History UnErased putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place, the classroom.

History UnErased

Lowell, Massachusetts, 01852

Last updated on September 30, 2025
Grant awarded by
Library of Congress
Region
National
Organization Type
Non-profit Organization
Congressional District(s)
3
Fiscal Year Of First Grant
FY 2015 [10/01/14 - 09/30/15]
Contributing Organization(s)
Houses on the Moon Theater Company, National Council for the Social Studies, William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum, New-York Historical Society, Out Youth Texas, Colorado LGBTQ History Project, Invisible Histories Project, International Schools, Scholarly Editing, Equality Pennsylvania, Maryland Center for History and Culture, Teach Plus, Tranz Central Coast, University of Texas Austin, American University, Waynesburg University, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Fordham University, Sonoma State University, Central Connecticut State University, Middlesex Community College, University of Michigan, Augusta University, University of Southern Maine, University of California Los Angeles, New York City Public Schools, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Astrea Foundation, Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Highline Heritage Museum, Stonewall Columbus, Kaleidoscope Youth Center Ohio, Outwords Archive, Queer Humboldt, Humboldt Pride, New York Public Library, National Queer Theater, Teach + Heal + Build Florida
Organization description

History UnErased is putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place — the classroom — and uniting all “We the People” with a more complete story of America. This allows genuine understanding and equality to take root in rising generations while improving the history, civics, and social studies education that all students receive. All curriculum content is anchored in primary source materials meticulously curated from a range of reputable sources, including the Library of Congress and digital and print collections from libraries and archives across the country.

Project description

October 2024: History UnErased, in collaboration with Houses on the Moon Theater Company, launched the creative development process for “The Past Is Always Present” Educational Theater Project to put LGBTQ history center stage! The primary source-based original musical and accompanying case studies are an Open Educational Resource targeted for high school stage productions and US history classrooms. The stage production script is created for and with the input from high school students from across the country. As the project continues in subsequent years, the creative process and future Act 4 additions will travel from California and New York to Florida, New Mexico,  and Texas (and more!) to elevate state and local LGBTQ history to inspire, educate, and entertain! And, with dozens of distribution partners nationwide, the educational materials will reach nearly 2,000,000 learners!

2015: UnErasing LGBTQ History Institute hosted at Lowell National Historical Park: This week-long intensive institute introduced primary source materials from the Library of Congress. The TPS Eastern Region grant provided participants with the time, opportunities and resources to delve into both the inquiry method and the primary sources that fuel the method. Participants first learned the importance of teaching with primary sources and using History UnErased’s inquiry for contextualized pedagogy in the classroom. In this method of inquiry, the role of the teacher and student is fluid throughout the process, and recognizes that learners are diverse with diverse needs. Participants also began digging through primary sources to better understand the content. This inquiry method, coupled with Library of Congress analysis tools, gave participants the chance to work collaboratively, ask questions, and use research to further their understanding of the content. This method is directly applicable to classroom instruction, so participants left with a model of instruction that they could implement with confidence.

https://www.loc.gov/programs/teachers/about-this-program/teaching-with-primary-sources-partner-program/tps-regional-grant-program/history-unerased/
TPS project focus
  • Curriculum
  • Teaching Materials
  • Workshops
Content focus
  • Art
  • Civics
  • Equity and Inclusion
  • History
  • American Revolution
  • Civil Rights
  • Civil War
  • World War II
Audience
  • Artists
  • Classroom teachers
  • Community members
  • Curriculum coordinators
  • Homeschoolers
  • Librarians/Media specialists
  • Students
  • Teacher candidates/Student teachers
  • University faculty
Level(s)
  • 9 - 12
  • Adult learning
  • Undergraduate
  • Graduate
Population focus
  • African Americans
  • Asian Americans
  • English language learners
  • Hispanic/Latinx
  • Jewish Americans
  • LGBTQIA+
Organization Contact
Debra Fowler
debra@unerased.org
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