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The Chris Gonzalez Library and Archives stands as a living testament to the resilience, creativity, and long-standing presence of LGBTQ+ life in Indianapolis. First founded in 1993 by activist Michael Bohr, the collection emerged from a profound desire to preserve community stories at a time when so many lives were being lost to AIDS. What began as 1,600 personal items documenting gay life in Indiana soon grew into more than 7,000 titles—fiction, nonfiction, biography, reference materials, periodicals, ephemera, and rare publications like The Screamer, one of Indianapolis’s earliest gay newsletters. 

 

For more than 25 years, the Chris Gonzalez Library and Archives served the community directly, most recently housed at the Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis. Curated with care by Bohr and shaped by donations from generations of LGBTQ+ Hoosiers, it became a place where people could encounter their own history—openly, proudly, and without exception.

 

In 2017, Indy Pride partnered with The Indianapolis Public Library to steward the bulk of the book and video materials, ensuring long-term preservation and broad public access. Today, these items are curated and housed at Central Library, where each piece carries a special identifying plaque. The Simon Reading Room features a permanent display, opened in 2019, inviting patrons to explore the rich legacy of LGBTQ+ life in the city. Visitors can search the collection by keyword and engage with materials that honor our shared past while inspiring a more joyful, connected future. 

 

 

Browse the Collection (Indianapolis Public Library) →

 

About the Project (Encyclopedia of Indianapolis) →