Frequently Asked Questions About PNLA

Q:  How long has PNLA been around?
A:  PNLA was founded in 2006.

Q:  Are you affiliated with any other groups?
A:  Our sister groups are the Lesbian Herstory Archives in Brooklyn, NY; the June Mazer Lesbian Archives in West Hollywood, CA; and the Ohio Lesbian Archives, in Cincinnati, OH. We also work closely with many GLBTQ organizations in the Seattle area.

Q:  Is PNLA part of the Northwest Lesbian & Gay History Museum Project?
A:  No. The History Project aims to educate the public about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history. The PNLA aims to collect, preserve and share lesbian archival memorabilia.

Q:  Do you have a location? What are your hours?
A:  We are now housed at the Washington State Historical Society museum in Tacoma, WA. Please contact Ed Nolan in Special Collections for an appointment: or phone: (253) 798-5917

Q:  What kinds of services does PNLA offer?
A:  We provide consultations to community groups and individuals. We do speaking engagements and talk to people about the importance of saving their personal herstories. We will soon have a travel-ready display to tote around to other Pride festivals in the Pacific Northwest.

Support PNLA

Q:  How can I get involved?
A:  Please call (206)654-4477 or send us an e-mail for more information. We appreciate volunteer help with collections, administration, events, research and outreach. We are also happy to provide training so that you may develop your interests. Please check out our Volunteer section for more information.

Q:  Can I donate money?
A:  Yes. The PNLA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible. Please use the Donate Button on the right side of the page to donate via PayPal.

About our Collections

Q:  What kinds of things are you collecting?
A:  Materials that document lesbian life in the Pacific Northwest – mostly Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho and southwestern British Columbia.

Q:  Can I send you my old issues of Lesbian Connection, On Our Backs or Off Our Backs?
A:  No, thank you. Those organizations already keep full runs of their publications.

Q:  What are the date ranges of things you already have?
A:  We have many records form the 1970s and a handful of personal memorabilia from earlier decades. We hope to collect more materials that show us what lesbians were doing before the 1970’s.

Q:  Are you looking for books?
A:  Maybe. If books relate specifically to lesbians in the Pacific Northwest, or were produced regionally, we collect them. If books are from small presses or are rare or hand-made by lesbians in the Pacific Northwest, we collect them.

Q:  What about all my women’s music record albums?
A:  At this time, we have all the LPs we need. Please contact a one of the women’s music archives listed here: http://www.varoregistry.com/articles/centers.html

Q:  What about all my photos from Pride celebrations past?
A:  If they are within the context of your life and document something important to you, the Archives is interested in collecting them.

Q:  What about all the stuff I have from LGBTQ or gay and lesbian organizations or things not specifically from lesbian groups?
A:  If the group was/is primarily lesbian-led, please consider donating it to PNLA. If the group was mainly led by men, it is not within our collection scope, but we can help find a home for what you have. Please call us to discuss your collection.