In interpreting LGBTQ+ identities in history, challenges arise around classification and labeling, and for many years the standard in historical interpretation was to assign labels such as “gay,” “lesbian,” or “transgender” only to those who explicitly self-identified with these labels. However, in recent years, history professionals have been reconsidering this stance and beginning to move away from placing so much interpretive consequence in self-reported identities. After all, the linguistic trend of utilizing one or more letters in the LGBTQ+ acronym for personal identity has been a relatively recent phenomenon – one that traces back to the beginning of the sexual revolution in the 1960s.

Many historians and museum curators have been working to decenter the historical subject’s self-reported identity (or lack thereof) in recent years. Instead, they have begun to focus more on how individuals and communities challenged gender norms and expectations at various times and places in history. This more expansive interpretive model allows historians to explore gender more completely in each historical setting. As the AAM Task Force states, “Rather than viewing gender in connection with the boundaries of a strict binary, transgender identities present the opportunity to explore it as a dynamic, ever-changing form of social categorization. What does it mean to be a man or a woman? How have those boundaries been transgressed by individuals, groups, and communities, and how has society responded to these transgressions?”

There are currently a few historical manuscripts and objects in the GOHI collection that specifically center transgender and historically gender non-conforming identities and experiences. This is an area in which GOHI hopes to grow and expand the collection in the coming years. As interpreting gender expansivity and non-conformity become more standard within the field of historic interpretation, parts of Ohio History Center’s (and GOHI’s) collections can be reconsidered through a new lens.

The work of reinterpretation to include consideration of gender non-conforming subjects is already underway at Ohio History Connection. For example, former OHC manuscripts curator Kieran Robertson identified an interesting case of gender non-conformity in the Laura Cunningham Photograph Collection (AV 298). The collection primarily includes family photos of a Warren County family throughout the late nineteenth century. Kieran noticed that one frequently photographed family member, Mary Eva (or Ned) Ross, was clearly defying gender norms of the period through their clothing and chosen name. As Kieran notes, the photographs display Ned’s choice of masculine stance and dress, including jackets, ties, and hats. No other female members of the family were photographed wearing clothing that would be classified as “masculine” or “for men” by the late nineteenth century standards. Members of the family used the nickname “Ned” to refer to Mary Eva, with an annotation on one photograph reading, “Ned Ross, as most of us knew her.” This suggests that members of the family were calling Ned by the nickname (rather than by their birth name – Mary Eva) and that Ned’s chosen name, as well as their clothing, defied gender conventions.

Other Collections and Untold Stories

Unfortunately, there is currently no public archival collection centered around the lived experiences of transgender Ohioans. However, there are some national or international archives that house at least some of Ohio’s transgender history. The Digital Transgender Archives (DTA) is one such database. Based in Boston, DTA aims to increase the accessibility of transgender history materials to the public. Searching “Ohio” in the database delivers 967 documents.

Within DTA, you can find CrossPort’s newsletters, dating back to their inception in 1985. Crossport was founded as a social support organization for transgender individuals in the Greater Cincinnati area. By exploring the archive for Crossport’s newsletter, InnerView, researchers can learn a great deal about the Greater Cincinnati transgender community.

In the coming years, GOHI and other historical institutions have the opportunity to continue building collections that center transgender individuals and experiences. There are currently untold numbers of stories just waiting to be recorded, preserved, and shared. One example is the history of gender-affirming care, which does not currently have an Ohio-based collection. Though, some initial steps have been taken to begin preserving and sharing this story.

Current TransOhio Board Member Ginger Williams has been working to bring to light the story of Dr. Richard Murray (1921-2002) and his gender-affirming medical practice in Youngstown. Dr. Murray began providing gender-affirming procedures at his practice, Medart, as early as 1972. Williams has previously given presentations on Dr. Murray’s life and career. Her next presentation will be taking place at the Stark Library in Canton on Thursday, April 18.

Conclusion and Call to Action

This TDOV, GOHI acknowledges that there is still a great deal of work to be done to equitably preserve and share Ohio’s transgender history. The work requires continued engagement and trust-building with transgender Ohioans, a task that GOHI undertakes enthusiastically and with great pride.

If you are interested in telling your story in an oral history or donating historical documents and/or objects to the GOHI Collection for preservation, please reach out to [email protected].