Each week, the half-hour radio program From The Vault serves as a reminder of the wealth of riches recorded by the nation's first public radio system. The archives contain interviews with and reports on Rosa Parks, Arundhati Roy, Fannie Lou Hamer, Maxine Hong Kingston, Anais Nin, Pauline Kael, Odetta, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Dr. Martin Luther King, Allen Ginsberg, Paul Robeson, Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Alice Walker, Phil Ochs, Henry Miller, June Jordan, Bertrand Russell, Bette Davis, Jane Fonda, Edward Said, Delores Hunta, James Baldwin, Naomi Klein, Cesar Chavez, Michael Parenti, Malcolm X, Langston Hughes, Angela Y. Davis, Cindy Sheehan, Helen Caldicott, Studs Terkel, Gloria Steinem, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Tim Robbins, Pete Seeger, Michael Franti . . .
And those are only some of the famous names. There are many other well known names. There are also an equal number of important broadcasts featuring stories that need to be preserved.
In 2006, when many outlets that raise funds had trouble meeting their target goals, Pacifica Radio Archives' fundraiser not only met their goal, they exceeded it. Hopefully, that's in part because the richness of the archives is known and appreciated. It's also true that their theme was peace.
In two months, this year's fundraiser for the Pacifica Archives will begin again. The goal of each fundraiser is to continue the preservation of aging tapes before they are lost forever. During the fundraiser, they will accept any amount. Premiums will be offered but it's also true that if you have ten dollars to spare, you can donate that and it will be appreciated. If you're able to listen during the fundraiser for an extended time, there's a good chance you'll come across a matching period where your ten dollar donation will bring in ten dollars more in matching funds.
So never think that a small amount is not appreciated or needed. Those able to donate larger amounts can select a premium. A popular one is the voucher(s) which allow you to select something from the archives and obtain it on compact disc. You can enjoy that yourself (solo or with friends) or you can donate a part of our oral history to a library.
But the whole point is to keep the history alive. It's also true that you don't have to wait for the fundraiser to donate or, if you're interested in purchasing an archived broadcast, to order. The Pacifica Radio Archives run every week of the year. Need to purchase a birthday gift for a George Carlin fan? "Filty Words" from 1973 not only should entertain, it also resulted in a court case (FCC v. Pacifica Foundation). It's a gift that offers much more than one easy play.
Doing a research project? Take a trip through the archives. The excellent documentary Sir! No Sir! is only one example of making wonderful use of the Pacifica Archives.
Ruth had hoped to write about the archives yesterday. It didn't work out that way for her and we're aware that it most likely won't work out that way for us when the fundraiser starts in a few months. So we're taking the time now.
When the fundraiser rolls around, if you have the money to give, please consider making a donation to the Pacifica Radio Archives. You'll be helping to keep history alive -- a history that, as Amy Goodman frequently notes, too often has been overlooked by the mainstream media.