Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Genny Nelson papers, 1952-2020
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Nelson, Genevieve
- Title
- Genny Nelson papers
- Dates
- 1952-2020 (inclusive)19522020
1972-2020 (bulk)19732020 - Quantity
- 8.5 cubic feet, (6 record cartons; 2 flat boxes (13x16); 1 flat box (20x24))
- Collection Number
- Coll 906
- Summary
- Papers of Genevieve "Genny" Nelson (1952-2020), including records relating to Sisters of the Road Café. Nelson was a co-founder of Sisters of the Road Café, and an advocate for people experiencing homelessness.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Genevieve "Genny" Nelson was born in 1952 in Lewiston, Idaho, and studied at St. Mary's Academy and then Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. In the 1970s, Nelson and her friend Sandy Gooch ran a women's center named Boxcar Bertha's in Portland. When the federal grant that funded Boxcar Bertha's ran out, Nelson and Gooch, wanting to establish an alternative to the soup kitchens and missions that they felt to be paternalistic and impersonal, founded Sisters of the Road Café in 1979. The café provided a meal and a drink to unhoused people for $1.25, a price that did not change with inflation. Customers could also pay with food stamps, meal cards, and barter cards, or earn the meal by working at the café for 15 minutes. In 1987, Nelson successfully lobbied the U.S. Congress to pass a law allowing unhoused people to use food stamps to pay for prepared meals in nonprofit dining facilities. Sisters of the Road Café was also committed to the principles of nonviolence and the concept of "gentle personalism" rooted in the Catholic Workers movement.
Nelson retired from Sisters of the Road Café in 2009. She died in August 2020.
Sources: Articles in the Oregonian, December 11, 2009 and August 28, 2020.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection consists of the papers of Genevieve "Genny" Nelson, co-founder of the non-profit Sisters of the Road Café. The bulk of the collection is Nelson's personal files. These are a mixture of Nelson's personal papers, including her day planners, journals, and correspondence, as well as records relating to her work and advocacy, particularly her work as executive director of Sisters of the Road Café. Unless otherwise noted, these files are in the original order that they were in at the time of donation to the Oregon Historical Society Research Library, which is largely (though not entirely) chronological.
The collection also includes a substantial amount of Sisters of the Road Café records, including records relating to "Voices from the Street: Truths about Homelessness from Sisters of the Road," a book of interviews with unhoused people that Sisters of the Road produced and that Jessica P. Morrell edited. Other materials in the collection include: Materials relating to Nelson's other work and advocacy, including published materials about homelessness that she compiled; articles, books, certificates, and awards relating to recognition for Nelson's work; and personal ephemera, photographs, and writings, including a draft for a memoir.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
Genny Nelson papers, Coll 906, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Restrictions on Use
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Collection is arranged in five series: Series 1. Files; Series 2. Sisters of the Road Café records; Series 3. Other work and advocacy, and publications about homelessness; Series 4. Recognition; Series 5. Personal ephemera, photographs, and writings.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Alodie Didier, August 2022 (RL2022-130).
Preservation Note
Digital files, audiocassettes, and VHS videocassettes require specialized equipment to access. Contact library staff for assistance.
Processing Note
Unless otherwise noted, materials in Series 1. Files were kept in original order. All original file folders in the collection were retained. In cases where the original label of the file folder requires further clarification, the updated title is written on the folder's front flap.
Original plaques and awards were discarded for preservation reasons; photocopies or photographs of them were retained for the collection. Titles for videos in the collection were transcribed from labels on the media, and contents have not been verified by library staff.
Related Materials
Other materials relating to Sisters of the Road Café at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library are in the vertical file Portland - Charities - Sisters of the Road Cafe.
