Michael K. Shreves (Michelle McCausland) Collection
Scope and Contents
The collection pertains to Michelle McCausland’s (Michael Shreves’s) participation in Missouri and St. Louis pageants that were preliminaries for the Miss Gay America pageant and a program for a celebration of life held in August 2022. Pageant-related items include certificates from the Miss Gay Missouri 2012 pageant and a judges workbook from the Miss Gay St. Louis America pageant held at Hamburger Mary’s (3037 Olive St.) on February 17, 2013. There is a large date gap from 2014 to 2021. The collection is arranged chronologically. There are two certificates earned by McCausland in the Miss Gay Missouri America pageant held on April 28, 2012: Group Two Talent Winner and Group Two Solo Talent Winner. The Miss Gay St. Louis America judges workbook is housed in four folders. The page order from the workbook binder has been maintained with loose pages placed in the final folder. The four St. Louis contestants were Kitty Litter, Musica Malone, ButterScotch, and Diva Coppafeel.
Dates
- 2012-2022.
- Majority of material found within 2012-2013
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research use.
Conditions Governing Use
For permission to publish, quote from, or reproduce material in this collection, please contact the Archives Reference Desk at archives@mohistory.org. Copyright restrictions may apply. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright.
Biographical Note
Michael Kim Shreves was born on July 17, 1958, to Norma McIntyre (Shreves) Reininger in Mount Vernon, Illinois. Shreves was a well-known designer and interior decorator in the greater St. Louis area, known for his work at Enchanting Embellishments Boutique in the Central West End neighborhood. For approximately forty years, Shreves was one of the most prominent and beloved drag artists in the St. Louis region, performing as Michelle McCausland. Shreves died of complications due to COVID-19 on November 28, 2020. Shreves (McCausland) also competed in pageants and was named Miss Gay Missouri America 2012. Other titles included Miss Missouri Continental Elite 2005; Missouri Entertainer of the Year, F. I. 1996; and Miss Gay Missouri America 1986, 2nd Alternate. In 2013, Shreves was one of eight judges for Miss Gay St. Louis America 2013. St. Louis Ordinance 15.30.010 dating from 1843 read: Any person who shall, in this city, appear in any public place in a state of nudity or in a dress not belonging to his or her sex or in an indecent or lewd dress, or shall make an indecent exposure of his or her person, or be guilty of an indecent or lewd act of behavior shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. In 1982 and 1984, Daniel Clippard and Michael Shreves, respectively, were arrested for violating the ordinance. They fought the charges in D. C. and M. S. Appellants v. the City of St. Louis, Missouri, et. al. (1986). The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit found in favor of the appellants, overturning the ordinance (https://law.justia.com).
Extent
0.13 Cubic Feet ( (6 folders))
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The collection is arranged chronologically.
Physical and Technical Requirements
There are no physical or technical restrictions.
Donor Information
The collection was donated by Joseph Vitale in 2022 (accession number 2022-085), an addition was donated later in 2022 by Ian Darnell (accession number 2022-104).
Sources Consulted During Processing
Processing Information
Processed with funding from The Stuart Foundation, Inc. by Kristina Perez, 2023.
- Title
- Michael K. Shreves (Michelle McCausland) Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- EAD by Kristina Perez using ArchivesSpace
- Date
- 2023
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center Repository