Gerber Hart Library and Archives

Gerber Hart Library and Archives Gerber/Hart is an LGBTQ library and archives - one of the largest such organizations in the United States.

02/2021 - Gerber/Hart is resuming its regular hours of operation for walk-in patrons and for viewing exhibits. Researchers (those making use of archives collections, periodicals, or items from Special Collections) should still make appointments by emailing [email protected]. Hours of operation are Wednesdays and Thursday 6-9 p.m., Fridays 12 noon-4 p.m., and Saturdays 10 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Gerber/Hart Library and Archives was founded in 1981 to be a depository for the records of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer-identified (LGBTQ) individuals and organizations, and for other resources bearing upon their lives and experiences in American society. Gerber/Hart Library and Archives has since grown into being the Midwest’s largest LGBTQ circulating library with over 14,000 volumes, 800 periodical titles, and 100 archival collections. Hosting various programs and events that support its beliefs that knowledge is the key to dispelling homophobia and that affirming information about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons is critical to fostering pride and self confidence, Gerber/Hart Library and Archives seeks to not only preserve and protect items of LGBT individuals and organizations, but to be a conduit for change. Recently relocated in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, Gerber/Hart Library and Archives serves the research and recreational reading needs of the Chicago metro area and the Midwest, and through participation in the Interlibrary Loan program, people throughout the U.S.

We had a blast today at the Chicago History Museum talking with students and teachers about how they could use Ge**er/Ha...
10/06/2026

We had a blast today at the Chicago History Museum talking with students and teachers about how they could use Ge**er/Hart’s resources for Chicago Metro History Day!
Chicago Metro History Day (formerly known as the Chicago Metro History Fair) is for students in grades 6-12. It is a project-based inquiry program that empowers students to become historians who conduct research and share their conclusions. Guided by their teachers, students choose their own topics connected to an annual theme, and then conduct research, analyze sources, make an argument, and finally produce a project to show their work. Students make websites, performances, documentaries, papers, and exhibitions which are evaluated by community volunteers at annual competitions in the Chicago metro area. This year’s theme is “Innovation in History: Impact, Influence, Change.”
For the last several years, Ge**er/Hart has participated in the kickoff days for the project - sharing resources with students and teachers that could be used in their projects. We’ve also sponsored awards for students who pursue projects related to LGBTQ+ history.
We can’t wait to see the projects this year’s students choose!
Chicago Metro History Day Chicago History Museum

Next week!Beyond the Covers: Gender-Affirming Pelvic Health, One Book at a TimeJoin us on Thursday, October 15th, at 6:3...
10/06/2026

Next week!
Beyond the Covers: Gender-Affirming Pelvic Health, One Book at a Time
Join us on Thursday, October 15th, at 6:30 PM at Ge**er/Hart with Dr. Laura Ross (Pelvic Health PT and S*x Counselor) for a 90 minute pelvic health workshop centering trans and gender-expansive bodies!
Pelvic health has a way of skipping right past trans and gender-expansive bodies. This workshop puts them at the center. Over 90 minutes, we’ll move through the questions that actually come up: the practical realities of binding and tucking, what gender-affirming hormones do (and don’t do) to the pelvic floor, what to expect with top and bottom surgery before and after, and sexual health when dysphoria is in the room (or not!). Each section opens with a book or a character, because the archives are full of people who have already lived this, and their stories make good company for the clinical parts. Come with questions. Leave with specifics you can use, and a short reading list to take home.
Learn more and register for a ticket (sliding scale - $25-$35) at the link in our bio! And learn more about Dr. Laura Ross at Dr. Laura Ross | Pelvic PT, S*x Counselor | Chicago & Online !

It’s tomorrow! Tickets are no longer available online but there will be limited tickets at the door. Stop by the Center ...
10/03/2026

It’s tomorrow!
Tickets are no longer available online but there will be limited tickets at the door. Stop by the Center on Halsted tomorrow at 9 for Ge**er/Hart’s Q***r History Symposium!
A full day of speakers ALL about q***r history? Cinnamon buns from Ann Sather + pastries and lunch from smackdab? Specially designed tote bag? A chance to nerd out about q***r history all day? We can’t wait.
See you tomorrow!
***rhistorysymposium

A reminder that Ge**er/Hart is closed tomorrow, Saturday 10/3!We’ll be at the Center on Halsted for our Q***r History Sy...
10/02/2026

A reminder that Ge**er/Hart is closed tomorrow, Saturday 10/3!
We’ll be at the Center on Halsted for our Q***r History Symposium!
We’re open today (Friday) 12-4 and then you can find us back next week for our regular hours.

It’s October 1st! What does that mean? It’s LGBTQ+ History Month! Here’s where you can find Ge**er/Hart this month.This ...
10/01/2026

It’s October 1st! What does that mean? It’s LGBTQ+ History Month! Here’s where you can find Ge**er/Hart this month.
This Saturday 10/3 we’ll be at the Center on Halsted from 9-4 for our Q***r History Symposium! Limited tickets still available at the link in our bio- join us for a fantastic day full of LGBTQ+ history! (Center on Halsted)
On 10/7 we’ll be out in Des Plaines at Oakton College for their Pride Bites Intergenerational Chat event! (Oakton College AgeOptions Center of Concern)
On 10/10 you can come hang out with A for Ace Chicago at Ace Book Club where they’ll be reading Don’t Let the Forest In, a YA psychological horror by C.G. Drews (Kate CG Drews)
Also on 10/10 we’ll be in Naperville attending the Power of PFLAG conference
On 10/13 Loyola students, staff, and faculty can stop by the Damen Den for a social gathering with Loyola Pride Network. We’ll have a fun pop-up of materials from our collections on display (Office of Institutional DEI at Loyola Chicago)
On 10/15 we’ll be hosting Dr. Laura Ross for a Pelvic Health Workshop centering trans and gender-expansive bodies (sliding scale tickets at the link in our bio) (Dr. Laura Ross | Pelvic PT, S*x Counselor | Chicago & Online)
On 10/19 we’ll be at Nobody’s Darling for a Mixer with Chicago’s LGBTQ+ Bar Association (⚖️ LAGBAC ⚖️ Nobody's Darling )
And on 10/31 you can stop by Ge**er/Hart between 10 AM - 3:30 PM for our BOOOOOKSALE (scary low prices!)
Whew! Check back for updates, but we hope we see you this month at Ge**er/Hart!

