The USM Special Collections, through the Jean Byers Sampson Center, has 40 different LGBTQA+ periodicals and newspapers freely available and online accessible through the Digital Commons. With rare and unique collections such as Our Paper, Mainley Gay, and The Maine Lesbian Feminist Newsletter, it is a treasure-trove of primary sources which speak to the Queer community of Maine.
The University of Southern Maine’s Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity in Maine collects and makes accessible material documenting the ongoing histories of diverse communities. Current collections represent the African American, Jewish, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer+ communities, and social justice for all. The Center promotes diversity and civil rights through research, education, and outreach.