Idaho LGBTQ Oral History Project
Biography: Alan Virta was born in Arlington, Virginia in Since a young age, Virta had a particular interest in history and historical artifacts. After working for the Library of Congress for thirteen years, Virta decided to work for a smaller library. In , he began working for the library at Boise State. When Virta decided to come out in his early 40s, he was supported by his family. Alan Virta was born in Arlington, Virginia in Since a young age, Virta had a particular interest in history and historical artifacts. Idaho LGBTQ Oral History Project
During his 24 years at Albertsons Library at Boise State, Alan Virta, who retired in , created an LGBTQIA+ history archive as the head of special collections and archives, and helped advise the creation of “The Fall of ‘55,” a documentary directed by Seth Randal about the scandal that rocked Idaho’s capital. History News Network puts current events into historical perspective. Subscribe to our newsletter for new perspectives on the ways history continues to resonate in the present. Gay history
The moral panic brought national media attention, especially when the scandal increasingly focused on well-known men in consensual gay relationships. “Boise was known for the ‘Boys of Boise’ and I think it was embarrassing,” Alan Virta, a former Boise State librarian, told me a few years ago. “And people didn’t want to bring it up. Most sources cite the Red Scare as the reason behind the Boise landmark, but don't connect it to events that happened just a few weeks before its construction. So how does it connect to the Table Rock cross, a familiar and even comforting sight for many Boiseans? 
Idaho’s Original Same
[Seth Randal is the writer and director of “The Fall of ’55,” a documentary about the Boise scandal. Alan Virta, the archivist at Boise State University, was the historical consultant. Collection is available for research. Riley Caldwell-O'Keefe taught the course and designed the project as an interactive learning tool to help students understand LGBTQ history, with special emphasis on Idaho history, and the impacts of this history on local individuals.
Historians Share Unknown Stories Of LGBTQ Representation In
Historian Alan Virta researched the story of seven women who were fired from the Boise Police Department in under the suspicion they were gay. He says activists rallied in support of the women, who sought justice in federal court. As a fellow Idahomo, I had to seek him out for interview. Seth was an invited guest as well and Alan made a point of introducing me to Tom Ford, who agreed to be interviewed for The Evening Class. Seth Randal & Alan Virta
A mere few weeks later while visiting Boise, I met up with Seth Randal once more and he introduced me to the film’s historical consultant Alan Virta and the two of them provided a personal tour of downtown Boise, pointing out the locations where events in their documentary subject had unfolded. . 
LGBTQIA+ History Month
We discussed ethical considerations and obtained Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval for the project. Throughout the process, we worked with Boise State Special Collections librarians, Alan Virta and Cheryl Oestreicher. The culmination and digital release of the collection would have been impossible without them. .
Idaho LGBTQ Oral History Project Alan Virta
Alan Virta, the archivist at Boise State University, was the historical consultant for the film. .