Skip to main content

Distributed for Hirmer Publishers

Trans Hirstory in 99 Objects

A compelling exploration of trans art, activism, and resistance.
 
Spanning over four centuries, this volume brings together a wide-ranging selection of artworks and artifacts that highlight the under-recognized histories of trans and gender-nonconforming communities. Through the contributions of artists, writers, poets, activists, and scholars, this title reflects on historical erasure and imagines trans futures.

An expansive array of objects chart not a patriarchal history but a gender-neutral, trans-centric hirstory. The first publication of its kind, this survey celebrates trans forebearers, highlights struggles and triumphs, and reflects on the legacies of trans creative expression. Contributions by Kate Bornstein, Ria Brodell, Vaginal Davis, Leah DeVun, Mo B. Dick, Zackary Drucker, David Getsy, Martine Gutierrez, Andrea Jenkins, Jade Guarano Kuriki-Olivo (Puppies Puppies), Thomas (T.) Jean Lax, Abram J. Lewis, Miguel A. López, Amos Mac, Cyle Metzger, Deborah A. Miranda, Morgan M Page, SA Smythe, C. Riley Snorton, Dean Spade, Sandy Stone, Jeannine Tang, Michelle Tea, McKenzie Wark, and many others probe new horizons where institutional critique and trans culture meet. This book is copublished by the Museum of Trans Hirstory & Art (MOTHA), a conceptual art project of artist Chris E. Vargas that is forever “under construction” by design to allow continual transformation.

304 pages | 250 color plates | 7.64 x 10 | © 2024

Gay and Lesbian Studies

Gender and Sexuality


Hirmer Publishers image

View all books from Hirmer Publishers

Reviews

"This star-studded collection of essays is quite simply the best work of transgender art history in the history of art history to date."
 

Susan Stryker, Dornsife Dean's Professor in Residence of Gender and Sexuality Studies, University of Southern California

Table of Contents

WELCOME TO MOTHA
Chris E. Vargas..................................................................... 10
MUSEUM/TRANS/HIRSTORY/ART
Christina Linden................................................................... 16
 
REFUSAL

1. DOUGHNUT THROWN IN THE RIOT AT COOPER DO-NUTS, MAY 1959
Morgan M Page.............................................................. 28

2. SIR LADY JAVA’S PROTEST SIGN, 1967
Kelly Besser................................................................... 30

3. BROOKLYN LIBERATION, JUNE 14, 2020
Andrea Jenkins.............................................................. 32

4. BETH ELLIOTT’S GUITAR, 1973–PRESENT
Allucquére Rosanne (Sandy) Stone............................. 34

5. MANUEL MATHIEU, THEPROPHETESS2, 2020
Jonathan Michael Square............................................ 36

6. NANCY VALVERDE’S BARBER CHAIR, c. 1950s
Raquel Gutiérrez........................................................... 38

7. SIRENE MARTIN, NOTHIN’SGONBOTHERUNOW, 2022
Kameelah L. Martin...................................................... 40

8. CECE MCDONALD’S SCISSORS, 2011
Ralowe T. Ampu............................................................ 42

9. MISS MAJOR’S WHITE OPERA PUMPS, n.d.
Miss Major and Toshio Meronek................................. 44

10. LEO BAKER’S CHEST BINDER, n.d.
Amos Mac...................................................................... 46

11. CRYSTAL LABEIJA’S ICONIC READ IN THEQUEEN, 1968
Sydney Baloue............................................................... 48

12. CONNIE NORMAN’S PUBLIC-ACCESS TELEVISION PROGRAM GAY AND LESBIAN NEWSMAGAZINE, 1992–95
Connie Norman, Dante Alencastre, and John Johnston........................................................ 50

13. VANGUARD’S BROOMS, 1966
Eric A. Stanley.............................................................. 52

14. NICKI GREEN, BREAKING DISHES AT GENE COMPTON’S, 2016
Jeanne Vaccaro............................................................. 54
 
TRANSFORMATION

15. ULTRA-HUMANITE’S BRAIN, 1940
Justin Hall..................................................................... 58

16. HEATHER DEWEY-HAGBORG AND CHELSEA E. MANNING, PROBABLYCHELSEA, 2017
Annalee Newitz............................................................. 60

