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AIDS correspondence (TRACER) archives

 Collection
Identifier: MS C 607

Abstract

The collection primarily consists of the contents of a controlled correspondence system (TRACER) related to the topic of HIV/AIDS as last managed by DHHS Chief Policy Coordinator for PHS AIDS programs.

Dates

  • Creation: 1982-1990

Extent

11.6 Linear Feet (10 boxes)

Creator

Physical Location

Materials stored onsite. History of Medicine Division. National Library of Medicine

Language of Materials

Collection materials primarily in English

Access Restrictions

No restrictions on access.

Copyright and Re-use Information

Copyright status is unknown. Archival collections often contain mixed copyrights; while NLM is the owner of the physical items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. It is the user's responsibility to research and understand any applicable copyright and re-publication rights not allowed by fair use. NLM does not grant permissions to publish.

Privacy Information

Archives and manuscript collections may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in any collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications for which the National Library of Medicine assumes no responsibility.

Collection Summary

The collection primarily consist of the contents of a controlled correspondence system (TRACER) related to the topic of HIV/AIDS as last controlled by DHHS Chief Policy Coordinator for PHS AIDS programs Arthur J. Lawrence; no other provenance information is known. These chronologically arranged files include primarily incoming correspondence to the DHHS Secretary, Surgeon General, and Assistant Secretary for Health from public interest groups, medical associations, Congressmen, and individuals inquiring about specific topics, alerts of concern, or calls to action. Each item has attached its routing slip showing its course through the DHHS chain of command and decision point notes.

Separately identified but interfiled chronologically are Aids TRACER M files. It is unclear what the 'M' stands for, but these files seem more related to internal memoranda and meetings. There is much topical overlap with the other files, but responses are included here as opposed to being absent. Types of documents in folders marked AIDS Tracer M include:drafts of proposals requesting review; questions and answers for upcoming interviews; Daily AIDS Reports; Biweekly AIDS Reports; statements for the press or form letters; meeting minutes; memoranda marked as "FYI" or "Note to: usually to bring attention to a recently published article about AIDS.

Other collection contents include a folder of Iris Gelberg's meeting and travel files. Gelberg was the External Liaison Officer and Special Assistant to the Acting Director for the National AIDS Program Office (NAPO).

"Response to Congressman Weiss's Request for Information Relating to Medical Exclusion of Aliens Infected with HIV" holds correspondence relating to proposed amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act that would omit HIV and several other sexually transmitted diseases from the list of "dangerous contagious diseases." National and international organizations threatened to boycott the Sixth International on AIDS, to be held in the U.S., if Congress did not remove HIV from the list. This binder of material may have been prepared for Representative Ted Weiss who "was the sponsor of the very first funds for AIDS research."

Folders marked "[AIDS and the IV Drug User: a Training Program]" hold training program material for health care professionals working with drug users with AIDS. There is material both for the person running the training program and for people taking the training program.

Finally, the folder labeled "[Presentation to the PHS Task Force on AIDS – AIDS Drug Development]" holds a presentation given by Bruce A. Chabner, M.D., Director of the Division of Cancer Treatment, National Cancer Institute, on January 8, 1990. The presentation material includes the meeting agenda, objectives, and participants, as well as graphics and state data.

Abstract

The collection primarily consists of the contents of a controlled correspondence system (TRACER) related to the topic of HIV/AIDS as last managed by DHHS Chief Policy Coordinator for PHS AIDS programs.

Physical Location

Materials stored onsite. History of Medicine Division. National Library of Medicine

Provenance

Transfer, DHHS/ASPE (through Arthur J. Lawrence), 1/17/2001. Accession #2001-007.

General

Processed by
Alice Griffin
Processing Completed
July 2014
Encoded by
Alice Griffin
Title
Finding Aid to the AIDS correspondence (TRACER) archives, 1982-1990
Status
Unverified Partial Draft
Author
Alice Griffin
Date
July 2014
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latn
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English
Edition statement
1.0

Collecting Area Details

Part of the Archives and Modern Manuscripts Collections Collecting Area

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