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American Civil Liberties Union Records: Subgroup 3, Printed and Audiovisual Materials Series
Notifications
Held at: Princeton University Library: Public Policy Papers [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Public Policy Papers. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
The ACLU is the preeminent civil liberties organization in the United States. The ACLU describes itself as "our nation's guardian of liberty, working daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country." Since its inception in 1920, the ACLU has played a part in nearly every significant American social or political issue in the 20th century. This includes important work in the areas of civil rights, children and women's rights, freedom of speech (and all First Amendment questions), and due process, among many others.
For a more detailed history of the ACLU, please see the history in the finding aid for the processed portion of the ACLU Records.
The Printed and Audiovisual Materials series contains the published works of the ACLU, including publications, audio recordings, and videos. These include educational materials published by the ACLU, newsletters, press releases, and public appearances and interviews with ACLU staff.
Historical sketch based on In Defense of American Liberties: A History of the ACLU by Samuel Walker. See also Samuel Walker's The American Civil Liberties Union: An Annotated Bibliography .
American Civil Liberties Union Records: Subgroup 1, The Roger Baldwin Years is available on microfilm.
Public records of the ACLU from 1917 to 1989, from American Civil Liberties Union Records: Subgroup 2, have been microfilmed by the Microfilming Corporation of America (MCA) and University Microfilms International (UMI). These records include minutes of the board of directors, mailings to the board of directors, biennial conference papers, policy guides, the national legal docket, organization manuals, constitution and bylaws, legal briefs, and publications.
Materials are transferred from the ACLU annually.
This finding aid describes a portion of the American Civil Liberties Union Records held at the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library. For an overview of the entire collection, instructions on searching the collection and requesting materials, and other information, please see the Guide to the American Civil Liberties Union Records.
Subseries 6A contains audio and video tapes. Access to this material follows the Mudd Manuscript Library Policy on Access to Audiovisual Collections.
This collection was processed by Adriane Hanson in 2010-2012 with the assistance of Special Collections Assistant David Gillespie and student assistants Brandon Joseph and Emma Watt. Finding aid written by Adriane Hanson in March 2012.
No materials were separated from this series during processing.
Organization
Subject
- Publisher
- Public Policy Papers
- Finding Aid Author
- Adriane Hanson
- Finding Aid Date
- 2012
- Sponsor
- These papers were processed with the generous support of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission and the John Foster and Janet Avery Dulles Fund.
- Access Restrictions
-
Any restrictions in this collection are noted in the inventory.
- Use Restrictions
-
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. For quotations that are fair use as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission to cite or publish is required. For those few instances beyond fair use, researchers are responsible for determining who may hold the copyright and obtaining approval from them. Researchers do not need anything further from the Mudd Library to move forward with their use.
Collection Inventory
The Printed and Audiovisual Materials series contains the published works of the ACLU, including publications, audio recordings, and videos. These include educational materials published by the ACLU, newsletters, press releases, and public appearances and interviews with ACLU staff.
This series is a continuation of ACLU Records: Subgroup 2, Printed Materials Series, 1917-1995 and ACLU Records: Subgroup 2, Audiovisual Materials Series, 1920-1995.
Divided into four subseries: Audiovisual Materials, Newsletters, Press Releases, and Publications.
Physical Description34 boxes
The Audiovisual Materials subseries contains audio and video recordings of news programs where an ACLU representative is a guest, programs produced by the ACLU to educate the public on their views, and recordings of ACLU conferences and events, such as their 75th anniversary celebration. Also included are interviews conducted by the Public Education Department of ACLU staff members in 1997, photographs of Executive Director Ira Glasser, and slides from a talk given by Bill Olds about the ACLU.
This series is a continuation of American Civil Liberties Union Records: Subgroup 2, Audiovisual Materials Series, 1920-1995.
The boxes are arranged alphabetically by document type.
Physical Description15 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
DVDs
Physical Description1 box
Negatives and Prints of Negatives
Physical Description1 box
Slides
Physical Description1 box
1 box
VHS and U-Matic Tapes
Physical Description1 box
VHS Tapes. The majority are from "A National Conference on Ending the Cold War at Home", 1991.
Physical Description1 box
Beta and VHS Tapes
Physical Description1 box
Large Format Video
Physical Description1 box
Various audio and video formats.
Physical Description1 box
4 boxes
Beta Tapes
Physical Description1 box
Beta Tapes
Physical Description1 box
VHS Tapes
Physical Description1 box
Beta Tapes
Physical Description1 box
The Newsletters subseries is composed of national ACLU newsletters which provide updates on civil liberties violations and ACLU activities, and also newsletters by individual projects. The projects include the Arts Censorship Project, Children's Rights Project, National Prison Project, Reproductive Rights Project, and Women's Rights Project.
Additional newsletters are located in Subgroup 2, Subseries 5A: ACLU Printed Materials.
The boxes are arranged alphabetically by title.
Physical Description2 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
The Press Releases subseries is composed of ACLU press releases about ACLU's work and civil liberties in general. Significant topics include court decisions on ACLU cases, the ACLU condemning or praising actions with an impact on civil liberties, and analysis of legislation and government action. Civil liberties frequently addressed include government and police abuse of power, due process, and discrimination against women, children, and minorities. The subseries also includes copies of the newsletter of the Global Internet Liberation Committee (GILC), an ACLU newsletter on cyberliberties, and press clippings about the ACLU.
Press releases from 1926 through 1990 are located in Subgroup 2, Subseries 5A: ACLU Printed Materials.
The boxes are arranged chronologically.
Physical Description7 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
The Publications subseries contains reports, pamphlets, and other publications by the ACLU and ACLU projects on the full range of civil rights issues addressed by the ACLU, including their "The Rights Of..." series of handbooks and "The Civil Liberties Review." The subseries also includes briefing books on HIV and anti-gay ballot initiatives, which are studies and information collected by the ACLU on these issues.
Additional ACLU publications are located in Subgroup 2, Subseries 5A: ACLU Printed Materials.
The order of the files in each box at the time of transfer has been maintained.
Physical Description10 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
Includes many about police power.
Physical Description1 box
1 box
1 box
1 folder
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box