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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

American civil liberties union

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.

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Subseries 6A contains audio and video tapes.

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.

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.
Use Restrictions

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Collection Inventory

Scope and Contents

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.

Arrangement

Divided into four subseries: Audiovisual Materials, Newsletters, Press Releases, and Publications.

Physical Description

34 boxes

Scope and Contents

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.

Arrangement

The boxes are arranged alphabetically by document type.

Physical Description

15 boxes

75th Anniversary Videos, 1995. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

75th Anniversary Videos, 1995. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

75th Anniversary Videos, 1995. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

75th Anniversary Videos, 1995. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

75th Anniversary Videos, 1995. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

"The ACLU Freedom Files" Television Series, 2005-2006. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

DVDs

Physical Description

1 box

Ira Glasser Retirement Party, 2001. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Negatives and Prints of Negatives

Physical Description

1 box

Bill Olds Slide Show on ACLU, 1980. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Slides

Physical Description

1 box

Ira Glasser Photographs, circa 1978-2001. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

ACLU Programs and Conferences, 1980-2004. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

VHS and U-Matic Tapes

Physical Description

1 box

ACLU Programs, Conferences, and Speeches, 1984-1999. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

VHS Tapes. The majority are from "A National Conference on Ending the Cold War at Home", 1991.

Physical Description

1 box

ACLU Representatives on News Programs and ACLU Programs and Clips, 1978-1993. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Beta and VHS Tapes

Physical Description

1 box

ACLU Representatives on News Programs and Public Education Department Programs, 1978-1995. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Large Format Video

Physical Description

1 box

ACLU Programs and Conferences, Documentaries, and ACLU Representatives on News Programs, 1978-2005. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Various audio and video formats.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

4 boxes

Interviews, 1997. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Beta Tapes

Physical Description

1 box

Interviews, 1997. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Beta Tapes

Physical Description

1 box

Interviews, 1997. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

VHS Tapes

Physical Description

1 box

Programs, circa 1982-1987. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Beta Tapes

Physical Description

1 box

Scope and Contents

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.

Arrangement

The boxes are arranged alphabetically by title.

Physical Description

2 boxes

ACLU Online Newsletter, 2003-2006. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

ACLU (AOL) Newsletter, 1996. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

E-List: ACLU News, 1996-2001. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

"The ACLU Abolitionist", 1996. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

"Arts Censorship Project Newsletter", 1995. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

"Civil Liberties Alert", 1984-1992. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

"Reproductive Rights Update", 1992-1994. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

"The National Prison Project Journal", 1992-1995. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

"Women's Rights Report", 1980-1981. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

"ACLU Lawyer", 1977-1983. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

"Children's Rights Report", 1975-1979. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

"First Principles", 1978-1994. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Scope and Contents

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.

Arrangement

The boxes are arranged chronologically.

Physical Description

7 boxes

Press Releases, 1947, 1985-1997. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Press Releases, 1991-1992. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Press Releases, 1993-1995. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Press Releases, 1995-1996. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Press Releases, 1998-2002. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Press Releases, 2002-2004. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Press Releases, 2005-2006. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Global Internet Liberty Campaign (GILC)/Cyberliberties, 1995-2004. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Press Clippings, 1997-1998. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Scope and Contents

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.

Arrangement

The order of the files in each box at the time of transfer has been maintained.

Physical Description

10 boxes

ACLU Books, Reports, and Papers, 1972-2002. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

"ACLU Lawyer", 1977-1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

"The Civil Liberties Review", 1973-1978. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

ACLU Reports and Pamphlets on Rights, 1949-1995. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

ACLU Reports and Pamphlets on Rights, 1984-2002. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

ACLU Reports and Papers, 2001-2005. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

ACLU Handbooks in "The Rights Of..." Series, 1981-1998. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Briefing Book on HIV Prevention, 1994. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Opinion Research on the Federal Judiciary and Privacy, 1993-1998. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

"Civil Liberties", 1967-1977. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

ACLU Reports and Pamphlets on Rights, and Court Documents, 1968-1969. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Includes many about police power.

Physical Description

1 box

"The Civil Liberties Review", 1973-1978. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

ACLU Project Reports, 1994-2004. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

ACLU Know Your Right Pamphlets , 2004. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Briefing Book on Anti-Gay Ballot Initiative, 1993. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Briefing Book on the American Disabilities Act for People with HIV, 1990. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

"Bulletin of the ACLU", 1921-1941. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

ACLU Publications, 1920-1999. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

ACLU Publications, 1918-1969. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Print, Suggest