Finding aid to the Los Angeles Shanti Foundation records, 1984-2005
Coll2012.164
Finding aid prepared by Loni Shibuyama
Processing this collection has been funded by generous grants from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission
and Wells Fargo.
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California, 90007
(213) 741-0094
askone@ONEarchives.org
(c) 2012
Title: Los Angeles Shanti Foundation Records
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2012.164
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
3.6 linear feet.
3 archive boxes + 2 archive cartons.
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1990-2003
Date (inclusive): 1984-2005
Abstract: Meeting minutes, reports, photographs and negatives, videocassettes, publicity material, publication editorial materials,
public service announcement production records, Spanish-language material, trophies, a floppy disk and other administrative
records (1984-2005) from the Los Angeles Shanti Foundation, the first group in Southern California to provide direct services
to people with AIDS. Founded in 1983, LA Shanti was a non-profit relief organization that provided emotional support groups
and services for those suffering from the effects of HIV/AIDS.
creator:
Los Angeles Shanti Foundation.
Administrative History
Founded in 1983 by a group of dedicated volunteers, the Los Angeles Shanti Foundation, or LA Shanti, was the first group in
Southern California to provide direct services to people with AIDS. This non-profit relief organization provided emotional
support groups and services for those suffering from the effects of the AIDS/HIV crisis. With a particular emphasis on minority
groups from socioeconomically troubled backgrounds and the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community, LA Shanti
sought out the marginalized in a time of great confusion and tragedy. The name "shanti," which loosely translates from Sanskrit
as "inner peace through understanding," emblematized the organization's mission: of providing a compassionate, accepting environment
and support network for people with HIV/AIDS.
LA Shanti offered programs that targeted individuals suffering from the effects of HIV/AIDS, as well as the family, friends,
and lovers who suffered by proxy. Some of the particular programs provided by LA Shanti included weekly on-going support groups
for HIV-positive men and women, significant others, serodifferent couples, multiple loss, HIV-negative people, Spanish-language
speakers, lesbians living with life-threatening Illness; one-to-one counseling opportunities; and monthly HIV forums. Education,
in preventative as well as recuperative care, was also a central focus at LA Shanti.
Some staple LA Shanti events included Los Angeles Shanti Hug Day, a "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" benefit series, a wine
tasting and auction series, anniversary celebrations, and the annual "Hug-A-Hunk" event series. Through the orchestrated efforts
of physicians, caring volunteers, administrative workers, celebrities, and universities, LA Shanti possessed a $1.5 million
annual budget, over 35 full-time staff and hundreds of volunteers at the peak of its activity.
LA Shanti ended its operations in 2006.
Source: Los Angeles Shanti Foundation Records, Coll2012-164, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Joanne Jackson, January 10, 2008.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder #, or item name] Los Angeles Shanti Foundation Records, Coll2012-164, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC
Libraries, University of Southern California
Processing Information
Collection processed by Monica Ramsy and Loni Shibuyama, November 2012.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of meeting minutes, reports, photographs and negatives, videocassettes, publicity material, publication
editorial materials, public service announcement production records, Spanish-language material, trophies, a floppy disk and
other administrative records (1984-2005) from the Los Angeles Shanti Foundation, the first group in Southern California to
provide direct services to people with AIDS. The materials document LA Shanti's activities from 1984-2003. The majority of
the materials were created or collected by Paul Lerner who served on staff in various capacities, including public relations
and development.
The General Administration Series comprises administrative records, photographs, trophies and a floppy disk that document
LA Shanti's many activities, particularly public relations, fundraising, and event planning. The Videocassettes Series includes
VHS, Betacam and U-matic cassettes produced by and about LA Shanti. This series includes public service announcements produced
by LA Shanti.
Separated Materials
The following materials have been separated from this collection and cataloged into ONE Archives' collection of periodicals
and programs:
Gay & Lesbian Latinos Unidos, 14th Anniversary Awards and Installation Banquet program, November 4, 1995
Heartspace newsletters, 1991-1995
LA Shanti Volunteer newsletters, 1995-1997
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries 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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
AIDS (Disease)
AIDS (Disease)--Patients, Services for--California--Los Angeles County
AIDS activists--California--Los Angeles
Community health services--California
General administration Series 1.
1984-2005
Physical Description:
2.2 linear feet
Series Description
This series comprises meeting minutes, correspondence, reports, photographs and negatives, publicity material, publication
editorial materials, Spanish-language material, fundraising information, event planning material, community resource information,
a floppy disk and other administrative records from the Los Angeles Shanti Foundation, 1984-2005. The majority of the materials
were created or collected by Paul Lerner.
