Series 1
Press and Publicity
1996-2020
Physical Description:
48 folders
Scope and Contents
Contains press coverage of Mrs. Vera and Mr. Tina, and of exhibitions of the work of Michael Johnstone and David Faulk. The
articles by Heidi Thimann, Don Bapst, Hank Trout, and Chip Alfred discuss the inspiration behind Mrs. Vera and Johnstone and
Faulk's collaboration.
Arrangement
Arranged in chronological order. Folders incorporated after the collection was first processed are listed chronologically
in the finding aid but are filed after the already processed collection.
box 1, folder 1
Creampuff
magazine. Fetish timeline
September 16-29, [1996?]
box 1, folder 2
San Francisco Bay Times
July 24, 1997
box 2, folder 1
San Francisco Frontiers
. "Telling Stories" regarding Michael Johnstone's photography exhibition
August 14, 1997
box 1, folder 3
San Francisco Metroplitan
October 5, 1998
box 2, folder 2
Drag Queen contest flyer (Mykonos)
1999
box 1, folder 5
[Polish Magazine]
Igetzer
2000
General note
Four pages of color photos of Mrs. Vera. See Don Bapst article "Tranny Terror" for translation.
box 2, folder 3
NW
(Sydney, Australia). "Mardi Gras 2001 Festival Highlights"
March 12, 2001
box 1, folder 6
Bay Area Reporter
. Listing and review of GLBT Historical Society show
December 13 and 20, 2001
box 1, folder 7
San Francisco Bay Times
December 27, 2001
box 1, folder 8
Mardi Gras Guide
(Australia)
2002
box 1, folder 10
San Francisco Chronicle
July 1, 2002
box 1, folder 11
The Advocate
February 18, 2003
box 1, folder 13
Folsom Street Fair Guide
2003
box 1, folder 14
FG. Mardi Gras Guide
(Sydney, Australia)
2005
box 1, folder 15
Bay Area Reporter
. Easter, photo of Mrs. Vera misidentified as Sister Roma
March 31, 2005
box 1, folder 16
San Francisco Bay Times
. Visual Aid Sweet 16 press and review
June 16 and 30, 2005
box 1, folder 17
QAR [www.queer-arts.com]. "Seeing Mrs. Vera: The Collaborative Work of Michael Johnstone and David Faulk" by Heidi Thimann
2005
box 1, folder 18
QAR [www.queer-arts.com]. "This Mortal Makeup: Images from
Mrs. Vera's Daybook
by Michael Johnstone" by Don Bapst
2005
box 1, folder 20
Bay Area Reporter
November 10, 2005
box 1, folder 21
San Francisco Bay Times
December 1, 2005
box 1, folder 22
San Francisco Chronicle
June 11, 2006
box 1, folder 23
Bay Area Reporter
June 29, 2006
box 1, folder 25
San Francisco Bay Times
. Visual Aid / Bjorn fundraiser
August 3, 2006
box 1, folder 26
San Francisco Bay Times
. Photo and quote--Dore Alley Fair
August 3, 2006
box 1, folder 27
San Francisco Chronicle
. DeYoung Museum
September 16, 2007
box 1, folder 28
Bay Area Reporter
. "Remember Jerome" review
October 11, 2007
box 1, folder 30
San Francisco Examiner
. Photo from Cafe Weimar at SFMOMA
February 19, 2008
box 1, folder 31
San Francisco Bay Times
, "Magnet Presents Michael Johnstone's 12 Snapshots of Mrs. Vera" by Sister Dana Van Iquity / Dennis McMillan
April 10, 2008
box 1, folder 32
San Francisco Examiner
. Pride photo of Michael and David
June 30, 2008
box 1, folder 33
San Francisco Weekly
, "Mrs. Vera--The Cindy Sherman of Drag" by Traci Vogel
September 9, 2008
box 1, folder 34
SF Weekly
September 10, 2008
box 2, folder 4
PS...Sydney
: an SSO Publication [Sydney, Australia Mardi Gras publication]
2010
box 2, folder 5
San Francisco Examiner
June 28, 2010
box 2, folder 6
49 Hours of SF Arts & Culture brochure
[2011]
box 2, folder 7
SF Public Press
Fall 2011
box 2, folder 8
A & U
(issue 217). "Picture This" by Chip Alfred about the Verasphere
November 2012
box 2, folder 9
A & U
(issue 269). "Two Men & A Mrs. Vera" by Hank Trout about the Verasphere
March 2017
box 2, folder 10
A & U
(issue 287). "Verasphere: 25 Years of Love, Art & Joy"
September 2018
box 2, folder 11
"Verasphere: 25 Years of Love, Art & Joy" exhibition announcements
September 2018
box 2, folder 12
Bay Area Reporter
March 21-27, 2019
box 2, folder 13
San Francisco Chronicle
. "Festival of Rainbows--And Resistance, Too"
July 1, 2019
box 2, folder 14
SF/ARTS: Guide to San Francisco Arts Monthly
June 2020
Series 2
Subject Files
1995-2020
Physical Description:
13 folders
Scope and Contents
The series contains the transcripts of oral history interviews of Faulk and Johnstone conducted by Nell Jehu at Faulk's home,
San Francisco, California. It also includes the book
Mrs. Vera's Daybook
with color photos, and invitations for exhibitions of Faulk's and Johnstone's work. David Duckworth's paper analyzes the Mrs.
