Photo credit: Our second Mistress of Archives, Sister Kitty Catalyst O.C.P.—who was Co-Mistress with Sister Reyna Terror—in the Sisters’ very cozy (small) Archives space in the Historic Redstone Building on 16th street. Photo: Jo C., detail, 2000.

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About the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence's Archives

From humble beginnings, our mission has always been to collect, protect, preserve, and share our Sistory. Unfortunately, dominant cultures often suppress, destroy, and erase LGBTQ+ existence. Archiving our collective history is one way we keep the queer spirits of our ancestors — including the Nuns of the Above—alive to learn from and help guide our work.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Inc.’s Archives were formalized in the early 1990s under the guidance of our first Mistress of Archives Sister Philis Stein the Fragrant. Sister X had collected items years prior, and after her passing, several filing cabinets were under the tutelage of Sister Anal Receptive until Sister Phyllis secured grants and a rental space.

In the late 1990s, our second Mistress — along with co-Mistress Sister Reyna Terror—Sister Kitty Catalyst set out to get all houses, and as many individuals, to start their own archives; and encourage all our LGBTQ communities to do the same. She also pushed for everything to be fully digitalized so we could more easily share and save copies in multiple locations, an effort that continues to this day under our newest Mistress of Archives, Sister Mary Media, in our fourth or fifth rental space thus far.

We Believe in Archives! We #Resist!

Fundraise With Us and Help Preserve our Sistory!

Click the Fundraise With Us button to create your own Sisters Archive fundraising page and invite your community to participate in our resistance alongside you. Share by text, email, or social media.

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About The Sisters

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, federal tax ID number: 94-3032120.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence® are a leading-edge Order of queer and trans nuns. We believe all people have a right to express their unique joy and beauty.

Since our first appearance in San Francisco on Easter weekend, 1979, the Sisters have devoted ourselves to community service, ministry, and outreach to those on the edges, and to promoting human rights, respect for diversity, and spiritual enlightenment. We use humor and irreverent wit to expose the forces of bigotry, complacency, and guilt that chain the human spirit.

Where Your Money Goes

Donations will go into the Sisters' Archive Fund, which helps cover archive operating expenses, to collect, protect, preserve, and share our Sistory. Your donation will support the promulgation of universal joy for the queer and trans communities and our allies!

Preserve Our Sistory: Support the Sisters’ Archives

We Believe in Archives! We #Resist!

Team Members