The Archives was founded in 1981 as the West Coast Lesbian Collections (WCLC) by Lynn Fonfa and Cherrie Cox in Oakland, California.

In 1985, WCLC relocated to Southern California with the help of Connexxus Women's Center, Jean Conger,[2][3] and the Gay and Lesbian Task Force of the City of West Hollywood,[4][1][5] and was maintained in the home of June L. Mazer and her partner Nancy "Bunny" MacCulloch in Altadena, California.

MacCulloch thereafter changed its name to the June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives and continued to run the collection with the assistance of volunteers.

[6] On November 28, 1988, the Mazer Archives moved from Altadena into the Werle Building, a space donated by the City of West Hollywood.

"[16] It is supported by funding from private donors and the City of West Hollywood, and has been run strictly by volunteers since 1985.