Guide to the Cheryl Curtis and Morgan Grey papers
1954-2018
Collection number: HMC-1286.
Creator:
Curtis, Cheryl.
Grey, Morgan, 1954-.
Title: Cheryl Curtis and Morgan Grey papers.
Dates: 1954-2018.
Volume of collection: 8.8 cubic feet and 89.7 MB.
Language of materials: Materials in the collection are in English.
Collection summary: Papers of a couple who were advocates for feminist and lesbian issues, and women in the trades.
Biographical note:
Cheryl Curtis was born in Palmer, Alaska in 1961. She graduated from Chugiak High School, where she was All-State in basketball in 1979. She attended Pacific University in Oregon and graduated from Springfield College in Massachusetts in 1983. She stayed on the East Coast and pursued a career in carpentry and housing maintenance, working as counselor and carpentry instructor for Northern New England Tradeswomen in Vermont. In 1994, Curtis and her longtime partner, Morgan Grey, moved back to Alaska, where she enjoyed hiking, kayaking, biking, and picking blueberries. Curtis continued to work in building maintenance, and she and Grey were involved with the Alaska Tradeswomen Network. She was diagnosed with amyloidosis and started an online chat room for people with the condition to help herself and others heal. She began a program to work toward a master’s degree in social work, however she was unable to finish due to her declining health. Cheryl Curtis passed away in 2008 from complications of amyloidosis.
Morgan Grey was born in 1954 and grew up in Beatrice Nebraska. She graduated from Beatrice High School in 1972 and from the University of Nebraska in 1985. In 1978, she wrote two informational booklets published by the Nebraska Task Force on Domestic Violence. She served as the Managing editor for Matrices: A Lesbian Feminist research newsletter from 1978 to 1986. In 1988, she published the book, The Book of Found Goddesses: Asphalta to Viscera along with Julia Penelope, a linguistics professor at the University of Nebraska. She moved to Vermont and, in 1991, wrote Step-up for Women/Women’s Resources Curriculum: A Course in Empowerment for Tradeswomen” published by Northern New England Tradeswomen. While living in Vermont, she was also involved with the Vermont Institute of Natural Science as a handler for birds of prey. In 1994, she moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where she worked as an academic advisor at the University of Alaska Anchorage. In addition to her writing, Grey has taught workshops on goddess worship and shamanism, as well as performing readings and plays related to feminism. Morgan Grey changed her name from Bobby Lynn Lacy, and some materials in the collection reflect her previous name.
Collection description:
The collection consists of the papers of Cheryl Curtis and Morgan Grey, who lived in Alaska and were involved in feminist issues, those surrounding women in the trades. The collection is divided in to series for Cheryl Curtis’s personal papers; Morgan Grey’s personal papers; and papers relating to women in the trades, which include materials from events and organizations in which both women were involved. Both Curtis and Grey’s papers contain educational and employment records, correspondence, journals, writings, photographs, and scrapbooks. Curtis’s papers also contain information related to her illness and death. Grey’s papers include materials related to workshops she taught, as well as audiocassettes of psychic and astrological readings. The series relating to women in the trades includes Morgan Grey’s writings about the subject; records of the Alaska Tradeswomen Network; a photograph album from a Step Up for Women program in New Hampshire; and VHS titled Women Working.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged into three series:
Series 1: Cheryl Curtis papers; 1961-2008
Series 2: Morgan Grey papers; 1954-2018
Series 3: Women in the trades papers; 1987-2006
Alternative formats: Selected photograph albums and scrapbooks were dismantled due to condition issues and photocopies were made to indicate their original order.
Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Digital materials: The digital contents of this collection are not available online. Access may only be provided on-site in the Archives research room. For more information about potential distance access to digital records, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Copyright to materials in the collection is held by Morgan Grey. Archives and Special Collections is authorized to provide access and copies for use.
Preferred citation: Cheryl Curtis and Morgan Grey papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Works used in preparation of inventory:
“Cheryl Ann Curtis.” Obituaries. Anchorage Daily News. February 10, 2008. Accessed March 1, 2018. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/cheryl-curtis-obituary?pid=103046500&view=guestbook
“49 Writers Volunteer Interview: Morgan Grey.” 49 Writers Blog. May 10 2011. Accessed May 30, 2018. http://49writers.org/2011/05/49-writers-volunteer-interview-morgan.html
Separated materials: Published materials were removed from the collection, and selected items were added to the Archives Ephemera collections and the Consortium Library’s Rare Books collection.
