Guide to the Chasen Gaver Papers,
1977-1988

Charles (Chasen) Gaver, the eldest of three children, was born in 1953 in Wooster, Ohio to Richard and Helen Gaver. After taking a B.A. from The College of Wooster in Ohio, Gaver worked as a per diem paralegal at the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C.

Gaver identified himself foremost as a "performance poet." In 1978 he received one of the first grants awarded to an openly gay artist dealing with gay subject matter from the District of Columbia's Commission on Arts and Humanities. Gaver was also the recipient of larger grants in 1981, 1986, and 1987, which enabled him to collaborate with colleagues as well as to document his performances using photographs and video/audio cassettes. In 1977 Gaver began writing sporadically for The Washington Blade; ten years later his book reviews would become a regular feature. In addition, Gaver wrote novels, essays, plays, poems and short stories, many of which were loosely autobiographical. Gaver's interest in human relationships and his identity as a gay man were common themes in his work.

Although Gaver spent most of his later life in the D.C. area, he made several trips abroad, notably one to Morocco in 1982 where he was introduced to the ex-patriot writer Paul Bowles. Correspondence between Gaver and Bowles dates from 1982-1987.

Gaver was also involved in two organizations; the National Organization for Women (N.O.W.) for which he started a chapter while attending The College of Wooster, and the Washington D.C.-based artists collective Black Artists/White Artists. He also participated in Young Audiences, a performing arts program for inner city children.

In 1987 Gaver was diagnosed with AIDS and began extensively documenting his life with the illness in "Fever Journal," a narrative account including clippings and correspondence from October 1987-June 1988, and the medical notebooks, dated 4/17/87 - 1/31/89 and 2/2/89 - 3/10/89 which listed Gaver's daily food and drug intake as well as his temperature and diminishing body weight. Gaver died of complications due to AIDS in Washington, D.C. in March 1989.

Gaver's work, including "Daddy!," an audiocassette of him reading some of his works in 1978; "Summer Beach Talk," self-published, 1980; "A Book of One Performance," a poetry chapbook, 1980; "From Now Till Doomsday," 1980; and a script for "Standing in the Shadows of Love," performed at the National Theatre, February 2, 1981. Also press materials and articles about him and his work, and announcements of his performances. His 1978 grant from the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities may have been the first grant the Commission awarded to an openly gay artist incorporating gay themes in his artwork.

Also, Chasen Gaver memorial service documents; 13 videos of Gaver's performance poetry; photographs, certificates, audiotapes, publications in which Gaver's work appeared, an autobiographical assemblage of various genres documenting his life and work, letters, and publicity photographs. Family photographs and correspondence, personal correspondence, a diary called "Fever Journal," notebooks meticulously charting Gaver's health, and a shadowbox puppet theater used for recitations of Gaver's poem "The Ugly Side of Pretty." Includes correspondence with Paul Bowles.

Includes correspondence to Gregory Ford after Chasen's death, including statements affirming and celebrating Chasen's life. Also, information commemorating him at the College of Wooster (Ohio); "Outline for discussion with Millie Cravedi and Pam Layng re: 'Death' 5/29/88" (a planned discussion of death with several friends). Also, poems, a literary resume, and photographs of Gaver and friends.

Series I. Personal,

Boxes 1, 4, 6, 7, 12, 17

Chasen Gaver's personal papers include a scrapbook compiled by Gregory Ford, Chasen's lover and donor of his papers, literary resumes, publicity for his performances, an ink drawing of him by Judy Byron, a passport, award certificates, an address book, an Alcoholic Anonymous coin, a will, obituaries, and programs and statements from "A Darker Pair of Glasses," a posthumous tribute to Gaver by his friends and lovers.

Boxes 1, 17, 19, 20

Gaver's correspondence dates from 1974-1989 and includes letters to and from friends and family, and business letters concerning his work. Clippings and personal writings filed amongst the correspondence have been retained as have Gaver's original folder titles. Prominently featured in this series are letters from Judy Byron, an artist with whom Gaver collaborated; Gaver's "muse," official photographer, and long time friend Emillie (Millie, Drag, Paco Caliente) Cravedi whom Gaver met in 1976; and Paul Bowles for whom Gaver performed a poem in Tangier, Morocco in 1982. Gaver also received a picture of the designer Halston, autographed by Andy Warhol.

Boxes 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9-11, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

This series includes unpublished manuscripts, published poetry anthologies, poetry drafts, journals, book reviews, short stories, screenplays, poetry/video scripts and privately printed chapbooks of Gaver's poetry. Gaver occasionally wrote under the pseudonym Gloria de la Calle and this is reflected in several anthologies. He was also affiliated with Dirt and Rats magazine to which he often contributed material. Notable is Gaver's "Fire Book," a thirteen-year journal which traces the evolution of the gay liberation/ women's movements of the 1970's in conjunction with Gaver's performance career. His "Fever Journal" and medical notebooks are found in this series.

Boxes 7, 8, 13, 15, 17, 20

This series documents Gaver's life in the 1970's, through the height of his performance career in the 1980's, to his untimely death in early March 1989. Gaver's friends from the 1970's and 1980's and his performances (documented by Emillie Cravedi and Ken Goggin) figure prominently. Also included are family photographs from the 1960's, and individual photographs of Gaver with Bella Abzug, Effie Barry, and the members of Black Artists/White Artists as well as slides from Gaver's memorial service and photographs of Gaver's AIDS quilt panel.

Boxes 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 14, 15, 20

This series includes files Gaver kept on varied topics such as Black Artists/White Artists, the National Theatre, Young Audiences, grant proposals, and cassette tape production. Also included is a poetry anthology which contains work by Mecca Rylance an admirer of Gaver, duplicates of photographs and other printed material, and two props used in conjunction with Gaver's performances.

Box 16

This series includes cassette and video recordings of Gaver's poetry readings and performances. Descriptive notes for audio tapes tr6945a-tr6947a, tr6962a, and tr6979a can be found in Box 2, folder 23. Please see the attached audio/video description list for additional information.