UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Grace Lemke, a Penn State senior studying biology, anthropology and Spanish, knows a thing or two about library research. She works as a Peer Research Consultant in the University Libraries helping fellow students focus their research topics and locate appropriate sources by searching the library catalog, navigating and assessing databases and digital resources, and requesting physical materials held across the libraries.
But in spring 2022 she embarked on a new kind of research project when, as part of her senior passion project as a Peer Research Consultant, Lemke decided to work with the Eberly Family Special Collection Library to curate an exhibition on histories of women’s and transgender people’s struggles for health and wellbeing as reflected in Penn State’s rare and distinctive print materials.
On view until April 25, in the Special Collections exhibition gallery, located in Paterno Library on the University Park campus, Lemke’s project "From Uterine Supporters to Top Surgery: Health of Women and Transgender People Then and Now as Represented in Special Collections" explores, how, as she writes, “health and wellbeing are crucial elements in all of our lives, but female, transgender (trans), and nonbinary bodies often have experienced and still do experience a heightened level of struggle in regard to biological processes and healthcare needs. For this reason, the stories we tell ourselves and others about our bodies, our healthcare needs, and our expression of the highs and lows of health are important to document and share.”
She had the initial idea to curate an exhibition because a previous student peer research consultant had curated a selection of political posters from Special Collections, "International Solidarity: Highlights from the Ken Lawrence Collection," to make a heavily used student space in the library more visually and intellectually engaging. She thought that “an exhibition would be an exciting way to explore what Special Collections has and learn about curatorial work.”
Initially given her own interest in becoming a health provider, Lemke wanted to focus on women and transgender people’s experience as health care providers, but her early research showed that that topic was too narrow given the few accounts of those stories in Special Collections. Instead, she broadened her topic to include women and trans people’s experiences with health care and illness, and “started browsing the entire libraries’ collections to get background knowledge focused on Special Collections’ materials, to find the visual pieces I would display in the exhibition.”
She decided on a physical exhibition rather than digital for a more hands-on curatorial experience, since, in a digital exhibition there are no space constraints. Making choices in what to include — or not — for space limitations, forced Lemke to remain focused, she said.
“I wanted to tell a directed narrative about women and trans people’s experiences with healthcare and give people a chance to physically engage with the artifacts,” Lemke said. “Also, I was excited about holding a physical exhibition after the return to in-person classes.”
Lemke worked closely with curators in Special Collections, especially Rachael Dreyer, who curates collections and materials related to LGBTQIA+ History and Experience. Lemke appreciated how the curators, closely familiar with the collections, could point out materials she didn’t find in her research. For Dreyer, building collections that document the historical and contemporary experiences of transgender people and supporting student research are inextricably linked.
“One of my goals as a curator is to ensure that all researchers can find materials that speak to their own lived experiences,” Dreyer said. “It was a delight to see Grace’s research process in action! She paired ephemera from over 100 years ago with more recent publications in such a thoughtful way — it really highlights the deep intellectual inquiry involved with primary source research.”
In general, Lemke said she found the curatorial process to be multi-faceted and fulfilling, having gained valuable, transferable skills such as finding materials and conducting research within Special Collections; writing concise, broadly applicable descriptions for the materials she selected and crafting a narrative within historical and social justice contexts.
“The best part was seeing the materials in person and getting to hold, read, and engage with them,” Lemke said.
"From Uterine Supporters to Top Surgery: Health of Women and Transgender People Then and Now as Represented in Special Collections" is on view until April 25, in the Special Collections exhibition gallery, first Floor Paterno Library on the University Park campus. For information about the exhibit, contact Clara Drummond, curator and exhibitions coordinator, at cjd86@psu.edu or the Eberly Family Special Collections Library at 814-865-1793.