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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
LGBTQ+ Oral History Collection
Description
An account of the resource
The LGBTQ+ Oral History Collection is the home for oral history interviews conducted with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, nonbinary, and asexual individuals from various communities with a focus on those with a connection to Omaha, Nebraska. The interviews were consciously collected to be part of UNO’s Queer Omaha Archives. Interviews to date are all audio recordings and include community members and UNO faculty; interviewees are described individually. Interviews to date have been conducted by UNO professor Jay Irwin, UNO archivist Amy Schindler, UNO students in Prof. Jay Irwin’s Fall 2016 Introduction to LGBT Studies course, and UNO Libraries oral history associate for the Queer Omaha Archives Luke Wegener. Contact UNO Libraries' Archives and Special Collections about access to interviews not yet available online.
Oral history is one of many sources available to consult as part of your research. It reflects the experience of an individual and shares personal opinions offered by the interviewee in response to questioning. Additional sources can verify and provide additional information to the narrative of events presented in oral histories. Contact UNO Libraries’ Archives & Special Collections to continue your research, find additional sources, or learn more.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-2018
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Irwin, Jay (Interviewer, Person)
Wegener, Lukas (Interviewer, Person)
University of Nebraska at Omaha. University Library
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Nebraska at Omaha Libraries
Relation
A related resource
LGBTQ+ Oral History Collection finding aid available at <a href="https://archives.nebraska.edu/repositories/4/resources/604">https://archives.nebraska.edu/repositories/4/resources/604</a>
Language
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English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
UNO-0240
Oral History
A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge.
Interviewer
The person(s) performing the interview
Luke Wegener
Duration
Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.)
02:06:39
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Shari Baumer
Subject
The topic of the resource
Queer Omaha Archives
Sexual minorities -- Nebraska -- Omaha
interviews
oral histories (document genres)
Description
An account of the resource
<em>Click here to access the interview, <a href="https://library.unomaha.edu/_audio/UNO-0240_Shari-Baumer.html">LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Shari Baumer</a></em><br /><br />Ms. Shari Baumer, Omaha LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on March 29, 2018, in Omaha, Nebraska. Baumer shared information about her upbringing in Grand Island and Omaha, her strained relationship with her parents, her battle with alcoholism and getting sober, coming to terms with her sexuality, finding her birth family, and meeting her partner of 32 years, Mary Anne.
<strong>Biographical Sketch</strong><br /><br />Ms. Shari Baumer, born in Milford, Nebraska in the 1940's, is a Mexican and Native American lesbian woman, adoptee, survivor, LGBTQ+ advocate, and grandmother. Baumer's early childhood was spent in Grand Island, Nebraska, before moving to Omaha with her parents around age 6. After attending Holy Name High School, Baumer went on to work for Mutual of Omaha for 21 years (1965-1986), while earning her BA in Psychology from UNO in 1984. Baumer later worked for CHI (Catholic Health Initiatives) for 15 years before retiring in 2011. Along with her wife of 32 years, Mary Anne, Baumer stays active in supporting organizations like Human Rights Campaign, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Omaha's Second Unitarian Church, and is one of the founding members of Open Arms Trans Social Group (OATS), a support group for trans youth, adults, and their friends and families.
<strong>Interview Summary</strong><br /><br />Shari Baumer, Omaha LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on March 29, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. Baumer was born in Milford, Nebraska, in a home for unwed mothers, and spent her first year in an orphanage in Lincoln, Nebraska. After being adopted by an Italian American couple, Baumer moved to Grand Island, where she spent the first 6 years of her childhood before moving to Omaha. Baumer grew up as an only child and her home life was difficult, as her mother was mentally ill, her parent’s marriage was broken, and she was regularly shamed for her Mexican and Native American heritage. <br /><br />After her parents’ divorce during Baumer's freshman year at Holy Name High School, she was active in school activities and made a supportive group of friends. Baumer had a brief stint at Creighton University after high school, but was unable to keep up with the work, and was drinking and partying heavily. In 1965, at age 19, Baumer began working at Mutual of Omaha as a File Clerk, working her way up to becoming a Systems Analyst over the next 21 years, until she left the company in 1986. During this time, Baumer was supporting and sharing a home with her abusive mother and binge drinking until her mother's death in 1984 sparked a turning point in her life. Baumer began seeing a therapist, opened up about her mother's abusive behavior, and eventually got sober. <br /><br />After attending LGBT-specific AA meetings with a friend in 1985, it began to dawn on Baumer that she was gay. In 1986, Baumer met her partner Mary Anne at an AA meeting, and they have been together for 32 years, eventually marrying in Iowa in 2015. In 1996, Baumer began working for CHI Health and retired from the company in 2011. Along with her wife Mary Anne, Baumer is active in supporting organizations like Human Rights Campaign, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Omaha's Second Unitarian Church, and is one of the founding members of Open Arms Trans Social Group (OATS), a support group for trans youth, adults, their friends and families.<br /><br />In this interview, Baumer also discusses reconnecting with her adoptive father after 20 years, meeting some of her birth family, learning about her Mexican and Native American background, and her relationships with her step-children and step-grandchildren.
<strong>Interview Notes</strong><br /><br />Trigger warning for domestic violence, sexual abuse, and substance abuse.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2018 March 29
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Luke Wegener
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Nebraska at Omaha Libraries
Relation
A related resource
LGBTQ+ Oral History Collection finding aid available at <a href="https://archives.nebraska.edu/repositories/4/resources/604">https://archives.nebraska.edu/repositories/4/resources/604</a>
Format
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mp3
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
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audio
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
UNO-0240_Shari-Baumer
audio
LGBTQ
Oral History