Sixth International Conference on AIDS records, 1988-1990

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Summary

Creators:
International Conference on AIDS (6th :1990 : San Francisco)
Abstract:
This collection contains the official materials from the Sixth International Conference on AIDS that was held June 20-24, 1990, in San Francisco California. Materials cover the conference from the first pre-announcement in 1988 to the Final Report and "Letters of Appreciation." There is also a small amount of correspondence and ephemera in the collection.
Extent:
Number of containers: 2 boxes Linear feet: 1
Language:
Collection materials are in English

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains the official materials from the Sixth International Conference on AIDS that was held June 20-24, 1990 in San Francisco California. Materials cover the conference from the first pre-announcement in 1988 (see folder 1) to the Final Report issued at the end of the conference and the "Letters of Appreciation," (dated September 10, 1990). Also included are all three volumes of the Final Program and Abstracts for the conference, registration materials, media packet, exhibit and exhibitor information, and the full run of the Conference Bulletin newspaper printed each of the 5 days of the conference. Seven videotapes, found in the second box, document the opening and closing ceremonies as well as each of the four "tracks" of the conference: Track A: Basic Science; B: Clinical Science and Trials: C: Epidemiology and Prevention; D: Social Science and Policy. A few pieces of ephemera round out the collection with "Day Planners" issued to attendees, two admittance badges, and the official conference bag.

Of special interest are the two letters in folder 1, from Robert (Bob) Wheeler, the conference Program Director, to John Ziegler, MD, conference co-chair and a speaker at opening ceremony. One is a formal typed thanks for participation, and the other an informal hand-written document. Also in this folder is a final report on funding submitted by Dennis Hartzell to John Greenspan. The three volumes of Final Program and Abstracts include the abstracts for all the sessions during the conference. The Final Report consists of 16 detailed reports from the conference staff on their duties and suggestions for the organizers of the next conference. It is a very thorough guide to producing a large international conference

Biographical / historical:

The Sixth International Conference on AIDS was held in San Francisco, California from June 20-24, 1990, at the Moscone Conference Center and Marriott Hotel. The University of California, San Francisco, was the primary sponsor, with the World Health Organization, the City and County of San Francisco, the American Foundation for AIDS Research, and the International AIDS Society as co-sponsors. John L. Ziegler of UCSF was chair of the local organizing committee and Paul A. Volberding was co-chair. Robert M. Wachter served as Program Director and William O'Connor was the Conference Manager. John Greenspan served as chair of the Exhibits and Fundraising Committee. The language of the conference was English.

The theme of the conference was "AIDS in the Nineties: From Science to Policy." The registration information states that the conference's goal was "to emphasize the results of AIDS research in the basic, clinical, epidemiological, and social sciences from an international perspective. In the process, we will examine how research data and scientific observations impact treatment, prevention, public health policy, and other fields affected by the epidemic." Besides the main program each of the four co-sponsors hosted a seminar "to introduce the broad range of multidisciplinary research, and to assist in the building of intellectual bridges between diverse disciplines," on Wednesday, June 20th before the opening ceremony. The conference program was also divided into four thematic tracks. Track A: Basic Science, covered basic research topics in virology, immunology, and oncology. Track B: Clinical Science and Trials, included organ system manifestations, clinical variability among different patent groups, and treatment trials. Track C: Epidemiology and Prevention, dealt with distributions and determinants of HIV and AIDS in defined populations, and with interventions to prevent infection and progression. Track D: Social Science and Policy, was issue-oriented, and included social and policy topics related to AIDS.

San Francisco was chosen to host the 1990 conference during the Paris International Conference on AIDS in 1986; track chairs were chosen by the Conference chairs in early 1988. The conference faced a number of special challenges: a widely diverse audience from scientists to People Living with AIDS (PLWAs) and AIDS Activists; an international boycott of the conference due to the United States' refusal to grant visas to HIV positive individuals; the wide diversity of geographical origin of attendees; and threat of protestors disrupting the meetings.

Acquisition information:
The Sixth International Conference on AIDS Records were transferred to the UCSF Library and CKM from the UCSF Office of Development in February 1991. A small amount of additional of material was donated later.
Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog: http://www.library.ucsf.edu/.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
UCSF Library & CKM Archives and Special Collections, 530 Parnassus Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94143-0840, US