Sharing Voices of our History
South Jersey
Lesbian Oral
History Project
A community based project with the purpose of gathering and preserving the stories of senior South Jersey lesbians.
Those who came of age in the "bad old days" of the 1970s and 1980s remember a time of deep isolation, followed by the hard-won move into visibility.
By telling these stories, we trace the profound changes that occurred within one lifetime changes that allow younger lesbians to marry, have children, and live openly in the suburbs.
Our Commitment to Care
Ethical responsibility is central to this project. We recognize that LGBTQ+ histories often involve experiences of risk, loss, and vulnerability. Trust is not assumed—it is earned. We approach every interview with respect, patience, and gratitude. Read more about our commitment to Ethics, Trust and Privacy.
Why This Project Exists
The purpose of this work is to gather and preserve the stories of senior South Jersey lesbians. Those who came of age in the "bad old days" of the 1970s and 1980s remember a time of deep isolation, followed by the hard-won move into visibility. By telling these stories, we trace the profound changes that occurred within one lifetime changes that allow younger lesbians to marry, have children, and live openly in the suburbs.
The edited collection will create a historical record for educational, research, and archival use. The collection will ultimately be published in both printed and audio form linked on this website. If you participate, you will receive a printed copy to share as you see fit with family and friends.
What is an Oral History?
An oral history is a recorded conversation in which a person reflects on their life experiences in their own words. Rather than summarizing or interpreting
someone's story, oral history centers the narrator's voice, memory, and perspective.
Oral histories are preserved so future listeners and viewers can understand not just what happened, but how it felt to live through a particular time and place.
Why Long-Form
Interviews Matter
Why Audio?
Audio preserves voice, emotion, pauses, laughter, and regional speech elements that carry meaning beyond words.
Audio ensures these histories are preserved not just as information, but as lived experience.
Long-form interviews allow stories to unfold naturally. Over time, memories surface, context deepens, and trust grows between interviewer and narrator. This approach captures complexity—joy, fear, contradiction, humor-that short interviews often miss.
For lesbian history in particular, long-form interviews are essential. Many experiences were shaped by silence, secrecy, or stigma, and require time and care to be fully expressed.