About the Collaborative
Preserving and sharing LGBTQIA+ stories from Saratoga Springs and surrounding communities through storytelling, public history, and community collaboration. The Pride Stories Collaborative brings together local organizations, educators, historians, students, and community members to document the people, places, and experiences that have shaped LGBTQIA+ life in the region. Join us as we build a lasting archive and create new opportunities for connection, reflection, and visibility.
Mission Statement
The Pride Stories Collaborative is a community-driven initiative dedicated to uncovering, preserving, and sharing LGBTQIA+ stories of Saratoga Springs and surrounding communities. The Collaborative fosters intergenerational dialogue, community storytelling, and public engagement to make visible the lives, spaces, and experiences that have shaped the region’s LGBTQIA+ past. Through programs such as community conversations, pop-up exhibitions, and the development of a lasting archive, we work collectively to document, honor, and sustain these stories for future generations.
Vision Statement
The Pride Stories Collaborative envisions a community where LGBTQIA+ stories are visible, valued, and woven into the broader narrative of the region’s past, present, and future. Grounded in community collaboration and guided by its founding partners – Saratoga Pride, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, Skidmore College, SUNY Empire State University, and the Saratoga Springs Public Library – the Collaborative seeks to illuminate stories that have long been overlooked, hidden, or shared only in private.
Through intergenerational storytelling, public programs, and community-centered research, we aim to identify and document the people, places, and events that have shaped LGBTQIA+ life in the region. This includes uncovering histories of gathering spaces, cultural celebrations, activism, and everyday life, as well as preserving ephemera, oral histories, and archival materials that might otherwise be lost.
The Collaborative envisions the development of a dynamic and accessible archive – both physical and digital – that will serve as a lasting resource for community members, researchers, educators, and future generations. Pop-up exhibitions and public history initiatives will bring this archive to life in shared spaces across the city, inviting community participation, reflection, and dialogue.
By fostering partnerships, encouraging community contributions, and supporting ongoing preservation efforts – including the recognition of historically significant LGBTQIA+ sites – the Pride Stories Collaborative seeks not only to document the past, but to affirm the presence and importance of LGBTQIA+ lives in Saratoga Springs and beyond today and into the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is involved in the Collaborative?
The Collaborative is guided by founding partners including Saratoga Pride, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, Skidmore College, SUNY Empire State University, and the Saratoga Springs Public Library.
What kinds of stories are you looking for?
We welcome stories that reflect the many dimensions of LGBTQIA+ life in the region, including community spaces, activism, celebrations, friendships, family experiences, artistic and cultural life, and everyday moments both large and small.
Do I need to identify as LGBTQIA+ to participate?
No. LGBTQIA+ community members, allies, family members, historians, educators, and anyone interested in supporting this work are welcome to participate.
Why is this project important?
Many LGBTQIA+ stories have historically gone undocumented or been excluded from traditional historical narratives. This project seeks to preserve those stories, honor community experiences, and ensure future generations have access to this history.
How can I contribute to the project?
Community members may be able to contribute oral histories, photographs, flyers, letters, memorabilia, archival materials, or personal stories. Opportunities for participation will continue to grow as the project develops.
Do I have to donate original materials?
No. In many cases, materials can be scanned or photographed and returned to their owners.
Can I share a story anonymously?
We understand that privacy and personal safety matter. The Collaborative is committed to working thoughtfully with contributors regarding consent, attribution, and levels of public sharing.
Will there be a permanent archive?
The Collaborative envisions the development of an accessible physical and digital archive that will preserve these stories and materials for future generations.
Are you only collecting stories from Saratoga Springs?
While Saratoga Springs is central to the project, the Collaborative also welcomes stories and materials connected to surrounding communities and the broader region.
***Please check back often for project updates. Information about our 1st community event on June 18th can be found here.***