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GWS 2010: LGBT Studies

Archival Sources

Search Terms and Historical Texts

Language can change drastically over time. Many primary source collections have simple search engines that look for your exact words in the text; synonyms are not automatically included and subject-searching capabilities are limited. Because of this, sometimes offensive slurs are the best way to find primary source materials.

Some historical search terms are:

  • female or male impersonator
  • sodomite
  • pervert
  • sapphist
  • uranian
  • faggot
  • molly/molly house
  • transvestite

Autobiographies