Digital Transgender Archive

Pictured: black and white illustration of Joan Jett Blakk wearing a black hat, floral dress, beaded necklace, and hoop earrings. Her face is turned towards the left side of the page, and she stands with her hands on her hips. The title is printed above her head: “THING” in block letters and “She Knows Who She Is” in smaller font. On the left margin of the page: “ILLUSTRATION Bubblehead por-trit of Joan Jett Blakk by Lee Kay.”

Promotional graphic for Thing magazine with illustration of Joan Jett Blakk, drag queen activist & political candidate (early 1990s).
For more info about this item, please visit the DTA via the link in our story/bio. Image courtesy of Louise Lawrence Trans Archive.
#TransHistory #BlackHistoryMonth

Pictured: colored photo of Marsha sitting in a white chair and wearing a pink floral dress and floral, beaded headpiece. A person to her right, wearing a teal blue shirt and jeans, smiles and wraps his arms around her shoulders. The two sit in the corner of a room with white brick walls and a window with the shades drawn behind them. The date is tagged on the bottom right corner of the photo: “8 24 ’ 90.”

Photograph of Marsha P. Johnson at her birthday party, being embraced by a friend (1990).
For more information about this item, please visit the DTA via the link in our story/bio. Image courtesy of the LGBT Community Center in NYC.
#TransHistory #TransIsBeautiful #DTA #BlackHistoryMonth

Pictured: colored Polaroid photo of Leigh Angelique wearing a curly updo hairstyle and gold and black floral dress. She stands with one arm resting up against a wall and looks back over her shoulder at the camera.

Photo of Leigh Angelique, a member of the house of Sweet Evening Breeze in Lexington, Kentucky (1971).
For more information about this item, please visit the DTA via the link in our story/bio. Image courtesy of Faulker Morgan Archive.
#TransHistory #TransIsBeautiful #DTA #BlackHistoryMonth

Pictured: black and white photograph of Stormé wearing a dark sweater, pants, and boots, sitting on a stool and leaning back onto a bar with head resting in hand. On the bottom left of the page, the photo is labeled “Copy 1,” “Stormé DeLarverié, – New York, NY.” On the bottom right, the photo is signed “Robert Giard,” “1999/2000.”

Photo of Stormé DeLarverié, drag king, activist, and Stonewall veteran, posing for Polaroid photo in New York (1999).
For more information about this item, please visit the DTA via the link in our story/bio. Image courtesy of NY Public Library.
#TransHistory #TransIsBeautiful #BlackHistoryMonth

Pictured: black and white photograph of two people posed, mid-dance, in front of a white background. The person on the left wears a suit jacket, striped pants, and top hat, leaning back in a wide stance and glancing at their partner. The person on the right wears a long dress and feathered hat, looking down at their partner and fluttering a fan. On the top left corner is a French postal stamp. On the bottom of the photo is a label: “LE CAKE-WALK,” “Danse au Nouveau Cirque. LES NEGRES.”

Postcard of Jack Brown (right) and Charles Gregory (left), performers who danced the Cakewalk in “Les Joyeux Nègres” at the Nouveau Cirque in Paris (ca. 1902).
For more information about this item, please visit the DTA via the link in our story/bio.
#TransHistory #DTA #BlackHistoryMonth

Pictured: colored polaroid photo of Cocoa in short peach dress and pearl necklace, being held by one person in white overalls (left) and one person in a striped shirt and green pants (right). Her arms are wrapped around her companions’ shoulders, and they are standing in front of a storefront window.

Photo of Cocoa Rodriguez being lifted up by two friends, taken during NYC Pride (1995).
For more information about this item, please visit the DTA via the link in our story/bio. Image courtesy of Louise Lawrence Transgender Archive.
#TransHistory #TransIsBeautiful #DTA #BlackHistoryMonth

Pictured: cover of zine printed on green paper, with heading “Evil Taco: An Unauthorized Biography” on top and subtitle “(Everything you’ve always wanted to know about Vaginal Creme Davis but were too tired to ask…)” in the bottom left corner. In the middle of the page is a close-up image of Vaginal Davis wearing winged eyeliner. The price is printed in the bottom right corner: “Can. $14.95” and “U.S.A. $12.95.”

