LGBTQ+ Studies at the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library

The Clark Library possesses a small number of texts about genderqueer ways of life in the long eighteenth century and beyond. These rare books and pamphlets attest to the conscious and unconscious bending of gender norms in deeply conservative societies and the resilience of those who dared to interrogate the norm. The following is a sampling of the collection: 

• Bianchi, Giovanni, and John Cleland. An Historical and Physical Dissertation on the Case of Catherine Vizzani: Containing the Adventures of a Young Woman, Born at Rome, Who for Eight Years Passed in the Habit of a Man, Was Killed for an Amour with a Young Lady; and Being Found, on Dissection, a True Virgin, Narrowly Escaped Being Treated as a Saint by the Populace: With Some Curious and Anatomical Remarks on the Nature and Existence of the Hymen. By Giovanni Bianchi …; To Which Are Added, Certain Needful Remarks by the English Editor. London: Printed for W. Meyer, 1751. Clark Library Rare Book Stacks; PN6234 .B57E *: Giovanni Bianchi (1693–1775) and John Cleland (c. 1709–1789) recount the gender fluidity and transition of Giovanni Bordoni (1719–1743). Read about Bordoni in Clorinda Donato’s The Life and legend of Catterina Vizzani: Sexual identity, science and sensationalism in eighteenth-century Italy and England (2020). 
• Steele, Elizabeth and Alexander Bicknell. The Memoirs of Mrs. Sophia Baddeley : Late of Drury Lane Theatre. By Mrs. Elizabeth Steele. Clerkenwell: Printed for the author, at the Literary Press, 1787. Clark Library Rare Book Stacks; PN2598.B13 S8 *: This is a biography of Sophia Baddeley (1745–1786), an English actress and courtesan, written by Elizabeth Steele (1740?–1787), her romantic partner. The book addresses themes of cross-dressing and gender identity.

To find books related to genderqueerness, cross-dressing, transgender lives, and gender identity at the Clark Library go to UC Library Search. Click on “Advanced Search,” select the “Subject” field, and type either “Gender identity,” “Gender,” “Transgender people” or “Sex role.” To find works by specific authors, select the “Author” field and type “Steele, Elizabeth, 1740?–1787,” for example. You can also do a keyword search either in the simple search or in the “Any field” field of the “Advanced Search.” Once you have search results, you can limit to the Clark Library by selecting it from the “UCLA Locations” facet.