In This Issue:

GOHI Moving Full Steam Ahead
GOHI Across Ohio
GOHI Elects Board of Trustees and Adopts Bylaws
GOHI Celebrates LGBT Ohioans during Gay History Month
The GOHI Collection at OHS - now accepting donations
LGBT Ohio History: coming soon to a city near you
Giving in 2008
GOHI’s Generous Donors

GOHI Moving Full Steam Ahead

In 2007, GOHI filled a leadership need to protect the history of Ohio’s GLBT community. GOHI is working to preserve, archive, and curate the history and culture of the GLBT citizens of Ohio, to tell the truth about our lives, to create opportunities for understanding of both the past and what is hoped for in the future, to share GLBT culture and history with all Ohioans, and to encourage us to savor our existence.

LGBT Ohioans have reason to be proud of our lives, and to savor our history and culture. Our lives, our history, and our culture are worthy of preservation, and GOHI is working to make that happen.

The Latest News:

On May 9, 2007 the Ohio Historical Society hosted the monthly Network Columbus event with a focus on GOHI.  Over 150 people attended to learn about GOHI, view some historical GLBT memorabilia and learn about the GOHI endowment.  At the event, GOHI founder Malcolm Riggle pledged a $15,000 leadership matching gift and community leader Lynn Greer pledged the proceeds from the auction of a stay at her vacation home to GOHI and the Legacy Fund.  Many others followed suit; to date the GOHI endowment has gifts and pledges totaling nearly $37,000.  Thank you to everyone who gave generously. If you would like to make a donation, visit http://www.ohiohistorystore.com/donation.aspx

GOHI Across Ohio

In 2007, GOHI representatives traveled around Ohio to visit other collections of Ohio-related GLBT materials at colleges, libraries and other sites.  GOHI used these visits to learn about these wonderful collections and explore possible future collaboration opportunities in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Bowling Green.  In the fall of 2007, GOHI board members traveled to the Ray and Pat Browne Library for Popular Culture Studies at Bowling Green State University, The Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland and the Ohio Lesbian Archive in Cincinnati.

GOHI Elects Board of Trustees and Adopts Bylaws

In August 2007 GOHI adopted a set of bylaws to guide its efforts and in September 2007 GOHI elected a Board of Trustees, Officers, Committee Chairs and Committee members.

CLICK HERE for a list of the new GOHI Board of Trustees

GOHI Celebrates LGBT Ohioans during Gay History Month

October was Gay History Month, and GOHI celebrated the lives of LGBT Ohioans in a number of ways. The display, “Ohio Pride,” was shown at the main branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library throughout October. Additionally, a series of articles about LGBT Ohioans, GOHI, and GOHI’s work was published in Outlook Weekly.  These articles are also available at www.gohi.org.

“Ohio Pride” showcases notable LGBT Ohioans, including Michael Cunningham, Barbara Grier, Mary Oliver, Agnes Moorehead, Paul Lynde, Berenice Abbott, Elizabeth Birch, and Natalie Clifford Barney. The display demonstrates the breadth of LGBT talents and contributions; we are photographers, architects, writers, directors, attorneys, activists, philosophers, publishers, actors, and composers.

The GOHI Collection at OHS – now accepting donations

The GOHI collection at the Ohio Historical Society contains a wide range of artifacts.

Recent donations include:

Manuscripts and ephemera related to the H.I.S. Kings drag king troupe based in Columbus and the International Drag King Extravaganza.  The collection includes programs, advertisements and news clippings.

Items donated by the Flaggots Ohio, a GLBTA color guard based in Columbus including performance flags, performance DVDs and photographs.
DVDs of the 2006 and 2007 GLBT Stonewall Columbus Pride Celebration History Panels, the 1982 Pride Parade, and the 1985 Stonewall Columbus-commissioned documentary You Can Fight City Hall.

Do you have photographs, documents and artifacts related to Ohio GLBT Pride events and other aspects of GLBT life?  Potential collections items may include diaries, family photographs or moving images.  Click here to complete the Donate Items Form.

LGBT Ohio History: coming soon to a city near you

GOHI is planning a multi-phase project to educate Ohioans and raise awareness about LGBT citizens and our place in the fabric of the history of our state.

