AFU Annual Report 2014

Magazine Overview

This document is the Annual Report 2014 for the Archives for UFO Research (AFU), also known as Archives for the Unexplained. It details the organization's activities, challenges, and achievements throughout the year, focusing on its role in preserving paranormal research materials.

AFU's Mission and Scope

The AFU aims to be a "world memory" for paranormal research, preserving international social traditions and published data from the UFO and paranormal fields. It distinguishes itself by having UFOs as its core subject, while also encompassing related paranormal subjects, extreme cultist movements, and even hard-core skepticism. Unlike other archives that may only marginally focus on UFOs, AFU dedicates its efforts to this specific area.

Name Change and Legal Issues

In April 2013, the AFU board voted to change the name to "Archives for the Unexplained" (AFU) and applied for authorization. However, due to a new, tighter Swedish law requiring foundations to be officially registered and under annual government control by the end of 2016, and a ban on making significant changes to original statutes, the AFU was forced to temporarily revert to its original statutes where the acronym AFU stands for "Archives for UFO Research." This reversion was necessary to comply with regulations, and the organization plans to pursue a "permutation" with the Kammarkollegiet government authority in Stockholm to allow for minor changes to the statutes in the future.

Economy and Funding

AFU operates as a sponsor-driven foundation. A significant portion of its activity in 2014 depended on subsidies from Arbetsformedlingen (the Swedish Government's Employment Office). AFU had an expanded contract to keep twelve people on work training through the "phase three" schemes, receiving a daily subsidy for each unemployed person. This scheme is described as beneficial for idealistic groups, though it has been misused by opportunistic entrepreneurs. The funds generated help maintain facilities, purchase equipment, and hire fully salaried staff. However, the new left-wing government elected in September 2014 planned to decrease subsidies and abandon "phase three" schemes by 2018, posing a future financial challenge. Seeking safer and more permanent financing is a major task for the AFU board, with a focus on securing better physical facilities. In 2014, AFU managed to set aside 40,000 SEK (USD 5,000) for future needs, invested in share and interest funds.

Sponsorships

AFU relies on a pool of approximately 25 sponsors to cover rents for its basement facilities. The report appeals for more sponsors, suggesting monthly contributions of USD 5-10 or annual contributions of USD 60-100. Several monetary donations were received in SEK, with amounts listed for numerous individuals.

Work Training Projects

AFU collaborates with the Aktema group to activate incapacitated individuals through part-time jobs. They also hosted a visit from a society for people with Asperger's syndrome, aiming to be a potential workplace for individuals with this diagnosis. Sadly, the report notes the passing of Sandra Aronsson, an Aktema co-worker who had been instrumental in creating the database of Swedish clippings. AFU continued co-operation with coaches and therapists, accepting several individuals for work training. The report mentions trainees like Robert, Anita, Gabrielle, Håkan A, Emil, Kim, Magnus J, and Fredrik.

Facilities and Equipment

In September, AFU co-rented an old facility next door to its oldest premises, gaining an additional 75 square meters for sorting and meetings. The organization is actively seeking new, larger, and more practical headquarters, as the current situation of managing collections across eleven different facilities is impractical. In the autumn, AFU purchased a Synology DS 2413+ NAS unit, providing approximately 40 Tb of net capacity for data storage, with about 12 Tb of active data migrated. Access to the NAS is restricted due to copyright laws and personal integrity issues. The AFU website, revamped in 2013, was managed by Anders Liljegren and Göran Norlén. AFU also acquired a fourth A3 scanner and a photo scanner for a new picture library project, funded in part by a donation from the "The best for Norrköping" foundation and board member Carl-Anton Mattsson. A new index sign system for their PhenCode classification cost 27,000 SEK (USD 3,400).

The AFU Shop

The AFU shop, operating at afushop.hemsida24.se, had its first order in December 2013. In its first year, it processed over one hundred orders, generating a net sum of approximately 55,000 SEK (USD 6,900), which helped cover costs for acquiring new collections. The shop has a worldwide clientele and sells surplus books and magazines that are not essential for the archive's preservation needs. Selling these items creates space, generates income, and finds new homes for publications. The shop now offers over 5,000 items online and uses US funds with PayPal payment. Swedish VAT (6%) is included for European customers. The sale of surplus books in Swedish is handled by the Parthenon antiquarian book shop, with proceeds shared between AFU and Parthenon.

