WELCOME TO THE ARCHIVE
RCMA is the steward of a participatory archive (aka “post-custodial archive”) that preserves countless hours of home movies and community videos contributed by LGBTQ+ identified individuals across Middle America. RCMA gives special care and attention to preserving video content that captures LGBTQ+ life in small towns, mid-sized cities, and rural areas. From loud and proud pride parades to childhood memories made way before coming out, we seek to represent the broadest spectrum of what it means to be Queer. On this page, you will find a few highlights from our collection. To view the archive in its entirety, click here.
How it works: All videotape is transferred in real-time by trained technicians using our mobile media lab. While the tape transfers, contributors provide an oral history voice-over recording. This audio commentary track (which can be turned on/off) provides context for future viewers. Once uploaded to its final home on the Internet Archive, viewers may stream, embed, or download the video to enjoy as they see fit for many years to come. The original tapes are then either kept by the owner or donated to a local brick-and-mortar archive for further preservation. Learn more here.
From the Sue Moreno and Beverly Powell collection (with camera work by the late Bev Powell), this clip captures scenes from the 1992 renovation of the WomonTown Womon’s Center in Kansas City, MO. WomonTown was an intentional neighborhood founded in the 1980s by 75+ lesbian-identified women, consisting of 28 homes and 14 apartment buildings in a 7x7 block area of mid-town Kansas City (present-day Longfellow).
From the Sue Moreno and Beverly Powell collection (with camera work by Sue Moreno), this clip features a family gathering, singing karaoke to Bobby Bland’s “Aint That Loving You” on Thanksgiving Day 2007.
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From the Sue Moreno Collection
"Cherry Street House Christmas"
Original Digital 8mm tape transferred by RCMA
From the Sue Moreno and Beverly Powell collection (with camera work by Sue Moreno), this clip features owner/operators Mark & Randy, along with staff Blair and Michael, at a neighborhood cafe known as You Say Tomato located in the Longfellow neighborhood of Kansas City, MO.
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Ashlee Fairchild Jones Collection
Voice Over Commentary provided by Ashlee Fairchild Jones, April 5th 2019
Transferred by RCMA
From the Fairchild-Jones collection, a young Ashlee Fairchild-Jones sings Do-Re-Mi by Julie Andrews (with camera work by her Uncle).
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Johnda Boyce Collection
"816 Gladstone Tour"
Tape 04, Clip 005
A Voice Over Commentary is provided by Johnda Boyce (recorded in 3-21-2019).
Original VHS transferred by RCMA
From the Johnda Boyce & Ronda King collection, the couple lead viewers on a video tour of their newly purchased home at 816 Gladstone Ave in Columbus, OH.
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Johnda Boyce Collection
"Hiking Friends"
A Voice Over Commentary is provided by Johnda Boyce (recorded in 3-21-2019).
Transferred by RCMA
From the Johnda Boyce & Ronda King collection, a group of lesbian friends take a hike through Leadville, CO.
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Andrew Ordonez Collection
"Kid's Eating Ice Cream"
Voice Over Commentary provided by Andrew, Dora, Martha, Ordonez, May 27th 2018
Transferred by RCMA
From the Andrew Ordonez collection (with camera ork by Andrew’s grandmother) the clip features a group of neighborhood kids eating ice cream and being interviewed about what schools they will attend.