The Philadelphia Trans Oral History Project 

A Partnership between the Center for Research in Feminist, Queer, and Transgender Studies, the William Way LGBT Center, the Price Lab for Digital Humanities, and the Research Data & Digital Scholarship team at the University of Pennsylvania   

The Phildelphia Trans Oral History Project (PTOHP) is a community engagement initiative that preserves and makes publicly accessible the stories of trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people. The project will begin by interviewing those who have meaningful connections to the city of Philadelphia. The project places an emphasis on stories that have traditionally not been heard, and it especially welcomes the contributions of trans elders. The goal of the PTOHP is to conduct oral history interviews and make them widely available online through digital recordings and searchable transcripts. 

The PTOHP also seeks to honor the wide diversity of trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming lives. The project is invested in redressing how histories of gender expansion have been medicalized, commodified, and erased. To this end, no one will be told they are not trans enough to participate. 

Interviewees, students, and other Penn community interviewers will work together to produce a co-owned archive of audio and/or video recordings that share gender-expansive experiences. The PTOHP will also host listening sessions for participants who wish to share with their community but do not want their interview recorded and/or made publicly available. 

Through a collaborative interview process, the PTOHP will maintain and make accessible this archive of trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming stories. The project aims to foster lasting intergenerational bonds and community healing.  

If you are interested in participating, please fill out this PTOHP interest form.