Evil Taco zine, featuring an interview with visual and performance artist Vaginal Creme Davis (ca. 1982-1992).
For more info about this item, please visit the DTA via the link in our story/bio. Image courtesy of Louise Lawrence Transgender Archive.
#TransHistory #TransIsBeautiful #BlackHistoryMonth

Pictured: black and white photograph of Sir Lady Java in a white dress, holding a picket sign reading “Java vs Right to Work” and smiling towards the camera. She stands with other protestors outside a nightclub, under a “Redd Foxx” building sign. The owner, Redd Foxx, stands next to her with his arms outreached, gesturing towards the protest.

Photo of Sir Lady Java and Redd Foxx protesting Rule No. 9 in Los Angeles, which prohibited trans people from working in entertainment venues (1967).
For more info about this item, please visit the DTA via the link in our story/bio. Image courtesy of Transas City.
#TransHistory #BlackHistoryMonth

Pictured: colored photograph of nine people sitting on couches in a living room. From left to right: person wearing a brown dress, person wearing a light blue dress, person wearing a black shirt, person wearing a white shirt and black skirt, person wearing a white dress, person wearing a white shirt and gray pants, person wearing a black shirt and red and black plaid skirt, person wearing a black shirt and black and white plaid skirt, person wearing a blue dress. On top of the photograph, “Playgirl Club,” “First House Party,” “11-12-61.” On the bottom of the photograph, “Felicity, Karen, Vicki, Pamela, Lee, Nick, Pat, Marie, Suzanna.”

Photo of Felicity Chandelle (far left) and members of the Playgirl Club, a social group of self-identified crossdressers who gathered in Poughkeepsie, NY (1961).
For more info about this item, please visit the DTA via the link in our story/bio. Image courtesy of LGBT Center NYC.
#TransHistory #DTA

Pictured: black and white photograph of two people standing in the street during a parade, with a crowd of people standing behind them. One person wears a long dress with black feathers and white dots, with a matching cape and large hood over her head. A small paper sign reading “GAY is BEAUTIFUL” is pinned to her dress. The other person wears jeans, a dark jacket, and white collar, and looks down at the sign.

Photograph of two participants at San Francisco Gay Day Parade, one with a sign reading “Gay is Beautiful” (1977).
For more information about this item, please visit the DTA via the link in our story/bio. Image courtesy of @glbt_history.
#TransHistory #TransIsBeautiful #DTA

Collage of six black and white photographs, depicting groups of people smiling, hugging, and posing, superimposed into white polaroid frames over a grayish blue background. Looseleaf paper decals frame the top and bottom of the page, and "Happy 10 Years!" is written in blue front in the bottom left corner.

This week marks the official 10 year anniversary of the DTA’s launch! For more info about our project & the milestones reached over the past decade, head to our website to find the DTA Story.
Thank you again for all of your support! 🏳️‍⚧️🎉
#TransHistory #TransIsBeautiful #DTA

Pictured: colored photograph of a person with blonde hair, wearing a red dress with sheer puffy sleeves and a metallic bodice underneath. She is standing in front of a curtain and holds her right arm up, lifting a long cigarette holder and posing with her chin turned up towards her right.

Photo of Countess Estelle, a female impersonator working in the Seattle drag scene, posing and performing (c. 1970s).
For more information about this item, please visit the DTA via the link in our story/bio. Image courtesy of University of Washington library.
#TransHistory #TransIsBeautiful #DTA

Pictured: promotional flyer with colored photo of two people, one sitting and another standing behind. The person in the back wears a white curly wig, frilly undershirt, black vest, brooch with a yellow tassel, pearl necklaces, and a gold and black cape, holding a staff. The person in front wears a white wig with a blue feather plume, blue choker necklace, orange dress with a blue underskirt, pearl necklaces, and white gloves.

Flyer for Night of a Thousand Gowns, a charity ball hosted by the Imperial Court of New York (1992).
For more information about this item, please visit the DTA via the link in our story/bio. Image courtesy of the LGBT Community Center.
#TransHistory #TransIsBeautiful #DTA

Pictured: black and white author photograph of Red Jordan Arobateau, wearing a suit jacket and resting his chin on his hand with a pensive expression on his face, his eyes directed away from the camera.

The Red Jordan Arobateau Collection is now available on the DTA, courtesy of the Transgender Archives at UVic!
For further insight into this collection, check out Episode 2 of our podcast, Kindred Transmissions, where we explore Red’s life, art, & legacy.
#TransHistory #TransIsBeautiful #DTA

Pictured: magazine article with pencil-drawn illustration of a gray masculine figure encased within a blue, expressionless, feminine figure. Above the drawing reads “Female-to-male transexuals” in black font, with caption “Illustrations: Mark E. Van Epps” on the left border. Under the drawing, the title “The Man Inside” is printed in blue, with “By Canary Conn” in black underneath.