17. CANDICE LIN AND P STAFF, HORMONALFOG, 2016–22
Christina Linden........................................................... 62

18. AV-6 VISUALLY KEYED SHOCKER, c. 1973
Kate Davison................................................................. 64

19. MOCK-UP FOR HARRY BENJAMIN’S THETRANSSEXUALPHENOMENON, 1966
Aaron H. Devor............................................................. 66

20. MICHA CÁRDENAS, BECOMINGDRAGON, 2008
Jeannine Tang............................................................... 70

21. JEFFREY CATHERINE JONES, LIGHT, 1970
David Evans Frantz...................................................... 72

22. PIPPA GARNER, SUPERSHUFFLE, 2018–PRESENT
Christina Linden........................................................... 74

23. SANDY STONE, PGP :THEPUBLIC GENITALS PROJECT, 2000
McKenzie Wark............................................................. 78

24. FORREST BESS, THEHERMAPHRODITE, 1957
Cyle Metzger.................................................................. 80

25. LOREN REX CAMERON’S SHUTTER RELEASE, c. 1990s
Jeanne Vaccaro............................................................. 82

26. PUPPIES PUPPIES (JADE GUANARO KURIKI-OLIVO), ANDREWD.OLIVO6.7.89–6. 7.18, 2018/21
Puppies Puppies (Jade Guanaro Kuriki-Olivo)....... 84
 
HYPERVISIBLE

27. MONICA HELMS’S TRANSGENDER PRIDE FLAG, 1999
Monica Helms and Chris E. Vargas........................... 90

28. AUTUMN SANDEEN’S NAVY UNIFORM, 2009
Bree Fram...................................................................... 92

29. PRITZKER MILITARY MUSEUM & LIBRARY, 2003–PRESENT
Dean Spade.................................................................... 94

30. MURRAY HILL FOR MAYOR CAMPAIGN FLYER, 1997
Mo B. Dick..................................................................... 96

31. TRACEY AFRICA NORMAN ON CLAIROL BORN BEAUTIFUL BOX 512, 1975
Eric Darnell Pritchard.................................................. 98

32. TIME FEATURING “THE TRANSGENDER TIPPING POINT,” JUNE 9, 2014
Kate Bornstein............................................................ 100

33. MARTINE GUTIERREZ, INDIGENOUSWOMAN, 2018
Martine Gutierrez...................................................... 102

34. ARIANA AGUILAR IN THEGAYESSAY AND HOMEBOYBEAUTIFUL, 1970/1978–79
David Evans Frantz.................................................... 106

25. SHU LEA CHEANG, BRANDON, 1998–99
Banyi Huang................................................................ 110

36. PATRICIO MANUEL’S BOXING GLOVES, 2014–19
Karleigh Webb............................................................. 112
 
SENSATION

37. MUJERCITOS IN ALARMA!, 1963–86
Susana Vargas Cervantes.......................................... 116

38. TOURMALINE, MARYOFILLFAME, 2020–21
Thomas (T.) Jean Lax................................................. 120

39. HARRY ALLEN’S BOWLER HAT, c. 1900
Greta LaFleur.............................................................. 124

40. BILLY TIPTON, BILLY TIPTON PLAYS HI-FI ON PIANO, 1957
Amos Mac..................................................................... 126

41. CHRIS E. VARGAS, TRANSVESTISMINTHENEWS, 2015
Ms. Bob Davis.............................................................. 128

42. REFLECTIVE SURFACES IN DRESSEDTOKILL, 1980
Dan Vena..................................................................... 132

43. THE TRANSEXUAL MENACE T-SHIRT, 1993
Riki Wilchins............................................................... 134

44. DUSTIN HOFFMAN’S DRESS IN TOOTSIE, 1982
Chris Straayer............................................................. 136

45. GREER LANKTON, CANDYDARLING, 1995
Cyle Metzger................................................................ 138

46. CRAIG CALDERWOOD, THISWORLD WILL SOON BE OURS, 2015
Abram J. Lewis........................................................... 140

