Oakland University’s Kresge Library has been a part of the University since 1961, and is increasingly growing its collections. One new collection offered is the Gaylor Collection.
“The Gaylor Collection is a really phenomenal, unique collection,” student assistant and OU junior Edgar Havard said. “What makes it so valuable is because it is queer literature, and a lot of it was considered queer pulp fiction. Some of them even have annotations from queer people in the 80s.”
The collection, named after its founder Robert Gaylor, is more than just a compilation of rare books and manuscripts. Gaylor, who began his tenure at Kresge Library as a reference librarian in 1965, devoted 37 years to the university in various roles, including Associate Dean for Public Services and Archives Librarian.
His passion for preserving queer voices started in the 1960s when LGBTQ+ narratives were often marginalized and censored. By the early 2000s, he had donated most of his collection to the library, ensuring that these invaluable resources would be accessible to future generations.
“My job is mainly to work on outreach, because not many people know about it,” Havard said. “There aren’t really many in the world that are like it, the fact that we have it at Oakland University is quite impressive.”
The Gaylor Collection features a wide array of queer literature, from early 20th-century novels and poetry to more contemporary works. Its highlight, however, lies in the queer pulp fiction of the mid-20th century — a genre that, while often overlooked, played a critical role in shaping LGBTQ+ identity and community. These novels, with their lurid covers and sensational plots, were often the only representation available to queer readers at a time when mainstream media largely ignored or misrepresented their lives.
“In order to access the collection it’s actually very simple,” Harvard said. “Just ask the front desk and they can direct you. Sometimes we have the librarian that stays downstairs and facilitates while you’re down there. She is happy to direct people and let them see it right away.”
The Gaylor Collection is just one of the many special collections at Kresge Library that the staff and students hold dear. Another standout is the Sustainability Collection, which focuses on environmental literature and resources aimed at encouraging a deeper connection with nature.
“My favorite is definitely the Sustainability Collection,” said senior Katie Kraemer. “It’s very different; libraries don’t usually have collections like it. It’s all about nature and things that tend to make you want to go outside.”
This collection includes books, journals, and multimedia resources on topics ranging from climate change and conservation to sustainable agriculture and green technology. It’s a go-to resource for students across various disciplines who are looking to integrate sustainability into their studies and daily lives.
“Another interesting resource this library offers that not many know about is the interlibrary,” Kraemer said. “If we don’t have a book, you can request it and we can get it shipped from anywhere in the world.”
For more information about the Kresge Library’s resources, go to their webpage at library.oakland.edu for more about their different collections.
