Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from Jean Elliott Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Jean Elliott Papers, Ms2016-014, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

The Jean Elliott Papers were donated to Special Collections in 2015.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Jean Elliott Papers was completed in October 2016

Biographical Note

Jean Elliott worked for Virgina Tech from 1999-2015. She retired in 2015 as Communications Manager for the Virginia Tech College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Prior to working at Virginia Tech, Elliott served as the Sports Information Director at the College of William and Mary and Brown University.

As an employee of Virginia Tech, Elliott was a visible advocate for the LGBTQ community. In 2005, she worked with professors Jeff Mann and Carol Burch-Brown to establish the annual "Gay in Appalachia" event, which celebrates the LGBTQ+ experience in rural communities through visual and performing arts. In 2009, Elliott worked with the LGBT faculty/staff caucus to establish an Ally of the Year Award and the Lavender Commencement Ceremony for LGBTQ+ students at Virginia Tech.

Elliott has been recognized for her work advocacy work by Equality Virginia, which named her an "Outstanding Virginian" in 2012. Elliott received the Presidential Principles of Community Award, Virginia Tech's highest honor for diversity and inclusion work, in 2014.

Sources:

http://www.equalityvirginia.org/dinner-2016/outstanding-virginians/jean-elliott/

http://www.roanoke.com/news/education/higher_education/virginia_tech/longtime-virginia-tech-diversity-advocate-retires-to-nature-and-family/article_685e5819-16ec-5e36-ad8a-60a026f72f89.html

Scope and Content

The Jean Elliott Papers includes documents and correspondece relating to Jean Elliott's work within the LGBTQ Community at Virginia Tech. A few documents also relate to the College of William and Mary, where she worked prior to Virginia Tech. The collection consists of information about the LGBTQ community and resources for students, LGBTQ event planning and LGBTQ events at Virginia Tech, including "Gay in Appalachia" and the Lavender Commencement Ceremony, as well as correspondence with other LGBTQ Caucus members and government officials.

Index Terms

Subjects:

• Faculty
• LGBTQ history
• Sexual minorities
• University History
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University