Standing committee
Archives
Collecting, preserving and sharing the history of A.A. in our Area.
Committee website
MSCA Area 09 Archives
msca09aa-archives.org
The Archives Committee's own site: Area 09 history and timeline, group histories by district, Area minutes, agendas, newsletters, motions and guidelines, Heritage Day oral histories, Open House presentations and the 2027 National A.A. Archives Workshop.
What this committee does
The Archives Committee carries the A.A. message through its historical perspective: it gathers, preserves and displays the history of Alcoholics Anonymous in Southern California and in Mid-Southern California Area 09 in particular, in English and Spanish. It runs the Area’s archives repository in Riverside, open to every member on Saturdays.
- Type
- Standing committee
- When we meet
- Every 3rd Saturday · 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
- Who serves
Todd W. · English
- Area committee guidelines
- Approved September 8, 2024
Its work in Area 09
- Operate the Area 09 Archives Repository, 7111 Arlington Ave., Suite B, Riverside — open Saturdays 10 AM–1 PM, and at other times by appointment ((951) 785-0845 or archives@msca09aa.org).
- Gather group histories from across the Area with the Group History form (English and Spanish, or online).
- Host the Archives Open House each spring, marking the anniversary of the move into the first repository, in Colton: it introduces members to the Archives with group tours and an afternoon of presentations on the year’s A.A. theme.
- Hold Heritage Day each fall with a host district, when longtime members share what A.A. and service were like; their talks are recorded.
- Share A.A. history online at msca09aa-archives.org: Heritage Day oral histories in English and Spanish (since 2020) and Open House presentations such as “Friends of A.A.” (2025), with videos, slides and Spanish translations.
- Take traveling exhibits, presentations and research help to A.A. events across Southern California.
- Sort and catalogue the collection through the Collections Committee, under a written Collections Policy (Revision D, 2024), and organize and digitize more than 3,000 speaker tapes of early A.A. members.
- Keep the Area’s physical records and an annual copy of the Area website.
- Host the 2027 National A.A. Archives Workshop in San Bernardino (September 23–26, 2027).
How to get involved
Committee meetings are open to anyone: 3rd Saturday of each month, 10 AM–1 PM, at the repository and on Zoom. Membership is open to any A.A. member willing to serve, preferably with a year of sobriety — you become a voting member at your second meeting (within six months). There is no other requirement than a desire to learn and preserve A.A. history. You can also bring your group, district or friends to the repository to help sort, catalogue and organize the collection — whatever your talents, there is a project to match.
How it is organized
Officers: Chair (subject to approval by the Area Assembly), Alternate Chair and Secretary, elected at the first committee meeting after Area elections (Third Legacy suggested) for two-year terms, renewable once. The Archivist — recommended by the Chair, approved by the committee and reviewed every four years — has custody of the collection, with an assistant. An Operating Committee (officers, Archivist, Collections chair) handles emergencies; a Collections Committee of at least three meets at least quarterly. Quorum: five members, two of them officers.
A little history
The Assembly created the Archives Committee in 1982. The collection has had three homes: Mt. Vernon Avenue in Colton (1991–1997), Brockton Avenue in Riverside (1997–2008) and, since February 2009, Arlington Avenue in Riverside. Guidelines first approved 1985; current Revision G approved September 2024. Heritage Day, hosted by an Area 09 district, is a long-standing annual tradition: the 38th was held in Riverside in October 2026.
“We are trying to build up extensive records which will be of value to a future historian . . .” — Bill W., 1957 (A.A. Archives Workbook, M-44I)
When we meet
When
10:00 AM–1:00 PM · Pacific time
- Next: Sat, Nov 21, 2026
- Next: Sat, Dec 19, 2026
- Next: Sat, Jan 16, 2027
- Next: Sat, Feb 20, 2027
- The Archives repository is open Saturdays, 10 AM to 1 PM.
Add to your calendar
Google Calendar and the .ics file add every date of this meeting; Outlook.com adds the next date.
