A small ad hoc committee has been collecting oral histories of past Division 44 leaders for the division's archives and also for research about the history of LGBTQ+ psychology.
We have interviewed ten past-presidents of Division 44 by Zoom-recorded videos. All interviews have had at least two co-interviewers. One of us (DK) transcribed the text based on the Zoom transcription, adding links for clarification; and other members of the team checked the transcriptions against the recording for accuracy. The transcription was then sent to the respondent for correction of any errors; and they were invited to add photos or other materials to be stored with the transcript. All of this material will be in the Division 44 archive in the Cornell University Libraryopens in new window where it is part of their extensive human sexuality collection.
So far we have interviewed Kimberly Balsam (2016-17), Armand Cerbone (1994-95), Connie Chan (1991-92), Oliva Espin (1993-94), Terry Gock (2000-01), Doug Haldeman (1996-97), Kris Hancock (1985-86), Steve James (1998-99), Steve Morin (ad hoc president 1985), and Bonnie Strickland (2009-11).
Members of the committee are Richard Sprott and Doug Kimmel, coordinators; Ryan Flynn, Nick Grant, Armanda Lappin, Juan Pantoja-Patiño, Tom Schlechter and Mia Semelman.
This is an on-going project for Division 44 and we expect to continue interviewing leaders as well as others who have played an important role in shaping the focus of the division over the past four decades as we prepare for the 40th anniversary of the founding of Division 44 in 2025.
We urge interested persons to contact Richard Sprott or Doug Kimmel to volunteer to be co-interviewers or transcript checkers. Also, we urge members to review past issues of the Division 44 Newsletter which is now online from the first issue to the present.