Missouri history museum acquiring collection of gay artifacts

The St Louis Post Dispatch ^ | 12/2/13 | David Hunn

[armydawg505]

ST. LOUIS • In the basement of a Kirkwood home, one man has steadily stacked an old kitchen table with 60 years of gay history.

Steven Brawley started collecting years ago: Drag queen dresses, leather vests, handwritten protest signs, Pride Parade T-shirts, and books by talk-show host Andy Cohen.

Now he’s giving it all away.

The Missouri History Museum is on the brink of the region’s first mainstream queer collection initiative. And museum officials are eyeing Brawley’s hoard as the effort’s first major acquisition.

“Sometimes things are happening right before our very eyes,” said museum curator Sharon Smith, who is spearheading the project. The museum, she said, is tasked with tracking those events — regardless of their politics — and preserving them for generations to come.

[armydawg505]

I wonder if they will litter the floor with used condoms, talk about how many random encounters gay men have had, talk about the restrooms they hang in waiting for more contacts? I suspect these items will be presented in the same glorious context other gay issues are presented.

[gop4lyf]

Too easy.

[Obadiah]

And please, “Do not touch the artifacts.”

[Uncle Chip]

The worst part is that they are going to buy it from him as if there is a market or demand for the kind of cr*p he has.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Everyone Should Know These Statistics on Homosexuals

[Venturer]

A Museum for queers.

Well Kiss my ass.

Wait, Hold it. I didn’t mean that.

I assume they will have a collection of Snap-On Tools.

[Army Air Corps]

They are going to buy this crap from him? Usually, material is donated outright, but the museum is going to pay good money for this junk?

[fhayek]

Kind of guess new meaning to “the show-me state”.

[niteowl77]

“Sometimes things are happening right before our very eyes,” said museum curator Sharon Smith, who is spearheading the project. The museum, she said, is tasked with tracking those events — regardless of their politics — and preserving them for generations to come.

Oh, without a doubt.

In any event, I expect the restroom renovations will be to die for.

Mr. niteowl77

[Hardastarboard]

Good post, and good information to have.

[Nifster]

a ‘gay’ artifact??? since when do artifacts have a sexuality????

[x]

I guess the “Show Me State” is now the “I’ll Show You Mine If You Show Me Yours State.”

[HapaxLegamenon]

Wasn’t Kirkwood the home of Michael Devin?

[shove_it]

"... museum curator Sharon Smith, who is spearheading the project..."

No photos please.

[februus]

My I suggest calling it the Rahm & Barack Museum of Unnatural History...

[Vasilli22]

[BenLurkin]

[tumblindice]

How much of this stuff was felched—I mean, filched.

[Alex Murphy]

Drag queen dresses, leather vests, handwritten protest signs, Pride Parade T-shirts, and books by talk-show host Andy Cohen

One man's trash is another man's trash. The only difference is the value assigned to it.