Guide to the Shanti Records
Marjorie Bryer
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society
657 Mission Street, Suite 300
San Francisco, California 94105
Phone: (415) 777-5455
Fax: (415) 777-5576
Email: info@glbthistory.org
URL: http://www.glbthistory.org/
© 2007
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Shanti Records
Collection number: 2006-02
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society
San Francisco, California
- Processed by:
- Marjorie Bryer
- Date Completed:
- August 2007
- Encoded by:
- Rebekah Kim
© 2007 The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Shanti records
Dates: 1983-2006
Collection number: 2006-02
Creator:
Shanti Project (San Francisco, Calif.)
Collection Size:
2 Cartons, 1 manuscript box and 10 framed photographs, posters and artworks
Repository:
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society
San Francisco, California 94105
Abstract: The records of Shanti document the organizational history and work of an agency dedicated to enhancing the quality of life
for people living with HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening or chronic illnesses. There are a wide range of record types in
this collection, which focus on the years 1987-2003. The bulk of these include materials related to the board of directors
and to training volunteers and other organizations. There are also newsletters; publicity and fundraising materials; cloth
artifacts; a scrapbook; audio-visual material; and photographs.
Physical location: Stored at the Archives of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society in San Francisco, California.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
Collection open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright to unpublished manuscript materials has been transferred to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Shanti Records, 2006-02, The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Kevin Burns, Executive Director of Shanti, October 2005.
Organizational History
Dr. Charles Garfield founded the Shanti Project in 1974 to provide emotional support for people with life-threatening illnesses
in the San Francisco Bay Area. The name "Shanti" comes from the Sanskrit word for "inner peace" or the "peace that passeth
understanding." The project's focus on one-to-one peer support provided by trained volunteers became a new standard in the
care of the terminally ill. Shanti's methods gained national attention, and after Garfield gave the keynote speech at n cancer
conference in Milan, Italy in 1979, Shanti began an international training effort. Soon nearly 300 organizations around the
world were using the Shanti peer support model.
In 1981, when the earliest cases of disease that became known as AIDS first appeared in San Francisco, Shanti added them to
their caseload. In 1982, Shanti's board elected Jim Geary as their Executive Director, and hired its first paid staff. That
same year, Shanti provided the first-ever international trainings on AIDS care (in Italy, France and the Netherlands). In
1984, Shanti, recognizing the exponential growth of the AIDS epidemic, changed its mission from serving individuals with any
terminal illness to providing services solely for those with AIDS and their loved ones.
Under Geary's guidance, Shanti quickly became a leader and a key component in San Francisco's community-based response to
AIDS, creating new programs and changing existing ones to match the needs of people with AIDS (PWAs). The goal was to help
them lead productive and independent lives out of hospitals and in their communities, and to reduce their healthcare costs.
In addition to peer counseling and practical assistance, such as housecleaning, childcare, shopping, cooking and running errands,
Shanti services expanded to include providing transportation, offering recreational and social activities and providing caregiver
support. Shanti also developed the first non-hospital residential facilities for displaced people with AIDS; by 1988 they
had 12 residences housing 47 PWAs.
In October 1988, Geary resigned, following six months of turmoil and amidst allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination
and favoritism that resulted in a San Francisco Human Rights Commission investigation of the organization. After a nationwide
search, author, teacher and activist Eric Rofes was hired as the new executive director in 1989. This move was viewed as
inspiring renewed confidence in the agency. Shanti broadened its focus, opening its first AIDS residence for families with
children and beginning a two-year agency-wide Multicultural Plan. In 1990, the first practical support training for the deaf
and hard of hearing was held. That same year, in collaboration with the Visiting Nurses Association and Hospice, Shanti opened
a home for PWAs who needed 24-hour care. 1991 brought an influx of federal funds from the Ryan White CARE Bill and from the
Crossings program. The latter focused on the "historically underserved" residents of the Tenderloin, Mission, and South of
Market areas of the city. This program reached out to women, children, people of color, poor, homeless, intravenous and other
drug users, transvestites and transgender people.
