Corresponding Change: Exploring the Role of Letter Writing and Pen Pal Communities in the Formation of Mid-20th-Century Trans Medicine

This paper examines the influence of pen pal circles and letter writing practices within mid-twentieth century transgender communities, exploring their impact on the formation of trans medical knowledge. Centered on key figures such as Louise Lawrence and Reed Erickson, who acted as intermediaries between trans individuals and clinicians/researchers, the paper examines how the establishment of trans medical authority was intricately tied to the epistolary communities facilitated by Lawrence and Reed. Leveraging their visibility and influence, Lawrence and Reed played a pivotal role in connecting trans individuals to one another–hoping that writing circles would ease isolation and loneliness. But they also used these pen pal communities to gather data and case histories which they shared with clinicians and academic researchers, influencing the trajectory of trans therapeutics. By examining the intersections of personal narratives, medical discourse, and community building through letter writing, this paper sheds light on the influence of epistolary connections in shaping transgender therapeutics in the U.S.