The vision of the Museum is to preserve, collect, exhibit and provide access to objects, items, ephemera, records about Lesbian Sapphic herstory, the Lesbian cultural experience and our diverse Lesbian communities and lives in Aotearoa.
Our museum, gallery, research library and document archive preserve Lesbian Sapphic culture for the benefit of our communities', to support research in topics about our Lesbian Sapphic and Rainbow+ Communities and for the understanding of future generations.
We acknowledge our herstories are not stand alone stories that happened in isolation but are expansive, complex and across different historical periods. Our stories, and as a result our collections are very much woven into and intertwined with the history/ herstory/ their-stories of Rainbow+ Communities and overflow into mainstream society through our work, families, the causes, movements, groups and organisations we are connected with.
The museum is safe inclusive space for all our Rainbow+ Communities and as a venue for Rainbow+ Community groups and organisations to use. And we often host exhibits and 'pop-up' museums in other places.
Currently we have a collection of more than 800 lesbian cultural artifacts: Labrys (in bone, glass and silver), domestic ware, ceramics, textiles, printed ephemera, music, artwork, badges, over 2100 lesbian books, and many of the early magazines form both New Zealand and overseas.
Getting To Know Us
Our HERSTORY.
Our name developed from the idea of using a woman's name as a way to celebrate ordinary lesbians. Around this time two women sharing a name passed away. Charlotte Prime, Te Ātiawa, a regular member in the 1970’s of the KG Club, an ordinary lesbian, quiet and unassuming, who lived out her identity in difficult times. And also Charlotte Smith who was another lesbian member of the KG Club.
Both Charlottes helped other women in their day-to-day lives as well as working on the KG Club Committee. Hence the name Charlotte was chosen.
The Charlotte Museum Trust became a registered charitable trust on the 7th of May 2007, and opened its first premises in Surrey Crescent, Grey Lynn, Auckland in 2008. We are part of the Te Papa National Museum Standards programme.
More Than a Museum
Saphira Research Library
& Document Archive.
We have a library packed with books perfect for students and researchers. View our catalogue online and visit or contact us to use our collection.