AIDS is one of the most debilitating and shunned diseases in modern society. It was even more taboo before the 21st century. Movements sprang up to bring more light to AIDS and those who suffered with it, and help change public perspective on the disease.
From 1987 to 1995, the AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power/Los Angeles (ACT UP/LA) was active in this work. ACT UP was, “a grass-roots, democratic, militant, direct action organization dedicated to creating positive changes around AIDS in federal and local government, the media, and medical industries through non-violent public protests.” Their work was critical to changing the conversation about and treatment of AIDS victims in Los Angeles and America. ACT UP also sought to improve the medical treatment and research that was given for AIDS victims.
The finding aid includes a 29 page collection of documented financial records, press-releases, membership materials, fliers, newsletters, and much more. Media awareness was the main tool they used to call for change. Constant rallies and demonstrations were conducted over the organizations span to fight for the rights of AIDS victims. From these materials, one would likely be able to see the slow change in funding for AIDS research, and gradual increases in receptiveness and positivity of LA locals to those with AIDS. The growth of the organization and the constant efforts of its members is highlighted in the documents in the collection.
However, not everything could be collected by ACT UP. The vocal conversations held between individuals at meetings and at ACT UP rallies is likely lost. These conversations could have been much more hateful of violent when compared to those on paper, or vice versa. Additionally, private conversations held between actors outside of ACT UP would add to the picture of how the movement was viewed and treated during its operation. Sources like private conversation records and private government documents would fill the gaps in how the organization operated and functioned.
More so, hard data on the rates of AIDS in America and the health statistics involved with it is absent from the collection. This information is essential for painting the background picture of this collection and giving it solid historical relevancy for the cause it was fighting for. Incorporating death statistics and health care treatment option records could act as solid sources for this background of information. A diverse array of documents and information only helps paint a more detailed picture of history for those who want to know what such movements had to do to make change happen.
Hi James, you wrote a great analysis on the ACT UP archive for eradicating the stigma surrounding AIDS! It is interesting how this collection contained not just the usual newspapers or research documents that we think of when we classify archival collections. Instead, this one also includes financial records and membership materials that help keep every more thorough records of these events. You bring up a great point when you mention how vocal protests were unable to be documented in these files. Hopefully, with the growth of technology these missing files can be produced today to remove the stigma against AIDS through even more detailed documentation.
Hi James, I thought that your post was very comprehensive! I like how you briefly contextualised what the collection was about to make it easier for readers to understand. Also, I thought that bringing in healthcare data was a really good suggestion to make because even though this collection is about ACT UP/LA, an advocacy group, scientific information would definitely have been useful in understanding the impetus for and context of such a movement.