Acquisition note: Morgan Grey donated the collection to the Archives in 2017. A deed of gift was signed and additional material was donated in 2018.
Processing information: This collection was described by Gwen Higgins in 2018. At that time some photograph albums and scrapbooks in the collection were dismantled and rehoused due to condition issues.
Container list:
Series 1: Cheryl Curtis papers; 1961-2008. 2 cubic feet.
Papers and photographs related to Cheryl Curtis’s personal and professional life, including employment and education records, awards, correspondence, diaries and other writings, remembrances of Curtis after her death in 2008, photographs, and scrapbooks. Materials are arranged by type of document.
| Box/Folder | Description | Date |
| 1/1 | Birth certificate | 1961 |
| 1/2 | Passport | 2006 |
| 1/3 | College records | 1983-1984 |
| 1/4 | Teacher’s certificate | 1984 |
| 1/5 | Apprenticeship documents | 1984-1986 |
| 1/6 | Resumes | 1983-2001 |
| 1/7 | Reference letters | 1987, 2000 |
| 1/8 | Awards and certificates | 1972-1990 |
| Box 9 | Real estate documents | 1994 |
| Box 9 | Chugiak High School track and field Most Valuable trophy | 1977 |
| Box 9 | 2nd Annual Susan B. Anthony Race 10K, 18-29 age group first place plaque | 1981 |
| Box 9 | Weidner Investment Services, Inc. Maintenance of the Year plaque | 1997 |
| 1/9 | Membership cards and student IDs | undated, 1972, 1983 |
| 1/10 | Chugiak High School graduation announcement and diploma | 1979 |
| Box 9 | Chugiak High School graduation cap and gown | 1979 |
| 1/11-19 | Correspondence | 1970-2017 |
| 1/20-22 | Diaries | 1975-1992 |
| 1/23 | Address book and accompanying notes: birthdays, product information, email lists | 2007-2008 |
| 1/24 | Resurrection trail memorial notebook | 1996 |
| 1/25 | Writings | undated, 1976-1982 |
| 1/26 | Notes | undated, 2002 |
| 1/27 | Transcript of interview about amyloidosis | undated |
| 1/28 | “Spirit Healing Song” by Cheryl Curtis and Dan Komiya | undated, 2005 |
| 1/29 | Remembrances of Cheryl Curtis | 2008 |
| 1/30 | Celebration of life and scattering of ashes program and invitation | 2008 |
| 1/31 | Childhood photograph album | 1961-1984 |
| 1/32 | Hawaii scrapbook | undated |
| Box 9 | High school scrapbook | 1976-1979 |
| 1/33 | Graduation scrapbook | 1979 |
| 1/34 | Pacific University scrapbook | 1979-1980 |
| 1/35 | Photograph album | 1980-1981 |
| 1/36-1/38 | Photographs | 1980-1992 |
| 1/39 | Photographs: camping and hiking | 1994 August |
| 1/40 | Photographs: Alaska Highway and ice skating | 1995 |
| 2/1 | Photographs: Hawaii | 1999 |
| 2/2 | Photographs | 2006 |
| 2/3 | Photographs: dipnetting | undated |
| 2/4 | Photographs: canoe trip | undated |
| 2/5 | Photographs: canoe trip, mining equipment, travel photographs | undated |
| 2/6 | Photographs: kayak trip, cats | undated |
| 2/7 | Photographs: kayaking and rafting | undated |
| 2/8 | Photographs: cabin and china dishes | undated |
| 2/9 | Photographs: kayak trip | undated |
| 2/10 | Photographs: unidentified woman painting a house and posing with children and dog | undated |
| 2/11 | Photographs: family members, dogs | undated |
| 2/12 | Photographs | 1987-1993 |
| 2/13 | Photographs: Flossie Joyce Kneff-Pelletier memorial photographs | undated, 2007 |
| 2/14-15 | Celebration of life display photographs | undated |
| Server | Photographs: Cheryl and Cheyenne, Cheryl’s party | 2007 |
| Server | Photographs: celebration of life | 2008 |
| 2/16 | Negatives: Chilkoot Trail | undated |
| 2/17 | Negatives: hiking and camping | undated |
| 2/18 | Negatives | undated, 1977-1980 |
| 2/19 | Locks of hair | undated |
| 2/20 | Hawaii cruise video | 1999 February 13 |
Series 2: Morgan Grey papers; 1954-2018. 5.6 cubic feet.