The work of the GOHI Exhibit Committee will include:
a display detailing the lives and accomplishments of notable LGBT Ohioans;
the collection of oral histories from LGBT Ohioans;
“Photo Fairs” to digitize photographs and create an archive of LGBT Ohio history;
a touring exhibition incorporating artifacts of LGBT Ohio history.
The project will need support and assistance to collect artifacts and oral histories, staff Photo Fairs, plan and create displays, and secure funding.  If you would like to get involved please contact Cory Skurdal, GOHI Exhibit Committee Chair, at coryskurdal@yahoo.com.

Giving in 2008

The start of a new year is a good time to think about your philanthropic priorities and making a tax-deductible gift to a charitable organization of your choice. In 2008, we ask that you consider adding GOHI to your gift list and ensure that the history of all Ohioans is preserved for future generations.

All gifts to GOHI are fully tax-deductible and may be sent to the Ohio Historical Society. The Society manages the GOHI endowment and accepts gifts directed to GOHI’s work. Gifts can be sent c/o The Office of Institutional Advancement, Ohio Historical Society, 1982 Velma Avenue, Columbus, OH 43211 or made online at http://www.ohiohistorystore.com/donation.aspx. If you are interested in making a gift in honor or memory of a friend or loved one, or if you are interested in learning more about planned giving opportunities please contact the Ohio Historical Society Office of Institutional Advancement at 800.647.6921.

Your gift to GOHI will ensure that the history of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Ohioans is preserved and protected - not only for those who lived it, but also for future generations who will make history.

Please join us in thanking GOHI’s Generous Donors

GOHI Leadership - Matching Gift of $15,000

Malcolm Riggle

Founding Funders - Gift of $1,000 to $2,500

Kate Anderson and Beth Hingsbergen
Randy Arndt and Jeff Baker
Deb Ballam
Rob Berger and Glenn Rondo
Anne Casto and Susan White
Sheila Clark and Elizabeth Boster
Michael Council
Robert Eblin and Cory Skurdal
Equality Ohio
Lynn Greer
Robert Haverkamp and B. Scott Sanchez
Chris Hayes
Fred Holdridge
Kelly Jaeger
Legacy Fund
Karla Rothan and Linda Schuler
Steve Shellabarger
Jeff Smith

Generous Benefactors - Gift of $100 to $999

Norman Anderson and Tim Gardner
William Brownson and Myron Phillips
Crazy Otter, LLC
Sharon Croft
Theresa L. Carter
Meral Crane
Jim Daley
Steven D. Farrell and Chad Kessler
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Feeney
David Hogrefe
Mary Ann Horton
Orn Huntington
Dr. and Mrs. William K. Laidlaw
Pamela N. Maggied Co., LPA
Andy Miller
Terry Penrod
Stonewall Columbus
Rachel Tooker
Pat Semmelman
Winifred Weeks
Douglas Whaley
Thomas Wilson

Supporting Donors - Gift of $25 to $99

Dorrie and Karen L. Andermills
Kathryn Cooper
Linda Cox
Wanda Ellis
William J. Fillipp
Patrick Gallaway
Suzanne and Theresa Garrett-Bell
Barbara R. Gingras and Cindy Royce
Mary H. Gray
Phillip and Rose Kuceyeski
Stacia Kuceyeski
E. Randall Loop
Mary Martineau
Jennifer McNally and Michael Flamm
Vincent A. Notaroberto
Fred Rector
Jonathan Sadler
Bruce Shalter
Charles Weinsteger

Join these visionary community leaders and make a donation to GOHI.  Donations can be made in two ways – by visiting the Ohio Historical Society website at  www.ohiohistorystore.com/donation.aspx you can make a donation online using a credit or debit card. You can also make a donation by sending a check or money order to Ohio Historical Society, c/o GOHI, 1982 Velma Avenue, Columbus, Ohio.  Please note in the memo section of the check that your donation is for GOHI.  If you have questions or require assistance regarding your donation, please contact the Ohio Historical Society Office of Institutional Advancement at 800.647.6921.