Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Cult Awareness Network (CAN) Collection
ARC Mss 19  
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Access Restrictions
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Acquisition Information
  • Scope and Content of Collection
  • Indexing Terms

  • Descriptive Summary

    Title: Cult Awareness Network (CAN) Collection
    Dates: ca. 1972-2001
    Collection number: ARC Mss 19
    Collection Size: ca. 150 linear feet (145 cartons and document boxes, ca. 180 audiotapes, ca. 100 videotapes).
    Repository: University of California, Santa Barbara. Library. Dept. of Special Collections
    Santa Barbara, CA 93106
    Abstract: Includes files (correspondence, clippings, articles) relating to hundreds of religious groups, as well as internal administrative, financial, and legal files of a cult watchdog group which ceased operations in the mid 1990s.
    Physical location: SRLF (Boxes 1-90, 92-145); Annex 2 (Audiovisual).
    Languages: Primarily English; French, Spanish, Italian

    Access Restrictions

    Collection is stored off-site; advance notice required for retrieval. Boxes 104-105, 108 closed pending staff review.

    Publication Rights

    Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.

    Preferred Citation

    [Item description], Cult Awareness Network (CAN) Collection. ARC Mss 19. Department of Special Collections, Davidson Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

    Acquisition Information

    Gift of the Foundation for Religious Freedom, 1999; additions, Anson D. Shupe, 2007.

    Scope and Content of Collection

    The Cult Awareness Network (CAN) Collection includes files (correspondence, clippings, articles) relating to hundreds of religious groups, mainly U.S., as well as internal administrative, financial, and legal files of a cult watchdog group which ceased operations in the mid 1990s. It contains the following series and subseries:

    Arrangement

    • I. Subjects and Groups.
      • A. U.S. (arranged alphabetically). Mainly files kept by CAN on groups purported to be cults and public enquiries re information about suspect groups. Includes articles and clippings about the groups, correspondence, and materials put out by the respective groups. Boxes 1-82.
      • B. Europe (arranged alphabetically by country). Boxes 83-84.
      • C. Groups Outside Europe. Boxes 84-85.
      • D. CAN-Related Groups and Individuals. Boxes 85-90.
      • E. Religious Freedom Advocates - Groups and Individuals. R-W only. Box 92.
      • F. Anti-ARM [CAN?]. Box 93.
      • G. Religious Leaders. Boxes 94-95.
    • II. Administrative Files.
      • A. General.
        • About/By CAN. Includes articles of incorporation, bylaws, articles about CAN, etc. Boxes 96-98.
        • Anti-CAN. General, Groups, Individuals. Boxes 99-101.
        • Statistics. Box 102.
      • B. Affiliates / Related Organizations.
        • General. Box 103.
        • Affiliates by State - CFF. Box 104. This subseries is closed pending review for confidential information.
        • Affiliates by State - CAN. Box 105. This subseries is closed pending review for confidential information.
        • CFF [Citizens Freedom Foundation]. Predecessor of CAN. Box 106.
        • FOCUS [FOrmer CUltists Support Network]. Former members group; offices at CAN. Boxes 107-108. Box 108 is closed pending review for confidential information.
      • C. Board.
        • General. Box 109.
        • Correspondence. Box 109.
        • Meetings - Minutes. Box 109.
        • Member Bios. Box 109.
      • D. Conferences, ca. 1983-1995. Mainly national CAN conferences, with programs and other packet information, correspondence, publicity, and release forms (for taped sessions).
        • Alpha. Box 109.
        • Chronological. Box 110.
      • E. Director / Executive Director.
        • Coates, Priscilla (ca. early 1980s). Box 110.
        • Alev, Reginald M. (ca. early 1980s to 1986/1987). Boxes 111.
        • Kisser, Cynthia (from 1987 to 1996). Boxes 112-114.
      • F. Financial Records, ca. 1982-1997. Arranged alphabetically by type of file. Includes files for accounting practices, bankruptcy, donations, financial statements, fundraising, grants, registration for tax exempt status, and taxes. Boxes 115-118.
      • G. Legal / Litigation. Much dealing with bankruptcy and lawsuits involving Scientologists. Boxes 119-134.
      • H. Legislative / Legislation. Box 135.
      • I. Publicity / Public Relations. Files about CAN, anti-CAN, and by CAN (including briefing papers, conference information, contributions/solicitations, flyers, intra-office news, mailings, memoranda, news releases, newsletters order forms, packets (produced by CAN for various religions), pamphlets, press kits, promotional materials, and publication lists). Box 136.
    • III. Scientology. Primarily articles about Scientology and materials produced and distributed by Scientology-related groups. Boxes 137-138.
    • IV. Photographs. Mainly black/white and color prints of conference speakers; also CAN executives and offices. Box 139.
    • V. Artifacts. Items relating to CAN and its predecessor CFF, including embosser, Leo J. Ryan medals, pins, and keys. Box 140.
    • VI. Audiovisual.
      • A. Audiotapes - Cassettes.
      • B. Videotapes - Beta.
      • C. Videotapes - VHS.
    • VII. Computer Disks. 3 1/2" and 5 1/4" disks. Box 140.
    • VIII. Anson D. Shupe Addition. Arranged alphabetically. Includes files for AFF, Church of Scientology, CAN, deprogramming, Satanism, and Unification Church. Boxes 141-145.

    Indexing Terms

    The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
    Cult Awareness Network -- Archives.