There was another leadership and public relations crisis in 1993, when an annual review found discrepancies in the use of
government funds in Shanti's housing program. Rofes and deputy director Melinda Paras resigned. Paul Lambros served as interim
executive director until August of that year. Doug Holloway and Tim Wolfred assumed direction of day-to-day activities until
Gloria Sandoval was appointed Shanti executive director. After being barred for a year from receiving direct federal funding,
Shanti's January 1994 audit showed no misuse of funds and their federal status was reinstated. Shanti's housing program was
transferred to another agency, but all other contracts were extended. In 1994, Shanti joined with the AIDS Health Project
and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation in a new formal collaboration, streamlining intake and making access to services provided
by all three agencies more efficient.
Between 1974 and 1994, its 20th anniversary year, Shanti trained over 7,000 volunteers who, cumulatively, provided over 2
million hours of peer counseling and practical assistance to PWAs and people with other terminal diseases. The organization
continued to offer new services, including an Activities Program, which included social, recreational and cultural opportunities
for men, women, and children with symptomatic HIV in San Francisco. These events provided a space for participants to make
friends with others who were dealing with similar issues, to enjoy activities they might not normally be able to afford, and
to explore new interests. The Activities Program included free tickets to arts, sports performance and educational events;
social events such as parties, picnics, bus trips, classes, outings; a newsletter and a telephone events line.
Sandoval served as Executive Director until 1997. She was succeeded by Bob Rybicki, who served for five years. In 1998, in
conjunction with activist Andrea Martin, Shanti established its LifeLines Breast Cancer Program, which offers support, education,
services and care to men and women with breast cancer. In early 2003, Hywel Sims joined Shanti as Executive Director; after
18 months in the position, he was succeeded by Kevin Burns. Burns had worked in a variety of capacities for Shanti since
1995 and, prior to joining the staff, he was a peer support volunteer.
As Shanti celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2004, one of its main initiatives was to expand its programs to new parts of
the country. The agency continues to share its 30-plus years of experience with other organizations nationwide. The Shanti
National Training Institute offers training and consultation to agencies trying to implement new, or improve existing, volunteer
programs for with clients with life-threatening illnesses. The organization continues to enhance the health and quality of
life of people living with HIV/AIDS and breast cancer in San Francisco by offering numerous services. L.I.F.E. (Learning Immune
Function Enhancement) Institute offers innovative health services to people living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses
and conducts research on the role of psycho-social issues in disease. HIV/AIDS Services provides for the emotional and practical
needs of people living with the disease by linking people living with HIV/AIDS to medical care, substance abuse treatment
and volunteer caregivers. Volunteer Services gives people the opportunity to facilitate wellness classes and help Shanti clients.
As of 2007, Shanti employed close to 40 people, managed 200 volunteers and served over 2,000 people per year. It remains committed
to providing services for people of all racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and cultural backgrounds affected by HIV and other
life-threatening diseases, with sensitivity to preserving the rights and dignity of its clients and the HIV-affected community
at large.
This organizational history was largely taken from the Guide to the Shanti Project records, 1982-1994, MSS 98-48 at the University
of California, San Francisco, accessed through the Online Archive of California, August 11, 2007.
Scope and Content of Collection
The records of Shanti document the organizational history and work of an agency dedicated to enhancing the quality of life
for people living with HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening or chronic illnesses. There are a wide range of record types in
this collection, which focus on the years 1987-2003. The bulk of these include materials related to the board of directors
and to training volunteers and other organizations. There are also newsletters; publicity and fundraising materials; cloth
artifacts; a scrapbook; audio-visual material; and photographs.
Researchers should consult Series Scope and Content Summaries for more details.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in 6 series:
Series 1. Board of Directors; Series 2. Organizational Records; Series 3. Newsletters; Series 4. Training Materials; Series
5. Ephemera; Series 6. Visual Arts
The original order was maintained.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
AIDS (Disease)
AIDS (Disease) Social Aspects California San Francisco Bay Area
AIDS (Disease) Patient Services for Terminal Care
Shanti Project (San Francisco, Calif.)
