Hello!
My name is Nico Mara-McKay (they/them), a historian, writer, editor, and occasional curator working across research, publishing, and public history, and I am the driver behind Ephemeral Record.
In practice, this means I do consulting work with organizations, write and edit for academic and public audiences, give talks, and curate art and museum exhibitions.
My work is grounded in historical research and shaped by a commitment to accessibility, community engagement, and thoughtful storytelling.
You can learn more through links to my portfolio, resume, and academic curriculum vitae. I’m also on LinkedIn and Bluesky, or you can reach me through my contact form.
About Ephemeral Record
Ephemeral Record aims to foster connections among historians and community members engaged with queer and trans histories, creating a collective space where historical knowledge and lived experience can be preserved and shared.
Queer and trans histories have always been obscured, hidden from public narratives, only surfacing through traces and whispers. Queer theorist José Esteban Muñoz wrote that queerness appears through “innuendo, gossip, fleeting moments… evaporating at the touch of those who would eliminate queer possibility.”
For trans people in particular, telling our own stories is especially important. As literary scholar Gabrielle Bychowski observed in Trans Historical, “Most scholarship is, effectively, cisgender scholarship… because most scholarship assumes the cisgender status of any character or historical figure who is presented.” Trans narratives told by trans people reclaim authority over our lived experiences and reveal the complexities of trans joy and resilience.
With Ephemeral Record, I want to preserve and share those moments, from the medieval trans sex worker in London to my own experiences as a genderqueer trans person navigating an social and political climate that is increasingly hostile to 2SLGBTQIA+ folks. I want to create a collaborative space where historians and community members can connect and learn from one another.
Who is it for?
Ephemeral Record is for historians, researchers, archivists, writers, and community members engaged with queer and trans histories. This includes people working within academic institutions as well as independent scholars, writers, activists, artists, and anyone committed to preserving and sharing these histories with integrity and care.
There is no single way to participate. Listening, learning, contributing, and collaborating are all welcome.
Interested in getting involved?
Please get in touch!