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Healing Alternatives Foundation records

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 94-55

Scope and Content of Collection

This collection documents both this particular organization and the phenomena of buyer's clubs, which have been a major source of unapproved medications and other treatment modalities since the mid-1980s. Among the documents in the first folder of the collection is one from 1986 titled "Federally Unapproved Medications for the Treatment of AIDS and ARC; How to Get Them, How to Bring Them Home, and How to Use Them." This is an overview of how these substances were originally obtained, with a description of how to buy drugs in Mexico and deal with border crossings ("...look as ordinary as possible; consider it a new type of drag").

The folder titled "Photographs" contains eight snapshots of unidentified HAF members from about 1986 displaying products recently obtained on a run to Mexico. The folder labeled "FDA and 1992 ddC Incident" contains documentation of a 1992 FDA sampling and testing of ddC tablets purchased from HAF. These document a particular investigation and HAF's response to it, but they also reveal the attitude and approach of the FDA and its relationship with buyer's clubs in general. The final two folders indicate the range of products available in 1992 and how particular products were ordered.

Dates

  • Creation: 1986-1994

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to the UCSF Library and Center for Knowledge Management. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manager of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the UCSF Library and Center for Knowledge Management as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Copyright restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials.

Organizational History

Healing Alternatives Foundation (HAF) was formed as a "buyer's club" in April of 1987 in direct response to the need for access to treatment information and products. It was founded with the belief that HIV/AIDS can be a treatable, chronic disease requiring both early preventative measures and aggressive treatment of opportunistic infections. That philosophy is accompanied by the conviction that people with HIV should become informed about and involved with their own program of treatment and that treatment options should be both available and affordable.

By pooling resources, founders were able to develop direct services to people with AIDS, who join HAF in order to purchase materials at bulk prices. By 1993, membership was around 6,000 and was growing steadily. Members come to HAF for information about treatments, access to various low-cost products, and the opportunity to share with other members. HAF also maintains an extensive library on HIV, human immunity, and alternative healing practices and therapeutics.

Extent

1 box (.4)

Abstract

Records of the Healing Alternatives Foundation, including meeting minutes, correspondence, planning documents, publicity, newsletters, design/artwork files, funding sources and strategies.

System of Arrangement

Arranged to the folder level.

Physical Location

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog: http://www.library.ucsf.edu/.

Acquisition Information

The Healing Alternatives Foundation Records were donated to the UCSF Library 1994.

Alternate Forms Available

There are no alternate forms of this collection.

Related Collections

Guerilla Clinic Records, MSS 90-12

General

Finding Aid Written By:
Robin Chandler and Josue Hurtado, 1994
Date Completed:
October 2007

Processing Information

Processed by Bill Walker, Robin Chandler, and Josue Hurtado.

Title
Finding Aid to the Healing Alternatives Foundation Records, 1986-1994
Author
Finding Aid written by Robin Chandler and Josue Hurtado, 1994
Date
© 2007
Description rules
Finding Aid Prepared Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English

Repository Details

Part of the UCSF Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
UCSF Kalmanovitz Library
530 Parnassus Avenue
San Francisco CA 94143-0840 USA