Vera Daybook series. "Vera" is an original silk screen sticker by artist Jim Winters. The series contains a description and
artist's statement for "Petting Zoo: the Art of Mrs. Vera," an exhibition held at the Library for the Blind and Print Disabled,
San Francisco Public Library. There is also some information on two documentary films on the Verasphere, a mural by David
Faulk for Openhouse, and vandalism of an art exhibition of Johnstone's work at San Francisco City Hall.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by title. Folders incorporated after the collection was first processed are listed alphabetically
in the finding aid but are filed after the already processed collection.
box 2, folder 15
Documentary films by Robert James:
Verasphere: A Love Story in Costume
and
Mrs. Vera's Daybook
(
A & U
, issue 309)
2019-2020
box 1, folder 35
Duckworth, David P. "Redemption and Regeneration: Michael Johnstone, David Faulk and the Making of Verasphere" talk delivered
at the California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, California
September 12, 2008
box 1, folder 36
Invitations for exhibitions
1995-2008, undated
box 1, folder 37
Invitations to shows of David Faulk's paintings
2000-2006
box 1, folder 38
Mrs. Vera's Daybook
[book]. Photographs by Michael Johnstone. Signed by Johnstone and David Faulk. #5 of 30
2007
box 2, folder 16
Mrs. Vera's Daybook
series [postcards]
undated
box 2, folder 17
Openhouse HIV Long-Term Survivors Tribute - Mural "The Scenic Route" by David Faulk, includes
Bay Area Reporter
(September 5-11, 2019)
2019
Oral history transcripts
Related materials
Researchers are encouraged to see also Box 1 / Folder 44. Oral history DVD recordings.
box 1, folder 39
Faulk, David
January 8, 2009
box 1, folder 40
Johnstone, Michael
January 8, 2009
box 1, folder 45
"Petting Zoo: the Art of Mrs. Vera," October 3, 2015-January 8, 2016. Exhibition at Library for the Blind and Print Disabled,
San Francisco Public Library
2015
box 2, folder 18
Vandalism, San Francisco City Hall exhibition
1996
box 2, folder 19
Vandalism, "Reversing Vandalism" exhibition information, San Francisco Public Library
2003
box 1, folder 41
Winters, Jim. "Vera" [silkscreen sticker]
1999
Series 3
Videorecordings
1997-2009
Physical Description:
3 folders
(6 discs)
Scope and Contents
Contains documentary footage of Mrs. Vera, Mr. Tina and friends at street fairs and other events in San Francisco. Some footage
shows studio and storage spaces and artwork by Faulk and Johnstone. The videographer provides a running commentary. Nell Jehu's
oral histories of Johnstone and Faulk provide insight into their work and the evolution of Mrs. Vera and the Verasphere.
Arrangement
Arranged in alphabetical order by title.
box 1, folder 42
Fabulous
[short documentary on Mrs. Vera's environment and beauty regimen] by Emma King
1997
box 1, folder 43
Love Parade, Folsom Fair, "Remember Jerome" exhibition and event, Sugar Valley [Castro Street Fair]
2007
Container Summary: 3 DVDs
General note
Documentary chronicles appearances by Mr. Tina and Mrs. Vera at the Folsom Street Fair, Castro Street Fair and Love Parade.
Disc 2 contains footage of the Bucheon Gallery exhibition "Remember Jerome--A Large Group Show of Friends and Artists Who
Miss Jerome Caja" for Jerome Caja, held October 6, 2007. Johnstone and Faulk both had pieces in the show.
box 1, folder 44
Oral history of Michael Johnstone and of David Faulk, done by Nell Jehu
January 8, 2009
Container Summary: 2 DVDs
Related materials
Researchers are encouraged to see also Box 1 / Folders 39-40. Oral history transcripts.
Series 4
Photographs
1995-2008
Physical Description:
3 albums
and 1 folder
Access
The photographs are available during Photo Desk hours.
Scope and Contents
The series contains photograph albums of Michael Johnstone, David Faulk and friends (a.k.a. Verasphere) at San Francisco events.
It also includes: photographs of the costumes and accessories made by David Faulk, and worn by Mrs. Vera; and photo Christmas
cards sent from Mrs. Vera, Mr. Tina, and their cat Radar.
Arrangement
Faulk and Johnstone created three photograph albums according to subject. Photo albums and folders are arranged alphabetically
by title.
box 2, folder 20
Christmas cards from Mrs. Vera, Mr. Tina, Radar (cat)
2000, undated
box 2, folder 21, volume 1
Mrs. Vera's Daybook series. Selection of 40 colorprints
1995-2008
General note
Prints range in size from 8x10-inches to 8x12 inches. Portfolio contains itemized title list, and resumes for Michael Johnstone
and David Faulk.
box 2, volume 2
Photograph album of Michael Johnstone, David Faulk and friends (a.k.a. Verasphere) at San Francisco events
1996-2007
General note
Photos taken by friend and neighbor Jon Harris. 4x6-inch photographs in roughly chronological order. Itemized list of photographs
with event and date. Events include: Open Studios, Halloween, City Hall exhibition, Mrs. Vera's birthday parties, Folsom Fairs,
Gay Prides, dinner with Cockettes in 2001, Mrs. Vera's Daybook exhibition, Remember Jerome exhibition, and Glamarama.
box 2, volume 3
Photograph album of the costumes and accessories made by David Faulk, and worn by Mrs. Vera
1996-2008
General note
54 4x6-inch color photographs. Each piece is identified with the date of creation, the components and media used, and the
place(s) or event(s) where it was worn. Includes a few photographs of Faulk, and of Mrs. Vera and Mr. Tina.
