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Natural Born Packrat turns his obsession into community resource.

David Williams of Louisville; an artist, community activist, and former newspaper publisher is well known for many things. However, his inherited gift of being a pack rat may end up being his legacy to the world. David founded the Williams-Nichols Archive & Library in 1982, which is now one of the largest GLBT archives in the United Sates.

David noted his grandmother was also a pack rat, so it comes naturally to him. The G.Y.P. News recently had an opportunity to talk to Mr. Williams about the archives.

GYP News: Hello David. Please tell our readers about the origins of the William-Nichols Archive and Library.

Williams: When I came out and started getting involved in the GLBT community, it was a natural thing for me to start saving things and storing books and magazines in my residence.  When I became involved actively in the community in 1982, I was looking around to see what kind of contribution I could make besides just volunteering for this and that.  An archives and library was the logical idea for me.  So I started it officially in 1982 as the "Kentucky Gay Archives" and, thanks to the efforts of many people in the community who've contributed a lot of things over the years, it's grown ever since.

GYP News:  What do you think is the most valuable book in the collection?

Williams:  There are two, I'd say.  We have an original copy of Oscar Wilde's "A Picture of Dorian Grey" and an original copy of Alexander Berkman's "Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist," which is an early attempt at arguing for gay rights.  Both are very valuable.

GYP News:  When can people visit the archives?

Williams:  It's open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM and other times by appointment.  It's located in the Special Collections Division of the Ekstrom Library, lower level, on the main campus of the University of Louisville.

GYP News:  How many items are in the archives total?

Williams:  We currently have over 5200 books; about 30,000 print publications from 1953 to the present (magazines, newspapers, journals); about 500 videotapes, CDs, DVDs, and other electronic media; thousands of photographs; about 200 clothing items such as t-shirts, baseball caps, etc.; and hundreds of things such as rainbow coffee mugs, protest posters, theater programs, posters, buttons, matchbook covers, and bar memorabilia.  My favorite, I guess, is a pink frisbee with a Lambda symbol on it but there are so many other items as well.

The archive is continually collecting items of any interest to the GLBT community.  For further information, contact David Williams at 502/636-0935.