47. VAGINAL DAVIS, FERTILELATOYAHJACKSON MAGAZINE, 1987–91
Vaginal Davis and Brontez Purnell......................... 144

48. REED ERICKSON’S PSYCHEDELIC SELF-PORTRAITS, c. 1977
Abram J. Lewis........................................................... 148
 
DEITIES

49. VINCENT CHONG, TEAL AT 98.6 °F, 2022
Vincent Chong............................................................. 154

50. SYLVESTER’S SEQUINED BLAZERS, c. 1985
Richard T. Rodríguez.................................................. 156

51. LORRAINE MERRITT, PORTRAIT OF CHRISTINE JORGENSEN, 1954
Zackary Drucker......................................................... 158

52. JEROME CAJA, ASCENSIONOFTHEDRAGQUEEN, 1994
Cyle Metzger............................................................... 160

53. RACHEL POLLACK, THESHININGTRIBETAROT, 2001
Edgar Fabían Frías.................................................... 162

54. JAYNE COUNTY’S PAINTINGS OF BASTET, THE GODDESS OF WET DREAMS, c. 2019
Jayne County.............................................................. 166

55. RIA BRODELL, JEANNE OR JEAN BONNET 1849–1876 UNITED STATES, 2012
Ria Brodell.................................................................. 170

56. ASSUNTA FEMIA’S SCAPULAR, n.d.
Chris E. Vargas........................................................... 172

57. GIOVANNI ANTONIO CAVAZZI, DEPICTION OF A JINBANDAA, c. 1665–68
SA Smythe................................................................... 174

58. FREDDIE MERCADO, CARIÁTIDECARIBEÑA, 2020
Lawrence La Fountain-Stokes.................................. 176

59. CORABONELLI STATUETTE, n.d.
César González-Aguirre............................................ 178

60. SUNNY A. SMITH, UNQUIETCOMFORTER, 2022,
Scott Larson................................................................. 180
 
DISCOVERY

61. JUAN VAN DER HAMEN, PORTRAITOFERAUSO, c. 1625
Cabello/Carceller........................................................ 186

62. CHARLEY PARKHURST’S STAGECOACH, c. 1849
KJ Cerankowski......................................................... 190

63. ANTHROPOMORPHIC FIGURE, CHORRERA, c. 500 BCE–500 CE
Gabby Omoni Hartemann......................................... 192

64. JOHN MONEY’S “DISTRACTION DOODLES,” 1974
Jeanne Vaccaro........................................................... 194

65. LUCY HICKS ANDERSON’S CLUTCH, c. 1945
C. Riley Snorton.......................................................... 196

66. MAGNUS HIRSCHFELD’S DEATH MASK IN LI SHIU TONG’S SUITCASE, 1935
Liz Rosenfeld.............................................................. 198

67. CHELSEA THOMPTO, LANDMARKS, 2021
Dorothy R. Santos....................................................... 200

68. KIYAN WILLIAMS, REFLECTIONS / REFRACTIONS IN BLAQ, 2017
Leila Weefur............................................................... 202
 
RESTAGE

69. TUESDAY SMILLIE, STREETTRANSVESTITES1973, 2015
Morgan M Page........................................................... 206

70. RÍO SOFIA, FORCEDWOMANHOOD!, 2017
Harron Walker............................................................ 208

71. VIVEK SHRAYA, TRISHA, 2016
Vivek Shraya............................................................... 212

72. KENT MONKMAN, HONOURDANCE, 2020
M. Carmen Lane......................................................... 216

73. TOBARON WAXMAN, FEAROFABEARDEDPLANET, 2007–PRESENT
David Evans Frantz.................................................... 218

74. VERO MAJANO, BROWN AMY, AND KARI ORVIK, THE Q-SIDES, 2015
Marcel Pardo Ariza.................................................... 222

75. CARMEN SELAM, SWITCHDANCE, 2022
Hank Cooper............................................................... 224

76. YOUNG JOON KWAK, HERMAPHRODITUS’S REVEAL II, 2017
Leah DeVun................................................................ 226

