Archives
Archives
The Area 79 Archives Committee and Archives
About
The BC Yukon Area 79 focus is on local A.A. history within the confines of our area boundaries. Histories and information within the scope of our collection focuses on our local A.A. groups and its members, our Districts, local A.A. Intergroup offices, as well as our Area 79 Quarterly and Assemblies. Any information or history from an event, workshop or conference that is linked to our General Service Structure (National and regional AA Conferences) will also be collected.
Archives does not seek to acquire collections beyond the level of history. Donations to our repository will require a Deed of Submission form to be filled out with each submission. All forms must have a phone number attached so that we can contact the donor for future reference or if the item needs to be returned. We cannot at this time accept donations outside of our scope. We will however strive to work with donors and where the collection would be a better fit in a different archives collection, archives will work with the donor to place it in the appropriate repository.
We do not engage in the buying and selling of archives material.
Mission Statement
Pursuant to AA’s primary purpose of maintaining our sobriety and helping other Alcoholics to achieve sobriety, the archives of Alcoholics Anonymous adopts the following mission statement: “To receive, classify and index all related material, including but not limited to administrative files, records, correspondence, literary, and artifactual works considered to have historical import to Alcoholics Anonymous. To hold and preserve such material, making access possible, as determined by the present archivist in consultation with the archives committee, to members of Alcoholics Anonymous and those of the public who may have a valid need to review said material, such access to be provided only during business hours and with a mindful view toward the anonymity of our members.”
The Archives repository welcomes visitors. As the Archives does not keep regular office hours, visits are by appointment only.
Tour the Archives
Purpose
Consistent with AA’s primary purpose of maintaining our sobriety and helping other alcoholics achieve recovery, the Archives of Alcoholic Anonymous will:
- Receive, classify, and index all relevant material, such as administrative files and records, correspondence, and literary works and artifacts considered to have historical importance to Alcoholic Anonymous.
- Hold and preserve such materials.
- Provide access to these materials, as determined by the archivists in consultation with the trustee’s Archives committee, to member’s of Alcoholic Anonymous and to others who may have a valid need to review such material, contingent upon committee to preserve the anonymity of our member’s.
- Serve as a resource and laboratory to stimulate and nourish learning.
- Provide information services to assist the operations of Alcoholics Anonymous.
- Promote knowledge and understanding of the origins, goals and programs of Alcoholic Anonymous.
History Collecting Documents
Documents for collecting A.A. history within BC/Yukon Area 79 are available for download in the Archives section of the committee library.
Job Descriptions
The Archives Committee Chair
How do AA Archives help carry the message of recovery?
“The collective experience of the past reminds us of how little hope there once was for the suffering alcoholic — and how far we’ve come, thanks to Alcoholics Anonymous.”
Reprinted from The AA Archives F-47 pg. 5, with permission of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
As we painstakingly sort out fact from fiction, we ensure that our original message of recovery, unity and service will continue undiluted and true.
The chairperson of the Archives committee is always busy and the opportunity provides a rich and rewarding experience, especially for a person with an interest in our history
Duties
- Take responsibility for prioritizing and guiding the projects for the two-year term.
- Pack, and ship when necessary, archive kits for travel assignments for ASC members.
- Be available for members wishing to come into the archives to find material for projects, presentations, coming events and archives repository tours
- Keep up with the cleaning of the archives room.
- Process incoming archival material.
- Do a monthly inventory of supplies, workbooks, contents of archives kits and forms. Continually make sure that all are updated.
- Work with the archivist to maintain the archives collection
- Continue to recruit archives volunteers, assign projects and meet with them on a regular basis.
- Check contribution cans when archive kits are returned, and forward money to treasurer.
- Inform the Area 79 website chair of any changes in hours of operation for the archives room.
The Archivist
The archivist serves BC/Yukon Area 79 by “keeping the record straight”. By collecting, preserving and sharing important historical elements, the archivist helps to carry the message of sobriety to present and future generations, ensuring, as Bill W. said, “that myth does not prevail over fact”. The archivist is appointed to a three- to five-year term.
This is a volunteer position open to AA members with easy access to the lower mainland archives office. Candidates are ratified by the Area Service Committee. (Note: there are other volunteer positions available within the archives room for anyone wishing to be a part of the archives.
The archivist can be contacted through the Archives Committee Chair
As an A.A. Member
- is an AA member, at least two years sober, who is willing to learn our Traditions as they pertain to the archives, especially our tradition of anonymity;
- has a special interest in our history;
- has a willingness to acquire skills and information on archival procedures through education or consultation with other professionals in the field.
As a Historical Gatherer
- determines which items have historical significance and are worth keeping, and which are of dubious value and should be rejected or discarded (examples can be found in the archives workbook);
- collects a variety of historical materials, including documents, correspondence, administrative files (such as group attendance lists), artifacts and memorabilia with the understanding that all materials are donated and none are paid for;
- arranges to add oral histories by audio-taping old-timers.
As a Custodian and Conservationist
- conserves old audio tapes by transferring them to digital formats, preserves old documents by removing tape and using non-acidic paper;
- adds collected items to the inventory list and indexes them by groups or series according to GSO archives workbook guidelines;
- manages a current showcase of archival material in the intergroup office;
- responds to requests from the membership for group or individual information, donations of material or visits to the archives;
- seeks outside professionals for help when necessary.
Volunteer at the Archives
Welcome...
…to the wonderful world of Area 79’s Archives.
There is much to do and many hands make for lighter work. Below are some brief descriptions of a few of the areas in which we could use some help. The repository is situated in Vancouver and most of the positions require you to go into the office, which limits them to lower mainland members, but there are a few duties that long-distance members can do.
All positions would work under the guidance of the Archives Chair and Archivist.
Data Entry
This requires someone to work with the archivist and help enter catalogued items, their location, a brief description and a few other pertinent details into a master database. We are working to get a complete inventory into this master database. Minimum computer skills and access to the Greater Vancouver Intergroup office would be required.
Scanner
This person would focus on scanning fragile material (both photos and documents). Some technical knowledge for touch-up and manipulation would be required, i.e. to remove last names on documents, size photos, etc.
Listening Person
Someone to listen to cassette tapes and identify them. Ideally for an in-town person, but may be set up for an out-of-town person. Also, someone is needed to listen to reel-to-reel tapes to identify them. This person would need to live in town.
Movie Person
We have a box of 8mm home movies that need to be viewed and documented. Ideally these would also be transferred to VHS. We have the projector — and we would have to have a group conscience as to whether these could be loaned out for someone from out of town to do.
Typists, Writers and Readers
Histories are being collected from members and districts in the forms of speaker tapes, written experiences and filled-out questionnaires. These need to be first transcribed (typed into the computer so we have a digital copy). Then information needs to be compiled, and written into a suitable form for eventual publishing. Lastly we need a reading committee to help edit and make recommendations. These positions are very suitable for out-of-towners and may be done via email or regular mail.
