Having accidentally come across a random and matter of fact one sentence reference to Homosexuality on a whaling ship, I immediately researched any such references found by others, but in 2017 the only reference to it was that it had to have been part of the whaleship culture even if there is no actual proof of it, only assumption and whatever Melville had hinted at.

For the next few years I hoped to find more references as I continued transcribing log books as a volunteer at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, and only found hints in such logs as that of the Jesse H Freeman in 1895 the same year and location, Herschel Island, as the entry I had found.

Until this past September, 2023, I had only found Homosexuality to be an assumption although I had the proof it was more than that. 

During a cross country train trip to revisit, perhaps for the last time, places I had lived starting in 1973, I was horrified by the lost, rewritten, and modified accounts of the past that denied the future Gay Community its own real history, learning in my own case that, in spite of documentation, hard copy and digital, my own history was being modified for modern sensibilities and in the process being misrepresented and finding myself a little embarrassed by how I came across.

I was able to restore my own history and rectify the errors whether accidental or designed.

I had approached the New Bedford Whaling Museum and, as a result of a talk with the president and the head of curation who explained that while they would support any research and accept the results because its structure and other legal and governmental regulations etc. has it an archival not research institute, within less than two weeks of my first approaching the Whaling Museum, the Quigley Institute for Non-Heterosexual Archival Archaeology was born with the web address www.gaywhalers.org.

I used Non-Hetersexual in the title as before, during, and after the present time our understanding of human sexuality has grown and we are learning of new variants constantly. I don’t care what you are, if it is not Heterosexual you’re in.

Archival Archaeology involves going back into accepted history to discover what was mistakenly omitted, what was changed, what was modified to make those unpleasant moments in history more palpable to modern times, omitted and disguised because of the personal, political, and religious beliefs prevalent at the time, or simply revised for any number of reasons. It involves restoring the vocabulary at the time as it was, after it has been modified by those preferring comfort over fact.

It brings events and people to light for a full understanding. 

It corrects the “historical record” and restores history to what was, warts and all, not what is wanted, and attempts to prevent the passing on of purposeful or accidental revisionism by making the facts known before misinformation sets in.

We save the past and the people.

Presently, the Institute’s attention is on whaling crew men because that is where my interest is at the moment and it was in whaling that we found some hidden people. The possibility is that as more people get involved and more leads have to be followed, the archival archaeology will spread to other areas.

The institute does not control anything. It does not direct, nor does it assign. The only person who can pass judgment on the value of a lead followed is the one following it and will see whether or not it ends up somewhere predictable or, better, surprising. 

It also answers the basic question when someone has found something interesting, “Now what do I do with it?”

I am hoping that eventually the site will be a place where discoveries are collected in one central location so they are easy to find for researchers.

Along with the answer to Homosexuality on whale ships, there are hints in local history of Boston Marriages and these should also be looked into to bring these brave women and their true selves out of the shadows.

The “companion” was often equal to the other but reduced in importance by the necessary socially preferred use of that term. We may read the words, but we are not there and miss the wink. 

I am asking that people read what I have found so far, and if they feel so moved, contribute what they may have found or list resources that others can research.

I am not an expert with degrees and a lot of training and experience, so I am quite aware I could often, if not always, be a little off the mark and welcome corrections and contributions.

As the purpose of the site is to preserve and reveal real history, my possible jumps to conclusions and romantic hopes need to be corrected where needed.

I am asking that anyone so interested help in the restoration of our place in history.

I have included a Gay Whalers Group for people to contribute as the spirit moves them. 

Make sure you include any necessary info about yourself so that proper credit can be given to the contributor. 

Things have to start somewhere.

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