Calgary and southern Alberta’s 2SLGBTQIA+ communities have stories worth telling—and the Royal Alberta Museum wants to help preserve them for future generations.
The Royal Alberta Museum (RAM) is reaching out to queer Albertans, asking them to consider donating objects, memorabilia, and personal treasures that reflect our community’s rich and diverse history.
Julia Rudko, Assistant Curator of Daily Life & Leisure, explains that the museum launched this initiative after recognizing significant gaps in its collection. Much of what the museum currently holds focuses on gay male activism in Edmonton from the 1980s through the 2000s. But Alberta queer history is so much bigger than that!
From Calgary’s early queer social scene and gay bars to community gatherings, Pride celebrations, and everyday life, countless stories deserve to be remembered.
The museum has already received some wonderful donations, but it hopes to connect with more people in Calgary and southern Alberta.
And that’s where you come in!
Do you have old Pride memorabilia, buttons, clothing, photographs of meaningful objects, drag costumes, community keepsakes, or other items tucked away in a closet or basement?
Something that seems ordinary to you could become an important piece of Alberta’s queer history.
The museum is particularly interested in physical objects rather than paper-based archival materials, which are generally referred to the Provincial Archives of Alberta.
There are no immediate exhibition plans, but building these collections today will help ensure that future generations understand the diversity, resilience, joy, and everyday experiences of queer Albertans.
Our history belongs to all of us, and preserving it starts with us.
If you have something that might help tell our story, reach out to the Royal Alberta Museum to discuss a possible donation.
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