Distribution and Administration

AFU handles the distribution and administration of UFO-Sweden's book sales and retrospective copies of their magazine UFO-Aktuellt. Two of AFU's facilities are used for UFO-Sweden's store.

Acquisition Trips and Donations

Clas Svahn, a board member for over a decade, leads small teams of Swedish ufologists on trips to the UK to persuade researchers, authors, and collectors to donate their collections. These trips are often partially self-financed. In September 2014, a "Viking raiders" crew, including Clas Svahn, his son Niklas, and Carl-Anton Mattsson, acquired materials from various archives, including those of Lionel Beer, Bob Rickard, Omar Fowler, Busty Taylor, Bill Foley, Peter Rogerson, Edwin Joyce, Bob Digby, and the late Steve Moore. Significant book library collections were received from Bob Rickard, the Lord Clancarty Library, and Peter Rogerson. In total, 260 boxes of materials were shipped from London to Norrköping. Clas Svahn also visited Belgium in October, meeting with Belgian ufologists and researchers, and acquired materials from Marc Hallet. Special collections were also obtained from Vicente-Juan Ballester Olmos in Barcelona, Spain.

Book Libraries

The AFU's catalogue increased by 4,324 new media titles or editions in 2014. Cataloguing was performed by Ingrid Collberg, Katarina Hampusson, Kim Högberg, and Helena Hakkarainen. Major contributions came from Bob Rickard (1,610 editions), Hilary Evans (1,397), and others. To address space shortages, AFU purchased 24 top shelves for the Evans library and three second-hand shelves for the UFO/fortean library, increasing shelf capacity but still facing overcrowding.

Newsclipping Files

AFU's costly coverage of newly published articles in the Swedish press media was discontinued in 2013. Since then, Anders Liljegren monitors recent clippings via www.mediearkivet.se, saving approximately 30,000 SEK (USD 3,800) annually. The scanning of old clipping collections has focused on editorial folders from Fortean Times, creating about 150,000 digital files, and most Swedish UFO-related clippings (27,000). AFU also acquired a large clipping collection from Rymdbolaget concerning early space research and Swedish involvement.

The FSR Archives

In the summer of 2014, Anders Liljegren began structuring the "Flying Saucer Review" editorial archives inherited from Gordon Creighton. These files occupy five full shelf sections, and work on ordering materials from US and Canadian correspondents is ongoing.

Audio Tapes

AFU digitized a box of French interview cassettes, which were then returned with digitized files on a USB stick to their French archive partner, SCEAU.

Ghost Rocket Documents Site

Anders Liljegren and Clas Svahn met with a developer for a proposed website to help structure and explore digitized 1946 Swedish ghost rocket documents from the Stockholm National Archives.

Guests at the Archives

Approximately 35 people signed the guestbook, including members of local esoteric societies, university students, sponsors, researchers, and a Stockholm TV crew. Professor Greg Eghigian from Penn State University visited to collect research material for a study on the media's acceptance of the UFO theme. Tuli Shivute from Namibia visited, promising to be a future contact. Bob Rickard, a major donor, visited and focused on ordering files on historical weather phenomena. Malin Axelsson and her theatre team visited to research for a play, which eventually focused on "the work at an archive" and the lives of unemployed people.

News Stories about AFU

Maria Äxter and Malou Thorman from Ascala magazine visited and published an article. Jonas Carlsson and Anders Törnström from Motala-Vadstena Tidning also visited and published a two-page article. Clas Svahn frequently spoke about AFU's work in media interviews and public talks.

Regional Archives' Co-op

AFU is a member of national and regional archives unions. Anders Liljegren attended a meeting demonstrating archive computer software, highlighting AFU's need for a more complete computer system.

Staff's Social Get-togethers

The annual miniature golf tournament was held, won by Peter Malmkvist. A Christmas dinner was held with staff and board members.

Annual Board Meeting

The regular annual board meeting focused on legal issues related to the name change and on current and future donations.

UFO-Sweden

UFO-Sweden held one of its board meetings at AFU premises. Another meeting was held to plan a field investigation week in the Kolmården area.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The report consistently emphasizes the AFU's dedication to preserving paranormal and UFO research, its reliance on donations and sponsorships, and its ongoing efforts to manage and expand its extensive collections. The organization faces challenges related to funding, legal compliance, and physical space, but remains committed to its mission. The editorial stance is one of diligent archival work, a commitment to research, and a proactive approach to securing the future of the collections.