to share their research and projects with the Collective.  

OQHC's first meeting of 2025 invites members to collaborate in goal setting and building a work plan to guide the next year. Many new faces attend, sparking new ideas. 

OQHC becomes a fiscal sponsor of Olivia Delgandio's queer newspaper project, Invert. This strengthens the Collective's collaborative relationship with Olivia, as an issue of Invert ​​​​​​​is planned to be all OQHC focused, and the Collective will help Olivia archive the work.

​​​​​​​In February and April, OQHC hosts social meetings, reflecting the decision to alternate meetings between business and socializing. 

Starting in late 2024, OQHC is invited to collaborate with the City of Portland Archives on an exhibit for Multnomah County Central Library. OQHC Secretary Cayla McGrail organizes an Exhibits Committee to help coordinating this and additional displays. 

OQHC starts a bi-weekly newsletter to share behind the scenes content, announces to events, and project statuses. This accompanies the growing social media presence supported by new members.

OQHC members host a zine making night, bringing new people to the organization. 

During the March meeting, Cayla McGrail is elected OQHC President. Robin resigns duties as Treasurer. Melissa moves to a general board support position with Wing, who starts to the Events and Outreach Committee. 

Led by Secretary Cayla McGrail, OQHC partners with City of Portland Archives for an archives 101 event provides archival materials to attendees. 

Led by Secretary Cayla McGrail, OQHC partners with Outliers and Outlaws for a screening and queer archival panel discussion at Portland State University. 

In light of political and social attacks, and longstanding lack of inclusion in the archives, OQHC members organize the project "Oregon Trans History for the Archives." Community members are invited to participate in the first panel discussion on queer visibility.