Separated Materials
Plaque awarded to Nelson by the Skanner newspaper and button for Sisters of the Road Café's 40th anniversary were separated to Museum Collections, Oregon Historical Society.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series 1: Files, 1972-2020Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
1 | 1 | Book of writings |
1973-1977 |
1 | 2 | Files |
1972 |
1 | 3 | Notecard and diary |
1973 |
1 | 4-7 | Files |
1975-1978 |
1 | 8 | Articles |
1979 |
1 | 9 | Writings |
1979 |
1 | 10 | Journal |
1979 |
1 | 11 | Letters and address books |
1979 |
1 | 12 | Day planner |
1979 |
1 | 13 | Journals |
1980 |
1 | 14 | Day planner |
1980 |
1 | 15 | Articles |
1980 |
1 | 16 | Photographs |
1980 |
1 | 17 | Grants |
1980 |
1 | 18 | Letters |
1980 |
1 | 19 | Writings |
1980 |
1 | 20 | Articles |
1981 |
1 | 21 | Grants |
1981 |
1 | 22 | Day planner |
1981 |
1 | 23 | Photographs |
1981 |
1 | 24 | Journals |
1981 |
1 | 25 | Letters |
1981 |
1 | 26 | Writings |
1981 |
1 | 27 | Day planner |
1982 |
1 | 28 | Journals |
1982 |
1 | 29 | Writings |
1982 |
1 | 30 | Articles |
1982 |
1 | 31 | Photographs |
1982 |
1 | 32 | Grants |
1982 |
1 | 33 | Day planner |
1983 |
1 | 34 | Journal |
1983 |
1 | 35 | Writings |
1983 |
1 | 36 | Letters |
1983 |
1 | 37 | Articles |
1983 |
1 | 38 | Grants |
1983 |
1 | 39 | Day planner |
1984 |
1 | 40 | Writings |
1984 |
1 | 41 | Letters; artwork gifted to Nelson |
1984 |
1 | 42 | Journal |
1984 |
1 | 43 | Articles |
1984 |
1 | 44 | Events |
1984 |
2 | 1 | Day planner |
1985 |
2 | 2 | Journal |
1985 |
2 | 3 | Letters |
1985 |
2 | 4 | Articles |
1985 |
2 | 5 | Grants |
1985 |
2 | 6 | Budgets |
1985 |
2 | 7 | Day planner |
1986 |
2 | 8 | Journal |
1986 |
2 | 9 | Writings |
1986 |
2 | 10 | Grants |
1986 |
2 | 11 | Articles |
1986 |
2 | 12 | Day planner |
1987 |
2 | 13 | Writings |
circa 1976-1985 |
2 | 14 | Journal |
1987 |
2 | 15 | Writings |
1987 |
2 | 16 | Budgets |
1987 |
2 | 17 | Day planner |
1988 |
2 | 18 | Journal |
1988 |
2 | 19 | Writings |
1988 |
2 | 20 | Budgets |
1988 |
2 | 21 | Letters |
1989 |
2 | 22 | Journal |
1989 |
2 | 23 | Writings |
1989 |
2 | 24 | Photographs |
1989 |
2 | 25 | Letters |
1990 |
2 | 26 | Writings |
1990 |
2 | 27 | Grants |
1990 |
2 | 28 | Day planner |
1990 |
2 | 29 | Journal |
1990 |
2 | 30 | Events |
1990 |
2 | 31 | Day planner |
1991 |
2 | 32 | Letters |
1991 |
2 | 33 | Journal |
1991 |
2 | 34 | Writings |
1991 |
2 | 35 | Grants |
1991 |
2 | 36 | Budgets |
1991 |
2 | 37 | Events |
1991 |
2 | 38 | Day planner |
1992 |
2 | 39 | Journal |
1992 |
2 | 40 | Writings |
1992 |
2 | 41 | Day planner |
1993 |
2 | 42 | Journal |
1993 |
2 | 43 | Writings |
1993 |
2 | 44 | Letters |
1993 |
2 | 45 | Articles |
1993 |
2 | 46 | Manual, "Dining with Dignity: A Manual for Non-Profit Cafes" (unbound copy) |
1994 |
3 | 1 | Day planner |
1994 |
3 | 2 | Articles |
1994 |
3 | 3 | Journal |
1994 |
3 | 4 | Writings |
1994 |
3 | 5 | Photographs |
1995 |
3 | 6 | Journal |
1995 |
3 | 7 | Writings |
1996 |
3 | 8 | Journal |
1996 |
3 | 9 | Writings |
1996 |
3 | 10 | Day planner |
1997 |
3 | 11 | Journal |
1997 |
3 | 12 | Writings |
1997 |
3 | 13 | Articles |
1997 |
3 | 14 | Events |
1997 |
3 | 15 | Journal |
1998 |
3 | 16 | Writings |
1998 |
3 | 17 | Articles |
1998 |
3 | 18 | Events (includes audiocassette) |
1998 |
3 | 19 | Journal |
1999 |
3 | 20 | Writings |
1999 |
