Materials in the LGBTQ+ vertical file collection originate from a large collection of subject files collected by Special Collections staff with the purpose of providing answers to reference questions. The collection of these materials began in the late 1960s or early 1970s and continued into the 2020s. In 2018 a proposal established the assessment and gathering of all LGBTQ+ material within the vertical files to create an archival collection with a controlled vocabulary that would facilitate the search and retrieval of materials while also providing greater visibility to our holdings.

An initial assesment produced 35 linear feet of material distributed within approximately 440 files. Many files provided the sole documentation of local organizations but not enough material to convert these into collections of their own. Due to its original intent as a reference source, there were many clippings on a wide variety of subjects, some of them of particular historial and cultural interest, thus they were kept in the final processed collection. Other material, such as serial publications, was removed for future assessment and cataloging. The remaining material was processed with the intention of providing greater visibility to organizations, businesses, events, and historical subjects.

File titles were assigned using Library of Congress Name Authority Files for names of organizations, businesses, and events. Subject files as well as sub-series were assigned using terms from the Homosaurus Vocabulary in order to provide an updated and comprehensive vocabulary that uses terms developed by the people and communities represented in the collection.