Oxford LibGuides: LGBTQ+ History Resources: Modern (1750–1945)

Highlighted Resource

The hidden LGBT+ history of the Edinburgh Medical School
This blog post explores two stories of LGBTQ+ people associated with the Edinburgh Medical School in the 19th century.

Key Resources

Anne Lister
This is a website dedicated to Anne Lister (1791–1840), sometimes described as 'the first modern lesbian'. It includes videos of Lister's home, excerpts from her diaries, and information about her romantic relationships.
Darwin’s closet: the queer sides of The descent of man (1871)
This article explores the relationship between the work of Charles Darwin (1809–1882) and LGBTQ+ issues, including intersex people. "Charles Darwin’s published and unpublished writings contain a plethora of references to sex variations, including intersexualities (‘hermaphroditism’), transformations of sex and non-heteronormative sexual behaviours."
The Harlem Renaissance in Black Queer History
This article, published by the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History & Culture, discusses the queer aspects of the Harlem Renaissance, a period of African-American cultural revival in New York in the 1920s and 1930s.
Homosexuality in Nineteenth-Century England
This is a collection of primary sources, compiled by researcher Rictor Norton, concerning homosexuality in 19th century England. Many of the resources are newspaper articles and reports of trials.
The Ladies of Llangollen
This article draws on material in The National Archives to tell the story of the Ladies of Llangollen, two Irish women from upper class families who lived together as a couple in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
LGBTQ+ lives through the census
This article, published by The National Archives, explores "what census records can tell us about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people a hundred years ago, focusing particularly on the newly released 1921 Census records."
Miss Muff's molly house in Whitechapel
This blog post is about a 'molly house' in London in the 18th century. Molly houses were coffee houses or taverns in which gay men could meet and socialise. They formed part of a gay subculture at a time when homosexual acts were illegal.
Queer British Art 1861–1967
This is a guide to the exhibition 'Queer British Art 1861–1967', which was held at the Tate Britain. This exhibition "explores connections between art and a wide range of sexualities and gender identities in a period of dynamic change."
Queer Life during the Second World War
This article examines the experiences of British LGBTQ+ people who were conscripted during World War II.
Rural Queer Lives in Berkshire Criminal Archives 1861-1967
"This exhibition outlines the legal history surrounding sex between men and how these developments affected the rural county of Berkshire. This project diversifies the traditional narratives that are preserved within archives and museums."
Winifred Briggs
"Oral history of Winifred Briggs, a California native and resident who discusses being a lesbian in World War II, as well as AA, US Army Nurses, and same sex relationships in the 1940s 1950s military, AA, US Army Nurses, relationships, 1940s, 1950s, World War II, lesbian."

LGBTQ+ History Resources: Modern (1750–1945)

Introduction

Highlighted Resource

Key Resources

Video

Time Periods