Silas Maxwell Switzer, our archive clerk, provides an update on the QArchives project:
Digitizing an archive is far more complex than it might seem. It’s not just about scanning documents and photos; it’s about ensuring every single detail is correct. The process demands careful settings for scanning, blocking out any stray light, and keeping each page or image perfectly aligned on the glass. Beyond that, each file needs to be meticulously labeled, organized into the right folder, and enriched with detailed metadata. Through digitizing the old OUT images and papers, I’ve learned so much about archival best practices and applied that knowledge to this collection.
So far, I’ve scanned over 1,000 images and documents and appended metadata to more than 800 of them. This represents about half of the collection’s miscellaneous photos and papers. I’ve dedicated nearly a year to this project, working diligently to preserve each item to the best of my ability. What remains to be digitized consists largely of newspapers and larger items, which require specialized scanning equipment I can only access intermittently. Once I’ve completed the images and papers, my next task will be to digitize the old issues of OUT. This part of the project is vast in scope, but I firmly believe it’s essential for preserving our local queer history.
Through this journey, I’ve encountered countless images capturing moments of queer joy and intimacy. As a young queer person, these glimpses into past lives and loves bring me immense comfort and hope, affirming that such joy is timeless and always possible. Some of my favorite images depict couples in local bars, dancing close or wrapped around one another, physically and emotionally connected. Many of these photos have handwritten notes on the back, listing names and, sometimes, simply “lovers.” Though the word has fallen out of favor today due to its romantic and sexual connotations, I find it beautiful—honest, direct, and unashamed. “Lovers” doesn’t hide; it proudly proclaims a bond with an openness that inspires me deeply.
Once the majority of these items are digitized, my next step will be to create a publicly accessible, searchable database to house these materials. My hope is that this database will offer people a direct way to explore Pittsburgh’s queer history through these images and documents. Though the work is meticulous and sometimes tiring, it’s an essential task for preserving our community’s history. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has donated to this project; your support has helped bring one of the most important projects for our local queer history to life. It’s been one of the most enriching experiences I could imagine, and while I’ll feel a sense of loss when it’s complete, I also look forward to the day it’s done.