3 | 21 | Letters |
1999 |
3 | 22 | Articles (includes audiocassette) |
1999 |
3 | 23 | Day planner |
2000 |
3 | 24 | Journal |
2000 |
3 | 25 | Writings |
2000 |
3 | 26 | Letters |
2000 |
3 | 27 | Journal |
2001 |
3 | 28 | Writings |
2001 |
3 | 29 | Writings |
2002 |
3 | 30 | Journal |
2002 |
3 | 31 | Journal |
2003 |
3 | 32 | Writings |
2003 |
3 | 33 | Articles |
2003 |
3 | 34 | Training documents |
2004 |
3 | 35 | Journal |
2004 |
3 | 36 | Files |
2004 |
3 | 37 | Day planner |
2004 |
3 | 38 | Journal |
2005 |
3 | 39 | Sisters of the Road Café welcome packet |
2005 |
3 | 40 | Remarks for Caring Institute awards ceremony |
2005 |
3 | 41 | Articles |
2005 |
3 | 42 | Files |
2006 |
3 | 43 | Journal |
2006 |
3 | 44 | Journal |
2007 |
3 | 45 | Events relating to "Voices from the Street" |
2007 |
3 | 46 | Articles |
2007 |
3 | 47 | Letters |
2007 |
3 | 48 | Writings (labeled as "I Was on 'Tally's Corner'" |
circa 1985-2003 |
4 | 1 | Day planner |
2008 |
4 | 2 | Journal |
2008 |
4 | 3 | Newsletters |
1983-1984 |
4 | 4 | Writings |
2008 |
4 | 5 | Day planner |
2009 |
4 | 6 | Journal |
2009 |
4 | 7 | Articles |
2009 |
4 | 8 | Events |
2009 |
4 | 9 | Writings |
2009 |
4 | 10 | Letters |
2009 |
4 | 11 | Grants |
2009 |
4 | 12 | Events |
2010 |
4 | 13 | Photographs |
circa 1980-1990 |
4 | 14 | Correspondence |
1973-1974 |
4 | 15 | Letters on tax resistance |
1981 |
4 | 16 | Letters |
2015 |
4 | 17 | Writings |
1972-2015 |
4 | 18-19 | Sisters of the Road philosophy |
circa 1999-2009 |
4 | 20 | Digital backup of files, including memoir chapters (on 1 CD; not part of original order) |
circa 1999-2007 |
4 | 21 | Book of writings (not part of original order) |
2003-2006 |
4 | 22 | Journal (not part of original order) |
2015; 2020 |
4 | 23 | Day planner (not part of original order) |
2020 |
4 | 24 | Online journal and correspondence, with entries by friends and Sisters of the Road staff following Nelson's death (not part of original order) |
2020 |
Series 2: Sisters of the Road Café records, circa 1979-2009Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Subseries 1: General records and memorabilia |
1979-2009 | ||
Box | Folder | ||
4 | 25 | Notes from meetings and retreats |
1992-1993 |
4 | 26 | Microenterprise study |
circa 1995 |
6 | 31 | Volunteer orientation video 1 videocassettes_vhs
|
1993 |
4 | 27 | Manual, "Dining with Dignity: A Manual for Non-Profit Cafes" (bound copy) |
1994 |
4 | 28 | Digital records (on 2 CDs) |
1995-2000 |
4 | 29 | Board of directors meeting report |
2003 March 8 |
4 | 30-33 | crossroads Leadership Operating Team (cLOT) records |
2005-2007 |
5 | 1 | Documents about use of non-violence and gentle personalism |
2006-2007 |
5 | 2 | Nelson's personal workplan for 2007-2008 |
2007 |
5 | 3 | Christmas card from Gary Newhall |
1995 |
5 | 4 | Flyer |
undated |
5 | 5 | Cards, artwork, and writings made for Sisters of the Road Café by customer Sworge D. Shucks |
1984-1985; undated |
5 | 6 | Artwork of railroad car made for Sisters of the Road Café |
undated |
5 | 7 | Anthology of poems by Jim Hill gifted to Sisters of the Road Café, "We Are Portland Too!" |
circa 1985 |
7 | 1 | Guestbook |
1996-1999 |
5 | 8 | Newspaper issues with articles about Sisters of the Road Café |
1979-1982 |
7 | 2 | Oregonian insert with story about Sisters of the Road Café |
2009 June 25 |
9 | 1 | Painted poster |