BOO! Did we scare you?It’s October - and we’re ready for Halloween already. Want to stock your shelves with SCARY low pr...
10/01/2026

BOO! Did we scare you?
It’s October - and we’re ready for Halloween already. Want to stock your shelves with SCARY low prices on used LGBTQ+ and straight books, media, erotica, and more? Stop by the Ge**er/Hart booksale on Saturday 10/31 from 10 AM - 3:30 PM.

Beyond the Covers: Gender-Affirming Pelvic Health, One Book at a TimeJoin us on Thursday, October 15th, at 6:30 PM at Ge...
09/30/2026

Beyond the Covers: Gender-Affirming Pelvic Health, One Book at a Time
Join us on Thursday, October 15th, at 6:30 PM at Ge**er/Hart with Dr. Laura Ross (Pelvic Health PT and S*x Counselor) for a 90 minute pelvic health workshop centering trans and gender-expansive bodies!
Pelvic health has a way of skipping right past trans and gender-expansive bodies. This workshop puts them at the center. Over 90 minutes, we’ll move through the questions that actually come up: the practical realities of binding and tucking, what gender-affirming hormones do (and don’t do) to the pelvic floor, what to expect with top and bottom surgery before and after, and sexual health when dysphoria is in the room (or not!). Each section opens with a book or a character, because the archives are full of people who have already lived this, and their stories make good company for the clinical parts. Come with questions. Leave with specifics you can use, and a short reading list to take home.
Learn more and register for a ticket (sliding scale - $25-$35) at the link in our bio! And learn more about Dr. Laura Ross at Dr. Laura Ross | Pelvic PT, S*x Counselor | Chicago & Online !
***rpelvichealth

The Q***r History Symposium is this Saturday!Scroll through or check the captions for all of the presentation titles fro...
09/29/2026

The Q***r History Symposium is this Saturday!
Scroll through or check the captions for all of the presentation titles from our speakers!
Need to get your tickets? They’re going fast, but we still have some available at the link in our bio - pounce!
See you Saturday at the Center on Halsted!
Ge**er/Hart’s Q***r History Symposium kicks of LGBTQ+ History Month with a full day of speakers highlighting Chicago/Midwest LGBTQ+ History. Hear from artists, researchers, students, and more about their work with the LGBTQ+ collections at Ge**er/Hart and spend time chatting with fellow q***r history nerds! Tickets include access to the symposium as well as lunch, coffee, and breakfast pastries from our pals at Smack Dab (Smack Dab)and a specially designed tote bag by artist Bailey Tavish Taylor (Bailey Tavish Taylor)
Learn more and get your tickets at the link in our bio!
***rhistorysymposium

Tomorrow!Ge**er/Hart will be bringing materials to a screening of Playing with Fire: An Ecosexual Emergency with Annie S...
09/28/2026

Tomorrow!
Ge**er/Hart will be bringing materials to a screening of Playing with Fire: An Ecosexual Emergency with Annie Sprinkle and Beth Stephens at the Music Box Theatre!
The show starts at 6:30 but stop by early to take a look at the materials!
(Music Box Theatre Annie Sprinkle Beth Stephens)

In the early 1980s, the gay communities in Chicago and Indianapolis noticed that men started disappearing. Many of these...
09/25/2026

In the early 1980s, the gay communities in Chicago and Indianapolis noticed that men started disappearing. Many of these men were involved in the leather scene in one of these cities, and a description and call for action began to be circulated in the local gay press - most notably The Works from Indianapolis and Chicago’s Gay Life. Well before police began investigating, these local papers investigated, published a sketch and details of the crime ans demanded the crimes be investigated. Eventually, these murders would be linked to serial killer Larry Eyler.
Want to learn more? Join us this Sunday at 10 AM with Read & Run Chicago for a running tour and discussion with Gera-Lind Kolarik, author of Freed to Kill: The True Story of Serial Murderer Larry Eyler.
Ge**er/Hart staff will bring a display of materials from 1980s Chicago including travel guides, leather bar memorabilia, and gay press coverage showing how the gay press in Chicago and Indianapolis fought to alert their communities of the dangers of Eyler well before police took action.
Join Gera-Lind on a 3.6-mile running tour or biking tour of the chilling true crime history documented in her book. After the route, hear a live Q&A with Gera-Lind Kolarik, browse archives, and shop for books with our bookstore partner, Partners in Crime Bookshop.
Prefer not to bike or run? Purchase a pay-what-you-can ticket for the Q&A, archive viewing, and book sales only.
Purchase tickets from Read & Run Chicago or at the link in our stories - see you Sunday!
Read & Run Chicago™️ Tahnee Lacey (she/her) Haymarket House Partners in Crime Bookshop BFF Bikes New Balance

Address

Chicago, IL

Opening Hours

Wednesday 6pm - 9pm
Thursday 6pm - 9pm
Friday 12pm - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+17733818030

Website

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