We believe in the power of history. Archive activism is about uncovering original, declassified documents and then using them to educate lawmakers, Courts, historians, the legal community, activists and the media.

The mission of the Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C. is to conduct original archival research and educational outreach that focuses on gay and lesbian legal, political, and policy history—often hidden, locked away or destroyed.  Our sources range from the Library of Congress to the National Archives and Records Administration; Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to federal agencies; litigation; Presidential archives and libraries; and university libraries.

The original Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C. was the first gay civil rights organization in Washington, D.C. Co-founded by Dr. Franklin E. Kameny and Jack Nichols in 1961, the organization conducted the first gay rights protests at the White House, the United States Civil Service Commission, and the Pentagon.

The Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C. is organized and approved for charitable and educational purposes as a 501(c)(3) of the IRS code, and is incorporated as a non-profit corporation in the District of Columbia.