20 years after the library’s founding, Adam G. The library’s book collection alone accounts for more than 15,000 volumes-it also offers pulp novels, films, periodicals, graphic novels, and other items of cultural interest. Quatrefoil continues to operate in the Gordon Building. Directors began regularly publishing the library’s newsletter-The Gay Bookworm and later Quatrefolio-shortly after the move. In 1987, it moved to the former Richards Gordon School in the “Midway” between Minneapolis and St. In a matter of months, the collection threatened to consume more space than the MCLU. Community newspapers and local business leaders helped Quatrefoil expand it holdings, and the library exponentially expanded. (1) Scores of other community leaders have ties with it, either as donors, volunteers, event organizers, or patrons. Karen Clark, the first open Lesbian to serve in the Minnesota Congress, was first to donate money to the fledgling library. Jean-Nickolaus Tretter volunteered there before beginning the Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection, as did George Holdgrafer, who would later begin Lavender Magazine. In the 1950s, Quatrefoil (pronounced cat-er-foil) became the bible for battling suicidal thoughts and embracing monogamous love, while simultaneously masquerading as straight to avoid blackmail and social ruin. Named after one of the first books to positively present queer male life-Quatrefoil, by James Barr (1950)-the library has been a safe space to the community for almost three decades. It is known for being the first American novel to depict gay relationships in a positive way. The first public LGBT collection in Minnesota opened for regular business on February 4, 1986. It began as the private collection of Dick Hewetson and David Irwin in the early 1980s, and transformed upon moving to rented space at the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union on West Broadway Avenue in North Minneapolis. “Quatrefoil” proudly holds the distinction of being the second LGBT lending library in the United States-the Gerber-Hardt in Chicago was first-and it remains one of the largest libraries of its kind in the world.

Courtesy of the Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection Cover of Equal TIme announcing the opening of Quatrefoil Library.

Quatrefoil by James Barr