circa 1980 |
9 | 2 | Artwork for café, "I Am Poor" |
circa 1980 |
9 | 3 | Charcoal artwork for café |
circa 1990 |
9 | 4 | Benefit concert posters |
1984-2011 |
5 | 9 | Photographs |
circa 1979-1985 |
5 | 10 | Photographs of management retreat on the Oregon coast |
1982 |
5 | 11-13 | Photographs |
circa 1985-2005 |
5 | 14 | Group photographs of staff, including Nelson |
circa 1985-1995 |
5 | 15 | Photographs of Nelson at unidentified Sisters of the Road Café event |
circa 1995 |
5 | 16 | Photographs of unidentified Sisters of the Road march, possibly Martin Luther King Day march |
circa 2000 |
6 | 34 | Video of Martin Luther King Day march 1 videocassettes_hi8
|
undated |
5 | 17 | Digital photographs of crossroads Leadership Operating Team (cLOT) meetings (on 1 CD) |
2002-2003 |
8 | Scrapbook of photographs, letters, writings, and artwork for Sisters of the Road Café's 30th anniversary |
circa 1998-2009 | |
Folder | |||
6 | 32 | Videos, both titled "The Invisible Community: A Story about Sisters of the Road Café" 2 videocassettes_vhs
|
1994; 1997 |
6 | 33 | Video, "Pursuit of Happiness" 1 videocassettes_vhs
|
undated |
Subseries 2: "Voices from the Street" records |
2005-2007 | ||
Box | Folder | ||
5 | 18 | Proposal guidelines |
2005 |
5 | 19 | Proposal contents |
2005 |
5 | 20 | Digital files about proposal (on 1 CD) |
2005 |
5 | 21 | Biographical notes about Nelson and Jessica P. Morrell for publisher |
2005 |
5 | 22 | Bookstores and contacts |
2005 |
5 | 23 | Chapter summaries |
2005 |
5 | 24 | Notes about how "Voices" compares to other books about homelessness (labeled "Competition") |
2005 |
5 | 25 | Contracts |
2005-2006 |
5 | 26 | Correspondence |
2005-2006 |
5 | 27 | Correspondence about edits |
2006-2007 |
5 | 28 | Correspondence |
2007 |
5 | 29 | Ideas and resources |
2005 |
5 | 30 | Research on market potential |
2005 |
5 | 31 | Meetings |
2005-2006 |
5 | 32 | Meetings (research) |
2006-2007 |
5 | 33 | Notes about pseudonyms used for interviewees |
circa 2006 |
5 | 34 | Overview |
circa 2005 |
5 | 35 | Photo release forms |
2005 |
5 | 36 | Promotional strategies |
2005 |
5 | 37 | Publicity flyer |
circa 2007 |
5 | 38 | Correspondence and records about publisher |
2006 |
5 | 39 | Readers' comments |
2007 |
5 | 40 | Graph (labeled "Sidebars") |
circa 2006 |
5 | 41-42 | Timeline records |
2006-2007 |
5 | 43 | Transcripts of interviews conducted for the book (physical copies and digital copies on 2 CDs; interviewees not identified) |
2006 |
5 | 44 | Website |
2005 |
5 | 45 | University of Washington articles |
2006 |
5 | 46 | Copy of book, with inscription from Nelson to her father, and Nelson's notes |
2007 |
Series 3: Other work and advocacy, and publications about homelessness, 1973-2009Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
5 | 47 | Anti-nuclear activism |
1978 |
5 | 48 | Boxcar Bertha's records |
1979; undated |
5 | 49-50 | Burnside Projects, Inc. records |
1973 |
5 | 51 | Emmaus on the Avenue records |
1976 |
5 | 52 | Expanding Your Horizons conference |
1995 March |
5 | 53 | National Association of Social Workers, Oregon Chapter materials |
1993 |
5 | 54 | Northwest Pilot Project records |
circa 1984 |
5 | 55 | Invitation to be on the board for Street Roots |
circa 2005 |
5 | 56 | Newspaper editorials by Nelson |
2003; 2009 |
7 | 3 | Editorial in the Oregonian by Nelson |
