DENVER NEVAAR - SISTER WHO PAPERS

The collection spans the years 1981 to 2005. It follows the life of Denver NeVaar who explores identity through his “spiritual alter-ego” Sister Who. Sister Who created a public access television show titled Sister Who Presents of which the Denver Public Library possesses videotapes in the Western History Collection. The videos are numbered 1 – 106, in order of completion. Sister Who taped episodes 56 through 83 in Billings, Montana, and the remaining in Denver, Colorado. Papers comprise manuscripts, and correspondence related to Sister Who Presents, newspaper articles by Sister Who, a newsletter, Sister Who’s Perspective, printouts of his web site, sisterwho.com and scrapbook pages with notes and color photographs of his travels. Sister Who’s work focuses on issues of identity and spirituality.

Representing NeVaar’s personal life, the collection contains manuscripts with hand written notes, personal correspondence and resumes from the 1980s and 1990s. His journals reflect his thoughts on his personal identity and Sister Who from 1995 to 2002. The correspondence provides information on NeVaar’s interest with internet discussion groups. The personal material focuses on his relationships with friends and lovers, as well as his search for spirituality. The collection remains open for additional material.

One box of color photographs taken between 1991 and 1995 in Paris, France; New York City, New York; Seattle, Washington; Denver, Colorado; Georgetown, Colorado and several mountain peaks, including hand written notes made in 1997 by NeVaar.

Papers related to NeVaar's activities in the persona of Sister Who constitute the bulk of the series. These include his sermonettes, newsletters and website printouts as well as correspondence about his television show. Correspondence and clippings of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and Sisters of Incessant Revelation are included in this series with memorabilia from other Sister Who related activities and events. Also, programs and articles about organizations and events for which Sister Who volunteered comprise a portion of the series. BOX 1, FF9 RESTRICTED UNTIL THE YEAR 2028.

The series contains newspaper articles and editorials as well as the progression of manuscripts of NeVaar’s novels, Troll Steps and Re-Inventing the Sacred Clown. Both manuscripts focus on identity. Troll Steps is fiction and the second provides information on NeVaar’s decision to assume the identity of Sister Who.

Papers on various aspects of NeVaar's personal life constitute this series, arranged by topic. For example, annotated scripts for plays in which NeVaar played roles appear under "Acting." Autographed high school and college yearbooks and class papers for the Iliff School of Theology make up the topic "Education." The papers for "Employment" include resumes and job descriptions for positions which NeVaar viewed as necessary for basic survival but not his true calling. The topic "Friends" constitutes the bulk of the series consisting of correspondence to and from NeVaar and his friends mostly in the form of email. Papers for organizations are included in the "Interests" topic. "Religion" contains programs and correspondence with various churches to which NeVaar belonged.

Materials received from NeVaar between 2005 and 2008. Primarily emails and correspondence, along with some Internet materials, class information, and articles.

Master 3/4" U-matic tapes and VHS dubs of Sister Who's public access television series, Sister Who Presents, comprise the bulk of the series (episodes 1-42 and 92-106) . Also included are videotapes of other projects such as various holiday specials, some CDs and DVDs represented.

Color photographs, mostly in costume, at various events in Paris, France and in the United States. Photographs have been taped to tracing paper and notes written on the borders of the paper regarding the location, costume, or significance of the photo and the date of the event. Several rolls of 35mm color negatives are also included in this series.

Contains material donated after 2008.