The Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies

The Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies is the largest LGBTQ-specific archival repository in the upper Midwest.

Jean-Nickolaus Tretter: 1946-2022

We are incredibly saddened to announce that our founder and namesake Jean-Nickolaus Tretter passed away Dec. 9. He will be greatly missed in our community locally and around the world.

More from the Star Tribune Watch Jean Tretter talk on a 2005 BiCities! T.V. episode

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About the collection

The Tretter Collection holds approximately 3,500 linear feet of material—including books, periodicals, grey literature, personal and organizational records, zines and pamphlets, artifacts and ephemera, and audiovisual materials.

The collection is national and international in scope (featuring materials in approximately 58 languages), but is especially strong in materials documenting the history of LGBTQ people, organizations, and communities in the Upper Midwest, especially the Twin Cities area.

The Tretter also serves as a center for LGBT and queer ideas, hosting panel discussions, community conversations, and other events designed to support critical inquiry into LGBTQ pasts.

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Explore the Tretter Collection

Collection highlights

Detailed information about areas of strength within the Tretter Collection, and access to an array of way-finding tools.

Publications

Links to back issues of our newsletter (the "Tretter Letter"), press about the Tretter, and scholarly and creative publications that rely on materials from our collections.

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Search for Tretter materials

Collection guides
Collection guides, also known as finding aids, are online guides to selected historical records and papers.
Digital collections
Search for digitized images and other media.
Libraries catalog
Search for cataloged books, journals, and records.
Digital Conservancy
The Digital Conservancy is the "digital arm" of the University Archives and provides access to digital scholarly and administrative records of the University of Minnesota. Learn more about the Digital Conservancy.

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Visit

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Note: Appointments are required to visit the reading room within these hours.
More Andersen Library hours

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Give to the collection

The Tretter Collection would not exist without contributions from many individuals, organizations, and collectives. There are many ways to contribute! Learn more about donating materials for inclusion in our collections, participate in oral history projects, attend events, volunteer, or make a financial gift to support the long term sustainability of our work. 

Give to the collection

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