AFU Annual Report - 2017

Magazine Overview

This document is the Annual Report for 2017 from Archives for the unexplained – Archives for UFO research (AFU), detailing the organization's activities, challenges, and achievements throughout the year.

New Job Scheme

The report begins by noting that the financial and logistical problems reported in 2016 persisted into 2017. However, a significant positive change occurred in human resources with the Swedish government's decision in May 2017 to allow 'Extra Jobs' in cultural and non-profit sectors. AFU signed an agreement in July 2017 for four such positions, enabling several former co-workers to return. This scheme covers 100% of salary costs for individuals long-term out of the job market. However, it does not cover costs for facilities, computers, or materials, which must be funded through donations and AFU Shop sales. The report acknowledges the uncertainty surrounding the future of this scheme, especially with the upcoming 2018 autumn election.

Integration of Digitized Materials

Efforts continued to integrate digitized materials, specifically parts digitized in 2013-14 for the FSR board and a file of photos-pictures previously digitized for Gordon Creighton. The enormous correspondence, background materials, and manuscripts of Gordon Creighton are being sorted and catalogued into a database to aid researchers. This material includes unpublished manuscripts despite Creighton's claims of publishing everything.

Gordon Creighton's Background

Gordon Creighton, a British diplomat, lived and worked on several continents. He claimed fluency in twenty languages and maintained a network of approximately a thousand correspondents worldwide.

Paper Archives Projects

Two important new international archival projects were initiated and planned: the Gordon Creighton-Flying Saucer Review correspondence files, which received hundreds of hours of attention from Anders Liljegren, and the Borderland Sciences Research Association-Foundation (BSRA-BSRF) files, which arrived from California in August 2016. These archives are a priority, with the aim of finalizing them for visiting researchers in 2018 and 2019.

Economy

In 2015 and 2016, Larry Frascella of Pennsylvania, USA, donated 60,000 USD for archive work and shipping. The positive effects of this support, partly invested in share funds, were particularly felt in 2017, with donations described as saving AFU from disaster. However, subsidies for job-projects from the Swedish Public Employment Service no longer cover general costs. AFU covered rents and regular costs like electricity and archival materials from saved funds, lifting 60,000 SEK (USD 7,000) in the second half of the year. The year ended with an annual loss of 112,000 SEK (USD 13,000). At the end of 2017, AFU had approximately 427,000 SEK (USD 53,000) in equity and bond funds.

Sponsorships

AFU relies on about 40-45 regular private sponsors for basic operational costs like rent and electricity for its basement facilities. The two ground-floor facilities are unfinanced, contributing to a continued monthly loss. Accounted sponsorships totaled 295,241 SEK (USD 37,000), divided among board members, UFO-Sweden, and other donors. Notable donations included 100,000 SEK from an anonymous donor. Chairman Clas Svahn contributed 6,000 SEK from his Swedish Radio blog project and 8,788 SEK from a UK collection tour. An additional 62,888 SEK was raised through Clas Svahn's efforts among people he met in ufology, intended for acquiring items from the Joe Fex archive.

Acquired & Donated Collections

Approximately 25 persons and organizations donated collections in 2017. AFU spent 39,851 SEK (USD 4,600) on acquiring new collections and transporting them. This does not include costs for parts of the Wendelle Stevens collection, advanced privately by the chairman. Since 1973, AFU estimates over 300 individuals and organizations have donated collections. A collection tour in October to the British Isles and northern Europe resulted in 127 boxes of materials being shipped from London. Notable collections acquired included those from Knut Aasheim (Norway), Eileen Lloyd (UK), and Peter Rogerson (UK). A significant donation of Brazilian UFO magazines was also received from A.J. Gevaerd. AFU also continued to purchase parts of the Wendelle Stevens collection from Joe Fex. Luis Gonzalez Manso donated 23 boxes of materials from Spain, and Stichting Het Johan Borgman Fonds (HJBF) in the Netherlands provided about 20 boxes of magazines and books. Other book donations came from various individuals and organizations.

Digitizing Projects

AFU continued digitizing its magazine collection in cooperation with London lawyer Isaac Koi. Results can be reviewed online. In 2017, many small-run newsletters and magazines were digitized, along with complete digitizations of Flying Saucer Review and Lumieres dans la Nuit, and work began on the US Fate Magazine. Efforts are made to ensure OCR-searchable files. Due to copyright restrictions, open sharing of all digitized material is not possible, but researchers can request digital copies of single issues or articles. AFU is seeking long-term sponsors to cover the costs of online availability, data storage, and web hosting. Employee Kent continued digitizing and editing audio-voice recordings, and Lars Lidström is voluntarily transferring video tapes to digital format.

Visitors

Around 100 persons signed the guestbook, including visitors from the US, Ireland, France, Germany, Denmark, and Norway. AFU policy is to accept visits but cannot handle groups larger than ten to fifteen people. A visitor's fee of 50 SEK per person was introduced for group tours of one hour or more.

Facilities

In February, AFU explored a potential new home base in an evacuated office and archives area on the other side of Norrköping. However, the rent was too high, and the estate was later sold to a developer planning to build flats. AFU requires a long-term contract for any future relocation.

Picture Library

In October, co-worker Irene returned to specialize in the photo and illustrations library. A system for semi-professional handling of pictures was implemented, allowing for searchable data like names, places, and photo credits. Irene's first assignment was to convert previous digitizing work done by Robert and Mattias.

UFO-Sweden at AFU

UFO-Sweden, a national UFO group, held two board meetings at AFU headquarters in Norrköping in 2017. UFO-Sweden experienced membership growth and manages a national UFO report centre based at AFU, investigating approximately 200 sightings annually. AFU also handles orders for old books and UFO-Aktuellt magazines for UFO-Sweden.

Employees & Apprentices

The eight-year government-paid work program ('phase three') ended in June. This was replaced by a new program of 'Extra Jobs,' allowing AFU to retain trained staff and re-recruit others. Five persons were employed and salaried by the foundation: Leif (coordinating digitization projects), Irene (returned in October), Katarina (AFU shop, on a 'new start' job subsidy), Kerstin (library cataloguing), and Kenth (audio files digitizing). Johan volunteered at the archives. Several apprentices were taken on from the community project Aktema. Fredrik A, Fredrik V, and Mattias worked on building a database of English translations of prominent Swedish-Scandinavian UFO cases.

The AFU Shop

The AFU Shop, established in 2014, had its fourth year with increased revenue of 118,119 SEK (approx. 14,000 USD), a rise of about 75%. A 'White weekend' sale reduced prices by 44% to celebrate AFU's 44th year. The shop has over 200 customers globally. Katarina & Anders handled 176 orders, and preparations were made to move stock into the digitizing facility.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The report consistently emphasizes the importance of preserving UFO research materials for future generations, often highlighting the dedication of individuals and the challenges of funding and logistics. The editorial stance is one of determined advocacy for the field, acknowledging the intellectual value of long-term research compared to ephemeral internet content. There is a clear commitment to organizing, cataloguing, and making accessible the vast archives, even while navigating copyright and resource limitations. The report also underscores the international nature of UFO research and AFU's role in connecting researchers and collections globally.