Garfield, Charles A.
Related Material
The following collections at the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society and University of California-San Francisco
contain related materials. Contact the Historical Society and UCSF for further information.
San Francisco AIDS Foundation records, 2006-03 (at GLBTHS); GLBTHS Periodicals Collection: various Shanti newsletters; San
Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF) records, 1982-1995, MSS 94-60 (at UCSF);
Shanti Project records, 1982-1994, MSS 98-48 (at UCSF)
Collection Contents
Series 1
Board of Directors
1987-2003
Physical Description: 38 folders
Series Description
The bulk of the records in this series consist of board meeting agendas and minutes from 1997 to 2003. They document Shanti's
organizational structure and its social and political work. Materials include packets for the board members that contain
financial statements and auditors' reports, demographic characteristics of Shanti clients and volunteers, event flyers, board
job descriptions, reports and program evaluations. Other materials in this series include an agreement with the San Francisco
AIDS Foundation, annual reports and a copy of Shanti's by-laws.
Arrangement
Arrangement of the Series:
Arranged alphabetically, by subject.
Box: Folder 1: 1
Agreement Between Shanti and San Francisco AIDS Fund and related letter.
1987, undated.
Box: Folder 1: 4-38
Meetings, Agendas and Minutes.
1997-2003
Series 2
Organizational Records
1983-2000
Physical Description: 6 folders, 2 videotapes and 1 CD
Series Description
This series includes materials from other organizations; publicity materials, such as brochures; fundraising materials, such
as donor outreach correspondence, an "Into the Light" campaign video and a promotional CD; press releases; materials related
to
events, including a 1998 video of Shanti's Annual Awards dinner; PWA and Activities Program updates; and one letter from,
and
one note about Eric Rofes, Shanti's executive director from 1989-1993.
Arrangement
Arrangement of the Series:
Arranged alphabetically, by subject, with audio-visual materials at the end of the series.
Box: Folder 1: 40
ACT UP Golden Gate Action Alerts and Other Materials.
Circa 1992-1994
Box: Folder 1: 41
Brochures.
1994-2003, undated
Box: Folder 1: 42
Fundraising Letters.
1983-1995, undated
Box: Folder 1: 43
Press Releases and Event Materials.
1988-2003, undated
Box: Folder 1: 44
PWA UPdates and Activities Program UPdates.
1990-1992
Box: Folder 1: 45
Rofes, Eric - Correspondence.
1989
Box: Folder 1
"I'll Be There": 1995/96 Into the Light Campaign Video," VHS tape.
1995 October 26
Box: Folder 1
"Shanti's Annual Awards Dinner," VHS tape.
1998 November 12
Box: Folder 1
"Shanti Project Collection 2," CD.
2000
Series 3
Newsletters
1983-2006
Physical Description: 5 folders
Series Description
This series is comprised of issues of five different Shanti newsletters: Eclipse, Grapvine, Heartspace, Our Times and Voices.
Arrangement
Arrangement of the Series:
Arranged alphabetically, by title.
Box: Folder 1: 48
Grapevine and Heartspace: A Newsletter Especially for Volunteers.
1988-1991
Series 4
Training Materials
1986-2000
Physical Description: 1 folder in Carton 1, 9 folders in Box 1, 1 binder and 1 book in Carton 2
Series Description
This series documents the implementation and practice of the Shanti model, which was used by AIDS-service organizations nationwide.
Materials in the series include training manuals for volunteers and participants; memos; resources from workshops; cassette
tapes offering lessons on AIDS caregiving; policy materials; publications produced, or inspired, by Shanti volunteers; and
an autographed copy of Sometimes My Heart Goes Numb, by Charles Garfield, originator of Shanti model.
Arrangement
Arrangement of the Series:
Arranged alphabetically, by subject.