2009 August 9 |
5 | 57 | Photo book about Dignity Village |
circa 2005 |
6 | 1 | Book, "Burnside: A Community: A Photographic History of Portland's Skid Row," by Kathleen Ryan and Mark Beach |
1979 |
6 | 2 | Anthology, "21st Century Street Stories: A collection of interviews and poems from the homeless and their friends" |
2003 |
6 | 3 | Western Regional Advocacy Project publication, "Without Housing: Decades of Federal Housing Cutbacks, Massive Homelessness, and Policy Failures" |
2007 |
Series 4: Recognition, 1990-2020Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
6 | 4 | Articles about Nelson |
1991-2017 |
9 | 5 | Newspaper issues with stories about Nelson |
2009-2010 |
6 | 5 | Correspondence, certificates, and programs about awards |
1990-2013 |
9 | 6 | Awards |
1991-2013 |
6 | 6 | Correspondence, clippings, speech, notes, and ephemera relating to Caring Institute award |
2005 |
6 | 7 | Packet for Caring Institute awards ceremony |
2005 |
6 | 8 | Issue of "Caring" magazine with article about Nelson |
2005 December |
6 | 9 | Photographs of Nelson with Alfredo J. Molina at Caring Institute awards |
2005 |
6 | 10 | Photograph of Nelson with Bob Dole, likely at Caring Institute awards |
circa 2005 |
6 | 35 | Untitled videos relating to Caring Institute award 2 videocassettes_vhs
|
2005 |
6 | 11 | Correspondence about award from St. Mary's Academy |
2002-2003 |
6 | 12 | Certificates |
1992-2010 |
6 | 13 | Comics for Change issue about Nelson |
circa 2006 |
6 | 14 | Plaques and awards (photographed and/or photocopied) |
1993-2002; undated |
9 | 7 | Honorary doctorate from University of Portland and related materials |
2010 |
6 | 15 | Summary of Nelson's career |
circa 2010 |
6 | 16 | Book with passages about Nelson, "Soul at Work: Spiritual Leadership in Organizations," by Margaret Benefiel, with inscription to Nelson |
2005 |
6 | 17 | Book with passages about Nelson, "The Soul of a Leader: Finding Your Path to Success and Fulfillment," by Margaret Benefiel |
2008 |
6 | 18 | Book with chapter about Nelson, "On Purpose: Stories from the Lives of Oregon Nonprofit Leaders," by David Dickson, with inscription to Nelson |
2020 |
6 | 19 | Obituaries |
2020 |
6 | 20 | Memorial service program and cards |
2020 |
6 | 21 | Passage about Nelson from "Moments in the Breach," by Gary Smith |
2020 |
Series 5: Personal ephemera, photographs, and writings, 1952-2002Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
6 | 22 | Baptism certificate |
1952 March 6 |
6 | 23 | Diploma from St. Mary's Academy |
1970 June |
7 | 4 | Photo album of unidentified event that included Nelson |
circa 1975 |
6 | 24 | Story, "Call Me by My Name" |
undated |
6 | 25 | Notes about immigration officer |
1979 |
6 | 26 | "Let Me Explain This" |
2002 |
6 | 27 | "Linda's Story #1" |
undated |
6 | 28 | Memoir drafts |
2002 |
6 | 29 | Unsorted writings |
2002; undated |
6 | 30 | Portrait |
circa 2000 |
7 | 5 | Book with inscriptions to Nelson, possibly given to her upon her retirement from Sisters of the Road Café |
circa 2009 |
6 | 36 | Two unlabeled microcassettes |
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Charities--Oregon--Portland
- Homeless persons--Services for--Oregon--Portland
Personal Names
- Nelson, Genevieve
Corporate Names
- Sisters of the Road Café (Portland, Or.)
Form or Genre Terms
- administrative records
- memorabilia