77. BRANDY BASURTO, EMMA YESICA DUVALI, CÉSAR GONZÁLEZ-AGUIRRE, TERRY HOLIDAY,
ERICK MOLINA, SAMUEL NICOLLE, AND MARÍA PONCE, CLOTHINGHOSPITAL, 2022
César González-Aguirre............................................ 228

TRACES

78. “ARTIFACTS” FROM THE STONEWALL RIOTS, n.d.
Chris E. Vargas........................................................... 234

79. KEIOUI KEIJAUN THOMAS, MEMORIESONCOTTON ANDSUGARCANERECEIPTS, 2022
Uri McMillan............................................................... 236

80. BAPTISMAL REGISTER OF MISSION SAN JOSÉ, SEPTEMBER 2, 1797–NOVEMBER 17, 1830
Deborah A. Miranda................................................... 238

81. LYNN EDWARD HARRIS’S DRIVER’S LICENSES, 1977 AND 1981
Hans Lindahl.............................................................. 240

82. EMMETT RAMSTAD, PUBEFILE, 2012–22
Maxe Crandall............................................................. 242

83. LOU SULLIVAN’S JOURNALS, c. 1960s–91
Emji Saint Spero........................................................ 244

84. JAMIE DIAZ, THE NAKED TRUTH, JUNE 27, 2020
Jamie Diaz and Gabriel Joffe................................... 248

85. STERILIZATION RECOMMENDATION LETTER FOR MARIA RAMIREZ, JULY 1, 1940
Alexandra Minna Stern............................................. 252

86. CASSILS, PISSED, 2017
David J. Getsy............................................................. 254

87. MILLIE WILSON, FAUVE SEMBLANT: PETER (A YOUNG ENGLISH GIRL), 1989
Millie Wilson............................................................... 256

SPACES

88. GLITS 1 SOUTH, 2020–PRESENT
Harron Walker............................................................ 260

89. MARK AGUHAR, LITANIESTOMY HEAVENLY BROWN BODY, 2011
Mark Aguhar and Bishakh Som............................... 262

90. “CAMP TRANS: FOR HUMYN-BORN HUMYNS” SIGN, 1994
Michelle Tea................................................................ 264

91. BEVERLY SHAW’S STAR SIGN, c. 1950s
Bobbie Hughes............................................................ 268

92. VIRGINIA PRINCE, TRANSVESTIA, 1960–86
Ms. Bob Davis and Dallas Denny............................. 270

93. AMOS MAC AND ROCCO KAYIATOS, ORIGINALPLUMBING, 2009–19
Jamison Green............................................................ 272

94. CHRISTOPHER LEE, ALLEYOFTHETRANNYBOYS, 1998
Cáel M. Keegan.......................................................... 274

95. GIUSEPPE CAMPUZANO, MUSEO TRAVESTI DEL PERÚ, 2003–13
Miguel A. López.......................................................... 276

96. ABSOLUTE EMPRESS III SHIRLEY, FELT BANNER USED TO REPRESENT THE GRAND MERE, ABSOLUTE EMPRESS I DE SAN FRANCISCO AND THE WIDOW NORTON, JOSÉ JULIO SARRIA, THE NIGHTINGALE EMPRESS, c. 1965
Tina Valentin Aguirre............................................... 278

97. EL ARCHIVO DE LA MEMORIA TRANS ARGENTINA, 2012–PRESENT
Luisa Paz, Beatriz Evelyn Silva, and Kouka Garcia de Mesureur   280

98. IMPERIAL LODGE OF ELKS IN PARISISBURNING, 1990
Sydney Baloue............................................................ 284

99. WU TSANG, THEFISTISSTILLUP, 2010
Raquel Gutiérrez........................................................ 286
 
​APPENDIX
MOTHA CHRONOLOGY: 2013–PRESENT
Sage Ballard de la Bastida................................................. 288
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.................................................... 294
CONTRIBUTOR BIOGRAPHIES..................................... 296
CREDITS AND PERMISSIONS....................................... 303
* Interior of Cover and Section Dividers: Edie Fake
** Cover and Drawings of Objects: Chris E. Vargas
 

Be the first to know

Get the latest updates on new releases, special offers, and media highlights when you subscribe to our email lists!

Sign up here for updates about the Press