Alliance for Full Acceptance (AFFA) records

The collection consists of the records of the Alliance for Full Acceptance (AFFA) from 1998 to 2018. The collection includes administrative records, subject files, correspondence, photographs, audiovisual materials, born-digital files, including digital images, text files, and audio and video recordings, and objects. Where possible, original folder titles have been retained. The records document AFFA’s activities in advocating for LGBTQ equality in the Charleston, South Carolina, area. Administrative records include annual reports, board retreat materials, handbooks, grant applications, financials, and materials relating to AFFA’s annual fundraising gala. The analog administrative records series contains some meeting minutes, but the bulk are located in electronic records series. Subject files contain information on organizations, training workshops, topics, and people relevant to AFFA’s work, notably A Dialogue on Religion and Sexuality (ADORASO), and AFFAInk, both AFFA programs. Original folder titles have been retained and marked in quotes.

From AFFA’s founding in 1998, administrative records, subject files, correspondence, public relations records, and audiovisual material were also stored and created in digital format. Some of these born-digital files duplicate material in the administrative and subject files series, but a significant portion of the born-digital files are unique. These materials contain board meeting minutes, bylaws, financials, strategic plans, photographs, event materials from AFFA’s annual fundraising gala, advertisements, SCEC files, We Are Family administrative files, and subject files. Original folder names have been retained, but capitalization and abbreviations have been standardized. Original order has also been maintained. Many of the folder listed have additional subfolders. Formats include .pdf, .jpg, .mpg, .qpd, and .adop. There are 14,993 (51.2 GB) permanent digital files in the collection. The digital files are dated from 1998 to 2019, according to their “Last Modified” dates. Access is restricted as materials in this series are currently unprocessed. Materials are not available in their original format and must be reformatted to digital access copies.

Correspondence includes mailing campaigns, newsletters, and event invitations sent by AFFA and letters and printed copies of emails received. Public relations records contain correspondence, policies, contracts, and invoices relating to various newspaper, television, and radio companies. There are also clippings of printed AFFA ads. “Equal Time” radio show materials include broadcast information, planning, and audio recordings, both on CD and audiocassette, of the shows. Show topics include local LGBTQ group activities and updates on state and national LGBTQ issues.

Audiovisual material includes DVDs, CDs, videocassettes, and minidiscs. There is an incomplete run of the In the Life documentary series. There are also documentaries and advertisements produced by AFFA and the South Carolina Equality Coalition (SCEC), notably the half-hour documentary we are your neighbors, where local members of the LGBTQ community speak about their experiences living in the Charleston area. There are also documentaries and electronic files not produced by AFFA, notably images from Charlie Smith’s campaign for the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2004.

There are also objects, mostly produced by AFFA. Objects include posters, bumper stickers, pins, and billboard mockups. Most of the bumper stickers relate to the campaign to oppose Amendment 1 to South Carolina’s constitution, while most of the posters display AFFA’s logo or advertise for events.