Letters of Unity: Building LGBTQ+ Community Through the Written Word
Diaries and photographs from the Frederic Palmer Collection. Courtesy of the Palmer-Warner House, a Connecticut Landmarks museum
Letters of Unity: Building LGBTQ+ Community Through the Written Word will celebrate the power of written communication in shaping LGBTQ+ identity, activism, and community. From love letters to zines and personal diaries to protest flyers, these artifacts tell the stories of resilience, connection, and creativity that have sustained LGBTQ+ communities across generations. Using the Palmer-Warner House’s collection and loaned items, this exhibit will weave together your stories with the stories of the house’s previous residents, Frederic Palmer and Howard Metzger, who created a safe space together in East Haddam.
Stay tuned to this page for a digital version of the exhibition!
Call for Memorabilia and Ephemera!
Are you passionate about LGBTQ+ history and storytelling? Do you have letters, diaries, photographs, postcards, newspapers, magazines, audio recordings, or other personal accounts highlighting how written words have built and nurtured LGBTQ+ communities? The Palmer-Warner House, a Connecticut Landmarks museum, wants to hear from you! Please read the guidelines below and submit an inquiry form if you are interested in participating.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: May 16, 2025
What We Are Looking For:
- Personal Correspondence: Letters or postcards that share intimate, personal, or historical stories.
- Journals and Diaries: Handwritten or typed accounts documenting daily life, self-reflection, or pivotal moments.
- Photographs: Images that capture LGBTQ+ gatherings, activism, or personal milestones.
- Printed Media: LGBTQ+ newspapers, magazines, zines, or newsletters.
- Audio Recordings: Interviews, speeches, or personal reflections on tape.
- Ephemera: Flyers, posters, and other materials related to LGBTQ+ events or activism.
- Personal Accounts: Written reflections, memoirs, or oral histories that amplify LGBTQ+ voices.
Accepted Formats & Conditions:
- Original documents, scans, photocopies
- Items should be in stable condition with no mold or damage
We encourage contributions that highlight underrepresented voices, time periods, regional perspectives, or are tied to Palmer-Warner House inhabitants, Frederic Palmer and Howard Metzger. Items from all time periods and locations are welcomed, especially those that highlight the diversity of LGBTQ+ experiences between 1900-1975.
Submissions will be reviewed by our collections and interpretation teams. All items are for loan only and will be held until August 31. Any items selected for the exhibit will require the completion of a loan agreement to ensure the safe care of the items.
We appreciate your interest in contributing to this important exhibit and preserving LGBTQ+ history through the written word. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at palmer.warner@ctlandmarks.org.
Memorabilia and Ephemera Interest Form
“By sharing your memorabilia and stories, you help preserve and celebrate the legacy of LGBTQ+ communities and ensure future generations understand the power of written words in building connection and solidarity. Let’s honor the past, celebrate the present, and inspire the future through the written word. Join us in creating this meaningful exhibit!”
Lynette Fisher, Site Administrator at the Palmer-Warner House
Stay Connected with the Palmer-Warner House
Stay tuned to our website, social media pages, and print media for events and programs. Book a tour of the Palmer-Warner House to learn about the collection of letters and diaries, photographs, historic furnishings, and decorative arts used to reconstruct Frederic Palmer and Howard Metzger’s lives together, featuring a new tour exploring LGBTQ+ history from 1901 to 1971.