The Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection

The Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection is the largest archival repository of LGBTQ history in the Midwest.

Welcome

The Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection is home to over 500 collections of queer and trans archival materials accessible to the public.

We are open to community members and organizations as well as undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and staff from any college or university to use on site at the Andersen Library.

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Visit

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Request a reading room appointment

To request an appointment for to see Tretter Collection materials and/or request reference help please complete this form.

Students in a full classroom looking at archival materials

Request a class visit

Looking to have your students engage with Tretter Collection materials? Whether K-12, College/University, or community education, the Tretter Collection welcomes class visits, tour groups, and provides online and offsite instruction sessions. Please use this form to schedule a class session.

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About the Tretter Collection

The Tretter Collection holds approximately 3,500 linear feet of material—including books, periodicals, 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 60 languages), but is especially strong in materials documenting the history of LGBTQ people, organizations, and communities in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, and across the broader Midwest.

The Tretter also serves as a hub for queer and trans engagement and use of the collection, we co-host the Midwest Queer and Trans Zine Fest and Queer Zine Conference each October and host panel discussions, community conversations, exhibits, zine workshops, and other events designed to support critical inquiry into LGBTQ pasts.

Collection highlights

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

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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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Location, hours, and contact

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

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