Arrangement
Staff meeting minutes and memoranda, as well as annual reports, are placed at the beginning of this series. The remaining
files are arranged alphabetically.
Box 1, Folder 1-3
Staff meetings and memoranda
1994-1997
Physical Description:
[3 folders]
Box 1, Folder 4-5
Annual reports
1991-2003
Physical Description:
[2 folders]
Box 1, Folder 9
Award certificates and commendations
1984-2005
Box 5, Item 1
Shanti Foundation Ralph Scafer Award
1987
Box 5, Item 2
Red Ribbon Memorial Service presented to LA Shanti
December 29, 1996
Box 5, Item 3
With Deep Appreciation for Your Dedicated Service: to John Maguire, Board Chair
September 14, 1998
Box 5, Item 4
Bet Tzedek-The House of Justice Citation
July 29, 2000
Box 5, Item 5
First Annual Mary Kay Jewell Award: In Recognition & Appreciation of Mary Kay Jewell
May 2, 2001
Box 5, Item 6
First Annual Rich Starr Award: In Recognition & Appreciation of Rich Starr
September 10, 2001
Box 5, Item 7
Larry Hess Award in Recognition & Appreciation for Federico Jimenez
September 15, 2003
Box 1, Folder 10
Aware HIV Talk Radio
1993-1994
Box 1, Folder 11
Brochures, flyers and clippings
circa 1985-2005
Box 1, Folder 12
California Endowment
2000-2002
Box 1, Folder 13
The Constance Bultman Wilson Foundation
1994
Box 1, Folder 15
Department of Health and Human Services. "Managing Issues" draft copy
July 1994
Box 3, Folder 1
"AIDS in Los Angeles: a 20-year Journey" poster
June 5, 2001
Physical Description:
[1 oversize folder]
Box 1, Folder 16
Anniversary celebration programs
1993-1994
Box 1, Folder 17
Anniversary celebration programs and publicity
1995-2003
Box 1, Folder 18
Anniversary celebration, 10th
1992-1993
Box 1, Folder 19
Bergman Group event
2002-2003
Box 1, Folder 20
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
1995-1999
Box 1, Folder 21
Hollywood Supports
1994-1997
Box 1, Folder 23
LA Shanti Hug Day
1996
General Physical Description note: Includes photographs.
Box 1, Folder 24
One Hand, One Heart program
1990
Box 1, Folder 25
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert benefit
1993-1997
Box 1, Folder 26
Sunset Junction Street Fair
1991-1993
Box 1, Folder 28
Wine tasting and auction
1992-1998
Box 1, Folder 29
Wine information
March 18, 2001
Box 3, Folder 2
Wine event photographs
Undated
Physical Description:
[1 oversize folder]
General Physical Description note: Includes photographs and negatives.
Box 3, Folder 8
Floppy disk
Undated
General Physical Description note: 1 floppy disk (3 1/2 in.)
Box 1, Folder 31-34
Heartspace [newsletter] editorial materials
January-June 1994
Physical Description:
[4 folders]
General Physical Description note: Includes negatives and photographs.
Box 3, Folder 3-4
Heartspace [newsletter] photographs and negatives
March-August 1993
Physical Description:
[2 oversize folders]
Box 1, Folder 35
HIV epidemiology program report, Los Angeles County
2001
Box 1, Folder 37
Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
1993-1995
Box 2, Folder 1
A memorial celebration for John Maguire
December 2, 1998
Box 2, Folder 3
Ortiz, Christopher Hucks
2002-2003
Box 2, Folder 5-6
Public service announcement
circa 1990-2000
Physical Description:
[2 folders]
Box 2, Folder 7-22
Publicity and advertising
1991-2000
Box 2, Folder 9-11
Advertising
1991-1997
Physical Description:
[3 folders]
Box 2, Folder 12
Hollywood Reporter
1993-1994
Box 2, Folder 13
Independent newspapers
1992-1994
Box 2, Folder 15
Publicity packets
1995-1996
Box 2, Folder 16
Publicity Club of Los Angeles (PCLA)
1992-1995
Box 2, Folder 17
Public Communicators of Los Angeles (PCLA)
1995-1997
Box 2, Folder 18-19
Public Relations Society of America
1995-1997
Physical Description:
[2 folders]
Box 2, Folder 20
PRSA Prism Awards; category 16: websites
1996
Box 2, Folder 21-22
Tearsheets, Peter Allen
1993
Physical Description:
[2 folders]
Box 3, Folder 5
Ralph M. Parsons Foundation annual report
2000
Physical Description:
[1 oversize folder]
Box 2, Folder 23
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
2001
Box 2, Folder 24-25
San Fernando Valley, Community Consultation Center (CCC)
1991-1997
Physical Description:
[2 folders]
Box 2, Folder 26
Seattle Treatment Education Project (STEP)
1994-1995
Box 2, Folder 27
Spanish-language materials
1993-1995
Box 2, Folder 28-30
Strategic planning, development and fundraising
1991-2001
Physical Description:
[3 folders]
Box 2, Folder 31
Town Hall Los Angeles
1994-1995
Box 2, Folder 33
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
1993-1994
Box 2, Folder 34
Update from the International AIDS Conference
1994
Box 2, Folder 36
Vidas Positivas
1994-1997
Box 3, Folder 6
Whirry (Robert) consultation
1999-2001
Physical Description:
[1 oversize folder]
Box 2, Folder 37
Women (and children) for positive living
1993-1996
Box 2, Folder 38
Workspace Hollywood
March 2002
Box 3, Folder 7
Unidentified portrait
1996
Physical Description:
[1 oversize folder]
General Physical Description note: 2 contact sheets: b&w.
