Founded in 1981, Gerber/Hart Library and Archives seeks to collect, preserve, and make accessible the history and culture of LGBTQ+ communities in Chicago and the Midwest to advance the larger goal of achieving justice and equality. Three core purposes define our work: We operate a free, public, lending library of books, ebooks, and audiovisual media that document and represent the richly varied histories and cultures of LGBTQ+ individuals and communities in the United States, with a geographic emphasis on Chicago and the Midwest. We acquire, preserve, and make accessible, both at our physical location and online, an ever-growing archive of primary source material, in a variety of formats, that documents these histories. And we offer a broad range of accessible public programs that explore and celebrate this history and culture, including exhibits, lectures, panel discussions, film screenings, and more.

Open to everyone, Gerber/Hart is dedicated to promoting research, learning, exploration, and discovery in a safe and welcoming atmosphere that reflects the diversity of the communities that it serves. Volunteers have always been at the heart of our organization, and we continue to center community involvement and leadership in everything we do.