Morgan Grey’s personal papers include a baby book, childhood artwork, educational records and school memorabilia, correspondence, journals, writings, workshop materials, photographs, audio recordings, and video recordings. Materials are arranged by type of document.
| Box/Folder | Description | Date |
| 2/22 | Baptism certificate and adoption order | 1955, 1961 |
| 2/23 | Baby book | 1954 |
| 2/24 | School records | 1959-1973 |
| 2/25 | School memorabilia | 1960-1976 |
| 2/26 | University of Rhode Island Chowder and Marching Society certificate | 1971 July 22 |
| 2/27 | Diploma-Beatrice High School, Beatrice, Nebraska | 1972 |
| 2/28 | Diploma-University of Nebraska | 1985 |
| 2/29 | Beatrice High School reunion booklet | 1982 |
| 2/30 | Desktop publishing class feedback | 1991 |
| 2/31 | Certificates | 1985-2006 |
| 2/32-4/6 | Correspondence | 1978-2018 |
| 4/7-5/4 | Journals | 1970-2012 |
| 5/5 | Weekly planner | 1984 |
| 5/6 | Datebook | 1985 |
| 5/7 | Psychic readings | 1988-1990 |
| 5/8 | Book of shadows | 1985 |
| 5/9-5/11 | Julia Penelope Stanley papers on feminist linguistics | 1966-1986 |
| 5/12 | Midwest Region Women’s Studies Association conference materials | 1980 |
| 5/13 | Shamanism: events, correspondence, newsletters, World Tree Foundation documents | 1998-2001 |
| 5/14 | Becoming Whole: Modern Goddess Workshop materials | undated |
| 5/15 | Speech: Found Goddesses/Finding the Scared | undated |
| 5/16 | Classes and workshops: schedules and notes | undated, 1983 |
| 5/17 | Magic workshop | undated |
| 5/18 | Matriarchal religions: historical perspectives notes | undated |
| 5/19 | Exercises for workshops | undated, 1985 |
| 5/20 | Handouts for classes | undated |
| 5/21 | Energy balancing workshop handouts | circa 1997 |
| 5/22 | Spiritual journeys workshop handout | undated |
| 5/23 | Visualization class exercises | undated |
| 5/24 | Crimes against women-reading | undated |
| 5/25 | Women and nature-reading | undated |
| 5/26 | Lesbian Herstory | undated, 1981 |
| 5/27-6/1 | Stories and poems | undated, 1969-1975 |
| 6/2 | “Unspeakable Stuffing: Fat Dykes in Lesbian Literature” | 1981 |
| 6/3 | Grief workshop evaluations | undated |
| 6/4 | Articles | 1979-1980, 2000 |
| 6/5 | Linguistics papers | 1978-1979 |
| 6/6 | “Perspectives on Violence Against Women: Wife Beating and Witch Burning” | 1979 |
| 6/7 | Women’s studies papers | 1978-1980 |
| 6/8 | Schoolwork | 1971, 1981 |
| 6/9 | Found goddesses notes | undated |
| 6/10-11 | The Book of Found Goddesses: Asphalta to Viscera as Revealed to Morgan Grey and Julia Penelope drafts | 1987 |
| 6/12 | The Book of Found Goddesses royalties | 1992 |
| 6/13 | The Book of Found Goddesses contracts | 1988 |
| 6/14 | The Book of Found Goddesses query correspondence | 1988 |
| 6/15 | The Book of Found Goddesses reprints | 1989 |
| 6/16 | The Book of Found Goddesses correspondence | 1986-1988 |
| 6/17 | The Book of Found Goddesses reviews | 1988-1989 |
| 6/18 | New goddesses | undated |
| 6/19 | Kudzu Vine newsletter | 1982-1983 |
| 6/20 | Matrices: A Lesbian/Feminist research newsletter | 1977-1985 |
| 6/21 | Lesbian Spiritual Community survey responses | 1987-1988 |
| 6/22 | Infant photograph album | 1954 |
| 6/23 | Childhood portraits | circa 1960 |
| Box 9 | Childhood scrapbook | circa 1960-1970 |
| 6/24 | Photograph album: childhood and trip to New Mexico (with negatives) | undated 1955-1971 |
| 6/25 | Scrapbook | 1964-1972 |
| 6/26 | Photograph album | undated, 1969-1975 |