Videocassettes Series 2.
circa 1985-2005
Physical Description:
21.0 videocassettes.
Series Description
This series comprises videocassettes by and about Los Angeles Shanti, circa 1985-2005. It includes programs and public service
announcements produced by LA Shanti, as well as news coverage about LA Shanti events and AIDS issues.
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically.
Box 4, Item 1
C-TV coverage: LA Shanti 17th tribute gala, John Sheehan
circa 2000
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.
Box 4, Item 2
Healthcare Update with Bill Rosendahl (show #1770)
June 29, 2000
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS) (59 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.
Box 4, Item 3
Jamie; ACT UP;
Donahue
Undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.
Box 4, Item 4
LA Shanti logo; 3 client testimonial spots
Undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (U-matic) : sd., col. ; 3/4 in.
Box 4, Item 5
LA Shanti [public service announcement]
April 1994
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (U-matic) (2 min.) : sd., col. ; 3/4 in.
Box 4, Item 6
LA Shanti Foundation logo, inferno layoff
May 10, 1998
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (Betacam) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.
Box 4, Item 7
Los Angeles Shanti Foundation CR#1-9; SR#1-2; Hr. 1; Vt. 1
April 28, 1998
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (Betacam) (45 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.
Box 4, Item 8
Los Angeles Shanti Foundation CR#10-13, 1-4; SR#2-4; hr. 2; vt. 2
April 28, 1998
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (Betacam) (53 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.
Box 4, Item 9
Merv Griffin; Line Renaud
Undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS) (15 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.
Box 4, Item 10
Second annual LA Shanti Hug Day, TV public service announcement
Undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS) (1 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.
Box 4, Item 11
Shanti Heartspace: show #1
Undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (U-matic) (25 min.) : sd., col. ; 3/4 in.
Box 4, Item 12
Shanti Heartspace: show #2
Undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (U-matic) (29 min.) : sd., col. ; 3/4 in.
Box 4, Item 13
Shanti Heartspace: show #3
Undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (U-matic) (28 min.) : sd., col. ; 3/4 in.
Box 4, Item 14
Shanti Heartspace: show #4
Undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (U-matic) (30 min.) : sd., col. ; 3/4 in.
Scope and Contents note
Includes guests Dina Bachelor Evan and Xauer Hall.
Box 4, Item 15
Shanti Heartspace: show #5
Undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (U-matic) (29 min.) : sd., col. ; 3/4 in.
Scope and Contents note
Includes guests Barbara Crofford, David Edwards, and Jose Josio.
Box 4, Item 16
Shanti public service announcements
February 19, 1994
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (U-matic) : sd., col. ; 3/4 in.
Scope and Contents note
Includes Larry Sartorius, Joan Howard, and Louis Dixon.
Box 4, Item 17
Shanti tape #4 + 7; hr. 2
Undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (Betacam) (36 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.
Box 4, Item 18
Taller Vidas Positivas de LA Shanti
Undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (U-matic) (1 min.) : sd., col. ; 3/4 in.
Box 4, Item 19
Tribute to Joe Layton (tape 2 of 3)
April 20, 1995
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (U-matic) (55 min.) : sd., col. ; 3/4 in.
Box 4, Item 20
VH-1 Good News People, LA Shanti segment
August 22, 1994
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (U-matic) : sd., col. ; 3/4 in.
Box 4, Item 21
Without Defenses
Undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS) (16 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.
