About The Library

Library History and Background
Board Members
Quatrefoil Library in the News
Mission Statement
Quatrefoil 20th Anniversary Party Photos

Library History and Background
The library takes its name from the 1950 novel, Quatrefoil, by James Barr. The novel is historically important as one of the first gay novels to portray homosexual characters positively.

The Quatrefoil Library is a dream-come-true for David Irwin, a gay bookworm. In the mid-1970s both he and Dick Hewetson started collecting thematically gay books. In 1977 they moved into a large condominium, combining collections in a linen closet. But as David continued to buy ever more books, the collection soon outgrew the "closet." When the two parted in 1984, their more than 1500 volumes remained united.

David and Dick's long time dream of starting a lending library was realized late in 1985 when the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union invited the Quatrefoil Library to be a tenant. The library went public on February 4, 1986.

During the first year, the collection and use of the library grew so quickly that it happily was forced to move to a larger home at the renovated Richards Gordon School. The library re-opened on June 6, 1987 with more than 4,000 volumes and over 300 periodicals.

Board Members

If you wish to contact the Board, please send an email to quatrefoillibrary@yahoo.com or call the Library at 651-641-0969.

Quatrefoil Library In The News
Lavender Magazine September 7-20, 2001

Mission Statement
The mission of Quatrefoil Library is to collect, maintain, document and circulate gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer materials and information in a safe and accessible space, in order to promote understanding, an appreciation of diversity and history, and the value of communities.

Quatrefoil 20th Anniversary Party Photos
Click here to see the pictures.