The Remarkable Visibility of Hannah Nokes
By Queer Virginia Contributor Amy Bertsch
2026-10-14 18:00:00
2026-10-14 19:30:00
America/New_York
The Remarkable Visibility of Hannah Nokes
October is LGBTQ+ History Month. Local historian Amy Bertsch explores the life of Hannah Nokes, an African American transgender woman, in Queer Virginia: New Stories in the Old Dominion.
Local History/Special Collections - Sprouse Rare Book Room
Wednesday, October 14
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Local History/Special Collections
Sprouse Rare Book RoomOctober is LGBTQ+ History Month. Local historian Amy Bertsch explores the life of Hannah Nokes, an African American transgender woman, in Queer Virginia: New Stories in the Old Dominion.
October is LGBTQ+ History Month. Join us for a special event featuring local historian Amy Bertsch. Amy will share the story of Hannah Nokes, an African American transgender woman who made headlines in 1933 when she testified in a high-profile murder trial. Learn about Nokes's life, her place in history, and the broader social context of her remarkable story. Her story is among those featured in the book "Queer Virginia: New Stories in the Old Dominion." Don't miss this opportunity to explore an important chapter of Virginia's LGBTQ+ History and meet one of the historians helping to preserve and share these stories.
Amy Bertsch is an independent research historian specializing in African American and Virginia history. She earned an M.A. in History from Sam Houston State University and previously worked in public history with the Office of Historic Alexandria. Amy also taught in the Public History and Historic Preservation Certificate Program at Northern Virginia Community College, a program she completed herself.
In addition to her essay about Hannah Nokes in Queer Virginia, Amy's published work includes a chapter in Historic Alexandria's African American Emancipation in an Occupied City, the article "Lost Potters of Loudoun County, Virginia: The Gardner-Duncan Family" in the Journal of Early Southern Decorative Arts, and the occasional "Out of the Attic" history column in the Alexandria Times. Through her research and writing, she helps bring overlooked stories from Virginia's past to a wider audience.
Following the presentation, Amy will sign copies of Queer Virginia, which will be available for purchase.
AGE GROUP: | Seniors | Adults |
EVENT TYPE: | Special Event | Local History | Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion | Author Talks |
TAGS: | Virginia250 | Local History | lgbtq | history | african american | #America 250 |
Local History/Special Collections
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