Stonewall National Museum, Archives, & Library

The Stonewall Library began in Hollywood, Florida in 1973 as a collection of LGBTQIA+ books gathered by founder Mark Silber, a student at Florida Atlantic University. Silber housed the collection on a shelf in his parent’s home that he dubbed “Stonewall” a name he took from the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City which is believed to have precipitated the modern gay rights movement. As the collection outgrew Silber’s home, it was moved to the Metropolitan Community Church, where church members began borrowing books on an honor system.  

The organization was incorporated and granted tax exempt status in 1999 when it began to collect archival materials that outlined LGBTQIA+ history from South Florida residents. In 2009, the organization changed its doing-business-as name to Stonewall National Museum & Archives to reflect the emphasis on not only preserving LGBTQIA+ history, but also sharing it in a museum setting, and relocated to its current 4,000 square foot space in Fort Lauderdale.  

Today the Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library is one of the oldest LGBTQIA+ organizations in the United States. It is one of the top three archives in the country and has the largest LGBTQIA+ lending library in the world.        

Stonewall’s purpose is to ensure that history and culture, in context, is easily available and accessible, while ensuring every story is told. Our purpose, which corresponds to our vision and mission, is to provide accurate history so all can be informed and prepared to take on the responsibilities of good citizenship and best represent our LGBTQIA+ community at home, across the nation, and around the world.

At Stonewall, we call attention to the LGBTQIA+ way of life, our culture, our history, and put it in perspective. Knowledge is power and knowledge is what comprises our exhibits, library, and archives.

There is a marked lack of representation of LGBTQIA+ stories in history. Like other marginalized groups and minorities, the LGBTQIA+ community’s contributions and accomplishments were often not recognized or documented in the history books. The history of the LGBTQIA+ people was many times overlooked, misrepresented, or deliberately excluded. The key to understanding is increasing the visibility of these stories and to make the information accessible to all members of the community and visitors alike.

Through Stonewall’s exhibitions and programs, LGBTQIA+ individuals can learn about their own history and culture which can be a transformative experience and non-LGBTQIA+ individuals have the chance to learn about the LGBTQIA+ experience, gain awareness and understanding which will helps to break down barriers and foster acceptance.    

The Stonewall Library remains the largest LGBTQIA+ collection in the world, visited by thousands each year with over 29,000 LGBTQ books of fiction, non-fiction, biography, and art.

In our Archive, we have more than 2,700 linear feet of documents, totaling more than 6 million individual pages. Additionally, Stonewall has more than 2,000 objects of critical importance to gay history—mostly from the last 50 years. Items from our vast collection regularly form an integral part of exhibitions nationwide. While our collections are significant, we work to assure the histories of all within the LGBTQIA+ community, cross all races and ethnicities.

The Stonewall National Education Program (SNEP), now entering its 10th year, supports LGBTQIA+ youth, convening an annual symposium, and training program for teachers and school administrators, ensuring emotional and educational success of LGBTQIA+ students and to integrate thoughtful LGBTQIA+ history and accomplishments into the curriculum. In this anniversary year we are introducing a half-day seminar for concerned parents and community leaders.