Article from Playgirl Advisor magazine (1977). Author Canary Conn, a transwoman, discusses the transition experiences of several transmen.
For more information about this item, please visit the DTA via the link in our story/bio. Image courtesy of JD Doyle Archives.
#TransHistory #TransIsBeautiful

Pictured: album cover with orange background and writing in shades of blue, green, pink, and yellow. “Jackie Shane Live!” is written in bubble-like lettering, with a photo of Jackie performing in the S. On the bottom of the record sleeve, the song list: “Dual Trumpet Bounce,” “High Heel Sneakers,” “Knock on Wood,” “Money,” “Raindrops,” “You’re the One,” “Don’t Play That Song,” “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag,” “Any Other Way.”

Record sleeve for “Jackie Shane Live,” American R&B singer prominent in the Toronto soul music scene of the 1960s (1967).
For more information about this item, please visit the DTA via the link in our story/bio. Image courtesy of JD Doyle Archives.
#TransHistory #TransIsBeautiful #DTA

Pictured: postcard with black and white photograph of two people in a garden setting. One wears a long white dress, sitting on a bench, while the other wears a black suit jacket, standing behind the woman and looking down with a hand on her shoulder. In the top left is a red stamp from the French Republic with an image of a woman. On the bottom of the card, from left to right: “1007,” “Amourette Louis XV _ Marquis, vous n'êtes pas sage!,” “S.I.P.”

Postcard with photo narrative of 18th-cent. seduction scene, belonging to series of crossdressing postcards entitled Amourette Louis XV (c. 1900).
For more info about this item, please visit the DTA via the link in our story/bio. Image courtesy of Rare Cornell.
#TransHistory #TransIsBeautiful #DTA

Pictured: magazine cover with photo of model wearing gold and pink beaded headdress, dangling red jewel earrings, and a matching red choker necklace. Her face is turned to the upper left corner of the page. The magazine title, “Female Mimics International: The Original Magazine For Men Who Enjoy Dressing Like Women” is printed in yellow at the top left of page, with “Volume 12 Number 4, NO. 12” underneath in pink. The headlines are listed on the left margin of the page: “An Interview with Haley Tiresius: A Unique Twist in Crossdressing,” “What Lies Behind the Black Mystique!,” “Grand Opening of a New TV Shopping Center,” “High Heeled & Daring Danielle,” and “Brandy Alexander: Beloved Friend 1943–1982 * An Editor’s Special Note.” In the bottom right is a purple decal with “New Revised Personal Ad Section.”

Cover of Female Mimics International magazine, Vol. 12 No. 4 (1982), featuring Haley Tiresius.
For more information about this item, please visit the DTA via the link in our story/bio. Image courtesy of @americaintransition.
#TransHistory #TransIsBeautiful #DTA

Pictured: pink poster with photograph of Connie Norman, wearing sunglasses and raising her left fist. Printed on the poster is “CONNIE NORMAN” centered at the top of the page and “AIDS DIVA 1949-1996” centered on the bottom.

Today we commemorate World AIDS Day, a day of remembrance, recognition, and resilience since its inception in 1988. Spotlighted here is a poster of “AIDS Diva” Connie Norman, known for her work through ACT UP/LA.
Image courtesy of ONE Archives at USC.
#TransHistory #TransIsBeautiful #WorldAIDSDay

Pictured: colored photograph of group of people walking through a city street, many dressed in feathered regalia and headpieces. The parade-goers’ backs are turned to the camera, and one person carries an American flag. Along the left edge of the street, a group of people stand and sit, watching. On the right is a blue barricade and a person holding a camera.

Photo of Two-Spirit people marching in New York City Pride Parade, wearing ceremonial regalia (1991).
For more information about this item, please visit the DTA via the link in our story/bio. Image courtesy of @uwinnipeg.bsky.social
#TransHistory #TransIsBeautiful #DTA

Pictured: scan of four colored Polaroid photos. Top left: empty bottles lined in an oblong shape, with flowers piled in the middle. Top right: three people crouching next to the memorial with their heads bowed. Bottom left: person bending at the waist and arranging the flowers, while three people lean against a parking barrier in the background. Bottom right: two people crouching next to the memorial with another person standing nearby and another leaning against a parking barrier in the background