| 6/27 | Photograph album | undated, 1989 |
| 7/1 | Doug Foulk, Alan Nations, and Cyndi negatives | undated |
| 7/2 | Midwestern Lesbian Feminist Conference negatives | undated |
| 7/3 | Rock hunting trip negatives | undated |
| 7/4 | Meg and Emily (cats), Lincoln, Nebraska negatives | undated |
| 7/5-6 | Unidentified travel photographs negatives | undated |
| 7/8 | Unidentified negatives | undated |
| 7/9-21 | Negatives: road wash out; St. Johnsbury, Vermont house and octagonal cabin; cats; Vermont Institute of Natural Science; Maine falcon hacking site, whale watching; Morgan with her mother. | 1990-1991 |
| 7/22 | Hot air balloons negatives | undated |
| 7/23 | Debbie Alicen, Mariain Aubuchon, Kate Moran photographs | 1991 |
| 7/24 | “Circle” photographs | undated |
| 7/25 | Florida photographs | 1991 |
| 7/26 | Uncle Earl’s 40 acres in Hornbrook, California photographs | 1995 |
| 7/27 | Alaska scenery and blueberries | undated |
| 7/28 | Archaeological dig of Dena’ina house site south of Soldotna, Alaska | 2000 |
| 7/29 | Family and friends photographs | undated, 1975-2010 |
| Box 9 | Morgan Grey headshots | undated |
| 7/30 | Vagina Monologues photographs and programs | 2005 |
| Roll 1, OSF | Posters relating to feminism, lesbianism, and goddess worship | undated |
| 7/31-32 | Audiocassettes: Psychic readings, astrology, witchcraft | 1981-1990 |
| 7/33 | DVD: VINS [Vermont Institute of Natural Science]/Morgan and Alamere on the news | undated |
| 7/34 | VHS: University of Alaska Anchorage “GLBT Panel,” University of Alaska Anchorage “Way of the Shaman” | undated |
| Box 9 | Girl Scout sash | undated |
Series 3: Women in the trades papers; 1987-2006. 1 cubic foot.
Papers related to Curtis and Grey’s work advocating for women in the trades, including Morgan Grey’s writing about the topic; records of Alaska Tradeswomen Network, of which both women were board members; photographs taken of a Step Up for Women program in New Hampshire; and a VHS titled Women Working. Materials are arranged by document type.
| Box/Folder | Description | Date |
| 7/35 | Inquiry letters regarding women in the trades | 1991-1994 |
| 7/36 | Kennebec Valley Technical College History of Women in Trades correspondence and contracts | 1992-1995 |
| 7/37-8/1 | A History of Women in the Trades by Morgan Grey | undated |
| Roll 1 | A History of Women in the Trades promotional poster | undated |
| 8/2-3 | Step-up for Women/Women’s Resources Curriculum: A Course in Empowerment for Tradeswomen,” 2nd edition, published by Northern New England Tradeswomen. Morgan Grey, Writer/Editor | 1993 |
| 8/4 | Northern New England Tradeswomen’s Conference evaluations | undated, 1987 |
| 8/5 | Northern New England Tradeswomen peer evaluations | 1990 |
| 8/6 | “Task Force Performance Guide: Gender Equity and Education in the Workplace” Vocational curriculum Resource Center of Maine | 1997 |
| 8/7 | Alaska Tradeswomen Network correspondence | 1998 |
| 8/8 | Alaska Tradeswomen Network membership documents | 1998-1999 |
| 8/9 | Alaska Tradeswomen Network newsletters | 1998-2000 |
| 8/10-12 | Alaska Tradeswomen Network administrative documents: articles of incorporation, bylaws, minutes, and newsletters | 1998-2006 |
| 8/13 | Newsletters of other tradeswomen groups | 1998-2002 |
| 8/14 | Habitat for Humanity volunteer information | 1998 |
| 8/15 | Photograph album: Step Up for Women, New Hampshire | 1992-1993 |
| 8/16 | VHS: Women Working | 1994 |