Abstract
The Norma Jean Almodovar Papers (1918-2022) consist of research files, correspondence, business records, legal documents, publications, artwork, and ephemera documenting the activities of sex worker rights activist Norma Jean Almodovar. The materials detail Almodovar’s involvement in sex work and human rights advocacy, including the records of the nonprofit organization she founded, International Sex Worker Foundation for Art, Culture, and Education (ISWFACE). The business records of the Los Angeles chapter of Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics (COYOTE LA) are also included.
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Scope and Contents Note
The Norma Jean Almodovar Papers (1918-2022) consist of correspondence, business records, legal documents, publications and manuscripts, artwork and graphic design, research files, photographic prints, and ephemera documenting the activities of sex worker rights activist Norma Jean Almodovar. The materials detail Almodovar’s involvement in sex work and human rights advocacy, including the records of the nonprofit organization she founded, International Sex Worker Foundation for Art, Culture, and Education (ISWFACE). The business records of the Los Angeles chapter of Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics (COYOTE LA) are also included.
In addition to general business records of ISWFACE, materials in the collection document the organization’s purchase of the defunct Dumas Brothel in Butte, Montana and subsequent attempts to revitalize the property. The largest portion of the collection consists of the ISWFACE Research Library, which is comprised of academic journal articles, newspaper and magazine articles, printed blog posts, and other written materials relating to sex work and human rights issues compiled by Norma Jean Almodovar.
Access Note
Collection is open for research, with the exception of materials that are restricted to protect financial information. Restrictions are noted at the box level of this inventory.
Where use copies of digital media do not exist, production of use copies is required before access will be granted; this may delay research requests. Arrangements must be made in advance to access digital files; please contact UNLV Special Collections and Archives for additional information.
Publication Rights
This material is made available to facilitate private study, scholarship, or research. The donor, International Sex Worker Foundation for Art, Culture, and Education (ISWFACE), retains all copyrights for materials in the Norma Jean Almodovar Papers (MS-01176) until December 31, 2028, and then transfers all copyrights to UNLV. However, some material may be protected by copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity rights, or other interests not owned by ISWFACE or UNLV. Users are responsible for determining whether permissions are necessary from rights owners for any intended use and for obtaining all required permissions. Acknowledgement of the UNLV University Libraries is requested. For more information, please see the UNLV Special Collections policies on reproductions and use or contact us at special.collections@unlv.edu.
Arrangement
These records are organized into four series, one of which contains a subseries:
Series I. COYOTE LA and ISWFACE organizational records, 1981-2020;
Subseries I.I. Dumas Brothel records, 1981-2003;
Series II. Norma Jean Almodovar papers, 1945-2022;
Series III. ISWFACE Research Library, 1918-2022;
Series IV. Published material (cataloging in progress), 1939-2020.
Biographical / Historical Note
Norma Jean Almodovar is a sex worker rights activist, author, and founder of the International Sex Worker Foundation for Art, Culture, and Education (ISWFACE). Almodovar was born Norma Jean Wright on May 27, 1951 in Binghamton, New York. Upon graduating from high school in 1969, Almodovar moved to New York City for a short time before relocating to Los Angeles, California in 1970. Norma Jean began working as a traffic enforcement officer for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in 1972. After sustaining multiple workplace injuries between 1974 and 1982, Almodovar left the LAPD and began a career as a call girl in Beverly Hills, California. In 1983, Almodovar was arrested on one count of pandering, for which she was convicted and served prison time. Her experiences as a traffic officer for the LAPD and as a sex worker later resulted in her book, Cop to Call Girl.
Norma Jean Almodovar has dedicated her life to advocating for sex worker rights. In the 1980s, she became involved with the Los Angeles chapter of Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics (COYOTE), an organization devoted to the decriminalization of sex work and removing the stigma surrounding the occupation. In 1997, Almodovar founded the International Sex Worker Foundation for Art, Culture, and Education (ISWFACE), a California-based nonprofit centered around artistic support, education about sex work, and community building.
In 2023, Norma Jean Almodovar retired to Las Vegas, Nevada with her late husband, Victor Savant, and resides there as of 2025.
Sources:
Almodovar, Norma Jean. “My Biography.” Accessed June 30, 2025. http://normajeanalmodovar.com/mybio.html
COYOTE LA. “What is COYOTE?” Archived February 4, 2005 at https://web.archive.org/web/20050204102748/http://coyotela.org/what_is.html
International Sex Worker Foundation for Art, Culture, and Education. “Our Mission.” Accessed June 30, 2025. https://www.iswface.org/
Jones, Jack. “‘When it comes to my own body, I believe I have the right to do with it what I want.’” Los Angeles Times, January 10, 1989. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-10-me-231-story.html
Preferred Citation
Norma Jean Almodovar Papers, 1918-2022. MS-01176. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Acquisition Note
Materials were donated in 2024 by International Sex Worker Foundation for Art, Culture, and Education (ISWFACE); accession number 2024-024.
Processing Note
In 2024, Sarah Jones accessioned the collection and wrote the finding aid in ArchivesSpace. In 2025, Landon Paljusaj and Sarah Jones processed the collection and updated the finding aid.
In 2025, Sarah Jones created an inventory of published material acquired as part of this collection to prepare the titles for cataloging. Once the titles are cataloged, they will be added to the UNLV Libraries' catalog and removed from this collection.
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Appraisal Note
Acquired by Special Collections and Archives Director, Sarah Quigley, as part of UNLV Special Collections and Archives holdings in sexual entertainment and economies. Approximately 12 linear feet of duplicate materials were discarded.