What is the GenEq Archive?
The Gender Equity Resource Center has digitized over 18,000 items to serve as a key contributor in creating and organizing special collections. With the completion of each special collection, we provide access to LGBTQ+ and women's histories, ancestors, and community stories to campus and the public.
Our mission is not only to document history, but to honor the people who made it—those whose courage and persistence opened doors for others. By preserving and sharing these archives, we make these stories accessible for research, education, and inspiration, ensuring they remain a resource for future generations. The Archive Project serves as a conversation starter—a shared project for graduate students, undergraduate students, faculty, and staff to facilitate connection and generate collaborative ventures.
Our events foster a welcoming environment where participants can connect through shared purpose—preserving the histories that shaped who we are, and guiding the futures we continue to build.
Why This Archive Matters
It is more important now than ever that we document our histories and our stories for our future.
Our archive provides crucial access to histories that have been marginalized or overlooked in most long standing historical records. By preserving these materials, we ensure that current and future generations can conduct research on LGBTQ+ and women's histories at UC Berkeley, learn from the experiences and activism of those who came before, connect with community stories, develop scholarly work grounded in primary sources, thus honoring the contributions of our communities.
The GenEq Archive represents decades of activism, community organizing, personal stories, and expression. These materials document the lives, struggles, triumphs, and everyday experiences of individuals who have shaped our campus and broader communities. Without proper preservation and organization, these invaluable resources risk being lost to time thus creating gaps in institutional memory that lead to repeated efforts, forgotten lessons, and the illusion that each generation is beginning anew.
How to Get Involved
All undergraduate and graduate students are welcome! No experience with archival methods or research necessary! The archive events use a "learning by doing" approach in a supportive, collaborative environment.
Hack-a-thon Events
These sessions introduce participants to archival concepts and methods where participants immediately gain hands-on experience. Hack-a-thons provide a "learn by doing" environment that allows interested parties to dip their toe in—whether that's exposure to research for the first time or a seasoned graduate student looking for their next project. No prior experience is needed, and attendance is flexible with drop-in participation welcomed.
Standing Meetings and Open Labs
After the hack-a-thon events, participants can stay involved in several ways:
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Drop in at future Hack-a-thons or Open Labs.
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Join the Core Archival Team to help expand special collections for larger research projects and publications.
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Participate in Standing Meetings to: (i) collaborate on special collections development; (ii) build and refine research projects; (iii) gain grant-writing experience; and (iv) create and publish new scholarship
GWS Department Archival Research Methods Class
We are exploring the development of a potential DeCal course through the Gender and Women's Studies department focused on archival research methods. This class would provide students with academic credit while learning theoretical foundations of archival work and applying these methods directly to the GenEq collections.
The course would be ideal for students working on senior theses or graduate research projects who want structured learning combined with practical application. More details about this course option will be announced as they become available.
Benefits for Students
For Undergraduates and Graduate Students:
Get involved either through a one-time workshop (dates listed below) to learn archival methods through hands on experience or get involved with:
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As an ongoing member of the archival team [more information to be released soon!]
For students in the UNITY Theme Program this could be a contextual education project opportunity!
Upcoming Event Dates
Join us at the Inclusive Excellence Hub for our hack-a-thon sessions. Attendance at all events is not required to be recognized for your contribution!
Submit Materials to the Archive
Your contributions directly support the preservation and accessibility of underrepresented histories. Materials from alumni provide invaluable firsthand perspectives on campus life, activism, student organizations, and community building across decades. Whether you have a single photograph or boxes of organizational records, we're interested in learning more about what you have.
To submit materials or inquire about potential donations, please contact: geneqarchive@berkeley.edu
We'll work with you to assess your materials and discuss how they might contribute to our growing collections. All contributions help ensure these important histories are preserved and accessible for future generations of researchers, students, and community members.
Questions?
If you have any questions prior to registering for one of the events, or if you're interested in joining the core archival team to work on larger research projects, please reach out to our team.
Contact Email: geneqarchive@berkeley.edu