Box: Folder 1: 51
AIDS Caregiving: Lessons for the Second Decade, by Charles Garfield and Cindy Spring, Cassette Tapes.
1993
Box: Folder 2: 1
Emotional Support Training Manuals.
1991 January 7
Circa 1986
Box: Folder 2: 2
In the Spirit of Service (Participant Manual, Shanti National Training Inst.).
1999
Box: Folder 2: 3
Project Volunteer Memos.
1986-1988
Box: Folder 2: 4
Publications - AIDS Vignettes: Stories of a Volunteer's Work and The Book of Life: Words from the Heart.
1996
Undated
Box: Folder 2: 5
Seminars, Workshops and Resources.
1986
1993
Undated
Box: Folder 3
Sometimes My Heart Goes Numb: Love and Grieving in a Time of AIDS.
1995
Box: Folder 3
Training Volunteers for Community Service.
2000
Box: Folder 2: 6
Tuberculosis Screening and Surveillance Policy and Procedures.
1992 January
Box: Folder 2: 7
Volunteer Training Materials.
1997
Undated
Box: Folder 2: 8-9
Volunteer Services and Training Materials Used by Kevin Burns, Volunteer Facilitator and Coordinator.
1992-1997
Series 5
Ephemera
1996-2004
Undated
Physical Description: 14 items
Series Description
Materials in this series include a banner, a sash, hats, t-shirts and a scrapbook containing obituaries of people associated
with Shanti.
Arrangement
Arrangement of the Series:
Arranged alphabetically, by media, then by subject
Box: Folder 3
"Shanti Volunteers for Life," Banner.
Undated
Box: Folder 3
"The Names Project," Hat.
Undated
Box: Folder 3
"Shanti Project," Hat.
Undated
Box: Folder 3
Obituary Scrapbook.
Undated
Box: Folder 3
"Shanti Irish" Sash.
Undated
Box: Folder 3
"Our Lady of Safeway," 10th Annual AIDS Walk T-Shirt.
1996
Box: Folder 3
"Ride for Life," T-Shirt.
1997
Box: Folder 3
"Ride for Life," Third Annual Motorcycle Ride to Fight AIDS T-Shirt.
1999 October 24
Box: Folder 3
"Celebrate Life: 30 Years of Care and Support," T-Shirt.
Circa 2004
Box: Folder 3
"People Transforming Lives," T-Shirt.
Undated
Box: Folder 3
"The Power of Caring," T-Shirt.
Undated
Box: Folder 3
"San Francisco Suicide Prevention AIDS/HIV Nightline," T-Shirt.
Undated
Box: Folder 3
"Shanti," T-Shirt.
Undated
Box: Folder 3
"Shanti Volunteer for Life," Green T-Shirt.
Undated
Series 6
Visual Arts
1992
Undated
Physical Description: 1 print, 1 poster, 8 photographs
Series Description
Materials in this series include a 1992 woodblock print by Robin Tichane, from his series, "AIDS Dark Terrain: Twelve Stations
from a Yankee Pilgrim"; a poster for recruiting Shanti Volunteers; and eight black and white photographs of People With AIDS
and Shanti clients with Shanti volunteers or caregivers. Photographs include some used in the Shanti Project's 20th Anniversary
brochure. There are photographs of Shanti client and volunteer Wayne Corbitt hanging out with volunteer Joy Bandy; 14-year-old
Shanti client Jeff Hidalgo watching Roseanne at his home with Shanti volunteer, David Silverman; Mesha Irezarry, Shanti staff
counselor, comforting AIDS patient Lee Bossell on Ward 5A, San Francisco General Hospital's AIDS ward; and Jim Ochoa and Randy
Vielbiz, clients of Shanti's Latino Program, hosting a dinner party as a thank you for Shanti volunteers Tony Molina and Cintelm
(Teamo) Alvarado.
Arrangement
Arrangement of the Series:
Original order was maintained.
Robin Tichane, "Errand into Wilderness," Woodblock Print.
1992
Shanti Volunteer Poster.
Undated
8 Photographs.
Circa 1990s
