Lesbian Herstory Archives

We often postpone or avoid writing wills or other documents related to estate planning. To some it feels overwhelming; others feel they have so little it really doesn’t matter. But it does matter. Having a carefully thought out estate plan is the only way to make sure that whatever you have, whether it is one book or an extensive collection, one poem or a body of literary works, a few dollars or a large sum of money, goes where you want it to go upon your death.

Without a will, all your property could revert to distant, uncaring or even rejecting relatives or to the state. Please make a will to keep this from happening. To ensure that your will is legally valid and fully enforceable, we strongly recommend that you consult with an attorney.

Help us to prepare for the future growth and financial continuity of the Archives. Let us know if you have included the Archives in your estate planning. If you share this information with us, not only will it help us know our future is more secure because of your financial commitment to our work, it will also help us make sure that what you want to happen with your personal materials does happen.

Financial donations can be made in various forms, such as bequests of specific amounts of cash, a bequest of a part of one’s estate and or a bequest of a particular asset, such as real estate or stocks. LHEF, Inc., our legal name, can also be named as a beneficiary or a contingent on a life insurance policy, retirement plan, or an annuity.

Donations of books, records, tapes, photographs, artwork and other personal letters, papers and property can also be left at a bequest to the Archives. The more exact the detail in the will, the less chance there is of materials being lost or destroyed.

Unpublished papers and manuscripts present particular issues for authors. The physical body of materials may be donated regardless of literary or publishing control. Issues of literary executorship need to be spelled out if they are of concern to you as an author. These issues in particular are ones that should be discussed with a knowledgeable attorney.