Archival Presence of The Queer Experience: An Analysis of Power in Information Management

Authors

Emmett Myers, Arcadia UniversityFollow

Abstract

“Who controls the past, controls the future; controls the present, controls the past.”1 Archives, places in which historical records are kept, play a role in controlling the past, future, and present of society. Exploring archives and their relationship with power and authority allows us to understand their impact on documenting intersectional identities, especially those of the LGBTQ+ community. In this paper, I will examine the presence of the LGBTQ+ community within archival spaces, analyze literature regarding the three main principles of archival theory, and offer a new model for a more inclusive and queer framework for archival theory. My research seeks to understand how archival institutions wield power in storing and preserving historical narratives, particularly concerning the LGBTQ+ community, and how this impacts inclusivity within archival studies. Analyzing the three main principles of archival theory – Provenance, Respect des Fonds, and Original Order – allows readers to understand the limitations of these ideologies regarding minority groups, due to the power dynamics within archives and outside institutions. Through these findings, I introduce a queer archival framework containing three new theories: Intersectional Provenance, Queer Des Fonds, and Original Context. The production of this model allows scholars to understand the significance of inclusionary practices of documentation and how they can illuminate the current knowledge surrounding LGBTQ+ history. By finding and preserving LGBTQ+ voices within an archive, power dynamics within the archival system can be adequately addressed and rectified.

Recommended Citation

Myers, Emmett (2025) "Archival Presence of The Queer Experience: An Analysis of Power in Information Management," The Compass: Vol. 1: Iss. 12, Article 3.
Available at: https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/thecompass/vol1/iss12/3