Coming up
-
History & archives
District 8 Heritage Day
In person -
History & archives
29th National A.A. Archives Workshop
In person
Nothing scheduled right now.
Open the calendarWho serves
Panel 76Who served in Panel 74
- Robert H. · Archives Chair
First names and last initials only. The e-mail addresses belong to the service position, not the person, and pass to whoever serves next.
Guidelines & reports
Area committee guidelines
How this committee is organized in Area 09, as approved by the Assembly.
Earlier versions (2)
More copies in the document library (5)
Reports & records
Minutes, reports and flyers from the document library, newest first.
A.A. literature & service material
This service on aa.orgFrom the General Service Office (aa.org): guidelines, workbooks and pamphlets for this service, in English and Spanish. The codes help when ordering printed copies.
On aa.org1
A.A. Guidelines1
Workbooks1
Service material6
Forms & useful links
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit the Archives?
Yes. The repository at 7111 Arlington Ave., Suite B, Riverside, is open every Saturday 10 AM–1 PM, and at other times by appointment: call (951) 785-0845 or write to archives@msca09aa.org. Members and friends of the Fellowship are welcome. The Open House each spring is a great first visit, and Heritage Day each fall is often held there too.
How do I record my group's history?
Fill out the Group History form (English or Spanish) or the online form and send it to the committee. Founding dates, meeting places, early members (first names only) and anniversaries all help.
Can I donate old A.A. material?
Yes — contact the Archives first (archives@msca09aa.org or (951) 785-0845). Each gift gets a numbered receipt and a Deed of Gift (English or Spanish form); the Archivist reviews it and the committee decides, under its Collections Policy, what joins the collection. The committee does not buy A.A. memorabilia.
Can the Archives answer a question about A.A. history?
Yes. Write to archives@msca09aa.org or call (951) 785-0845 with your question — about a group’s or the Area’s history, old newsletters and pamphlets, the growth of the service structure, General Service Conference actions or anything else in A.A.'s past. The Archives research it and reply by mail or e-mail.
Can I do research at the Archives?
Yes. Published material — books, pamphlets, newsletters, magazines and reports, some from A.A.'s earliest days — can be read at the repository; let the committee know ahead of time so it can be pulled for you. Unpublished material (correspondence, minutes, financial records, manuscripts) needs a written request approved by the Archives Committee. Every researcher must protect anonymity: cite members by first name and last initial only. Pencils, laptops, cameras and scanners are welcome; pens, food and drink are not. See the Materials Use and Access Policies.
What happens at the Archives Open House?
Open House is held every spring at the Riverside repository to mark the anniversary of the move into the first Archives repository, in Colton. A.A. members and non-members alike are welcome: the day begins with group tours, followed by an afternoon of presentations on the current year’s A.A. theme, with light snacks or lunch.
What is Heritage Day?
Each fall an Area 09 district hosts Heritage Day with the Archives Committee: a panel of long-time members shares what it was like when they got sober and how service helped keep them sober. Recordings of past Heritage Days are on the Archives website.
What should my group or district send to the Archives?
Anything that tells the story of A.A. in our Area: group histories (use the Group History form), district and committee minutes, newsletters, meeting lists and directories, flyers and event programs, photos, audio and video recordings, and correspondence. Digital files are welcome too — on a CD or DVD, a flash drive, or a shared Google Drive, Dropbox or Box folder. Write to archives@msca09aa.org first.
See something out of date? Tell the Web Servant: webmaster@msca09aa.org · edit the data file
Related committees & service
Secretary
Keeps the record of the Area and gets the word out.
- Brian S. · English
Area officer
Literature
Let literature carry the message, too.
- Open seat · English
- Abel · Spanish
At the Area meeting break-out (usually the 2nd Sunday)
Guidelines & Policies
Helping the Area reach substantial unanimity — one motion at a time.
- Spencer D. · English
At the Area meeting break-out (usually the 2nd Sunday)
Technology
The website, online meetings and the tools that let service happen.
- Teri M. · English
Every Friday · 11:00 AM–12:00 PM