On Transgender Day of Remembrance, we honor the lives taken by transphobic violence. This day is credited to Gwendolyn Smith, who started the tradition in 1999 with a vigil for Rita Hester. Pictured is an earlier vigil for Marsha P. Johnson (1992).
Courtesy of NYC LGBT Center.
#TransHistory #TDOR

Pictured: graphic of open notebook on light blue background, with “Happy Trans Awareness Week” written on a piece of lined paper, secured with a paperclip. Three black and white photos are taped to the page — from top to bottom: Phyllis Frye attending a dinner party, Sylvia Rivera holding a banner that reads “And God created he and she but he also created me!,” and an autographed photo of Sir Lady Java wearing a fringe gown. “#DTA” and #TransWeek” is written on the bottom left of the page. The paper is also decorated with transgender flag stickers and star doodles.

Happy Transgender Awareness Week! This week is dedicated to trans advocacy, remembrance, and pride.
The DTA is committed, year-round, to celebrating the stories of transgender people, honoring trans histories to secure better trans futures.
#TransHistory #DTA #TransWeek #TransAwarenessWeek

Pictured: colored photograph of Micheline Johnson, Mike Camp, and Rupert Raj sitting left to right on a brown couch with a red cushion. Micheline has red hair and wears a white shirt and blue skirt. Mike has blonde hair and wears a black shirt and black pants. Both of them are drinking from tea cups. Rupert wears a white suit with black bowtie and black pants, smiling for the camera with his hands resting on his knees.

Photo of Rupert Raj with Micheline Johnson & Mike Camp (1974). For more insight into Raj’s life & legacy, check out Ep 3 of our podcast, Kindred Transmissions!
For more info about this item, please visit the DTA via the link in our story/bio. Image courtesy of @thearquives.
#TransHistory #DTA

Please also consider filling out our Google Form, linked in our bio, for our 10th Anniversary Celebration! We will be sharing responses on our website and social media, but all answers will remain anonymous. Thank you for your continuous support!

Pictured:magazine cover with “TRANSVESTIA” printed in red ink at the top of the page and a red lattice pattern with flower decals running up the left margin of the page. Underneath the title is a black and white photograph of Lili, angled towards the left side of the page and smiling for the camera. She wears a qipao and pearl necklace. Underneath the photo is a red banner with "No. 48. 1967" in black ink.

Cover of Vol. 8 No. 48 of Transvestia magazine, featuring cover girl Lili (December 1967).
For more information about this item, please visit the DTA via the link in our story/bio. Image courtesy of Transgender Archives at UVic.
#TransHistory #TransIsBeautiful #DTA

Please also consider filling out our Google Form, linked in our bio, for our 10th Anniversary Celebration! We will be sharing responses on our website and social media, but all answers will remain anonymous. Thank you for your continuous support!

Pictured: colored photograph of two people smoking cigarettes and sitting at a small table with glasses of beer, positioned in front of a chalk mural. The person on the left wears a light blue dress with a bow around the waist, a black choker necklace, black gloves, and blue eyeshadow, smiling towards something outside of the frame. The person on the right wears a yellow dress, a brown fur shrug, a pearl necklace, and red lipstick, looking at the camera with a neutral expression.

Hope you enjoyed your Halloween! Photo of two people at a Halloween party at the Fallen Angel, a now-closed gay bar in Los Angeles (1970).
For more info about this item, please visit the DTA via the link in our story/bio. Image courtesy of ONE Archives at USC.
#TransHistory #TransIsBeautiful #DTA

Please also consider filling out our Google Form, linked in our bio, for our 10th Anniversary Celebration! We will be sharing responses on our website and social media, but all answers will remain anonymous. Thank you for your continuous support!

Pictured: colored photograph of a white truck driving down a city street with a crowd of people in the background. Connie sits on top of the truck, smoking a cigarette and wearing a black bikini top with pearls draping down her neck and wrist and a black feather headpiece. Another person can be seen behind her, wearing a blonde wig and pink sleeveless dress with pink gloves. Another person seems to be leaning out of the car window, wearing a gold collar necklace and black headpiece.

Photo of model Connie Fleming and other parade-goers at the 1988 New York City Pride March.
For more information about this item, please visit the DTA via the link in our story/bio. Image courtesy of LGBT Community Center.
#TransHistory #TransIsBeautiful #DTA

Please also consider filling out our Google Form, linked in our bio, for our 10th Anniversary Celebration! We will be sharing responses on our website and social media, but all answers will remain anonymous. Thank you for your continuous support!