Laura Hershey papers, 1904-2020 1962-2020.

Hershey, Laura, 1962-2010, creator.

C MSS WH2274

Finding aid available online and in repository.

Digital collection.

circa 1904-2020.

32.25 linear feet (33 boxes), 4 oversize boxes, 3 oversize file folders, 16 audio-visual boxes

Organized into 15 series: 1. Personal, 1962-2016 (Box1-3, 31). 2. Professional, 1979-2011 (Box3-9, 31-32). 3. Independent living, 1946-2016 (Box9-14, 32). 4. Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Telethon, 1980-2009 (Box14-15, 31). 5. Women and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LBGT), 1976-2004 (Box15-16, 31-32). 6. International, 1983-2007 (Box16-18, 31-32). 7. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 1982-2009 (Box18-20, 31). 8. Activism, 1971-2008 (Box20-22). 9. Disability Culture and Studies 1918, 1976-2010 (Box22-23). 10. Biographical files, 1980-2013 (Box23). 11. Robin Stephens, 1981-2017 (Box23-24, 32). 12. Ephemera, 1989-2020 (Box24-28, 31-34, OVBox3-4). 13. Publications, 1986-2012 (Box29-30, 32). 14. Audio-visual, 1980's- 2007 (AVBox1-16). 15. Oversize, 1904, 1966-2017 (OVBox1-2, OVFF1-3).

Laura Ann Hershey was born in Colo. on August 11, 1962. She grew up in Littleton, Colo. where she graduated from Heritage High School (1979), later received a degree in History from Colorado College (B.A., 1983), and one for Creative Writing from Antioch University (MFA). Hershey, who herself was born with spinal muscular atrophy, was a writer, poet, consultant, feminist and nationally recognized activist for people with disabilities. Over 100 of her articles, essays, and poems were published in journals, anthologies, websites, newspapers, and magazines. She also offered workshops, speeches, readings, and presentations to a wide range of community organizations. Hershey was nationally recognized for her activism and advocacy on behalf of disability rights and social justice issues. She was a 2010 Lambda Fellow in Poetry and received the 1998 President's Award from President Clinton's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. Hershey died in Denver, Colo. on Nov 26, 2010.

Collection contains Hershey's personal papers documenting her involvement with activism and advocacy for people with disabilities, gender issues: correspondence, newsletters, awards, diplomas, research files, publications, ephemera, arrest records, writings, protest materials, history, brochures, presentations, clippings.

Hershey, Laura, 1962-2010 -- Archives.

Stephens, Robin, 1959- -- Archives.

American Disabled for Accessible Public Transportation -- Archival resources.

People with disabilities -- United States -- History.

Women political activists -- United States -- History.

Feminists -- Colorado -- Biography.

Women with disabilities -- Colorado -- Biography.

Lesbian activists -- Colorado -- Biography.

Personal papers.

CD-ROMs.

DVDs.

Ephemera (general object genre)

Stephens, Robin, donor.

Select materials from collection have been digitized and are available online.

Contact Special Collections and Archives Dept., Denver Public Library, Denver, Colo.

Repository also has: Strategies for Going Abroad: A Guide for People with Disabilities (C910.202087 H439su 2005) by Laura Hershey.

Gift; Robin Stephens; 2013, 2016, 2017, 2023.

Transfer; Hugh C. Fowler papers; 2023