Letting go is never easy. Many of us struggle to let go of things that no longer serve us, whether it’s an old pair of shoes from eighth grade, an object we think we might need someday, or even emotions and thoughts. It’s natural to feel a sense of fear or nostalgia when deciding what to hold on to, but life teaches us we can’t keep everything.
In Al‑Anon, I’ve learned this lesson through taking a searching and fearless moral inventory, which reminds me to be humble, ask for help, and let go of traits, habits, and things that don’t benefit me. This practice also applies to the question, “How does the World Service Office (WSO) decide what to keep in its Archives?”
Years ago, the Archives Advisory Committee, guided by Concept Eleven, helped the WSO Archives team evaluate what to preserve. Though this committee is no longer used in the World Service Conference Structure, their work provided a foundation for our decision-making. Occasionally, we’ve sought guidance from historians, archivists, or academic institutions to navigate challenging decisions.
Since its beginnings in New York City, the WSO Archives has been dedicated to connecting with the fellowship worldwide. We answer requests, preserve important records and materials, and ensure that our history is carefully documented for current and future generations.
Today, the WSO Archives remains deeply engaged with Area Archives Coordinators through platforms like AFG Connects and quarterly meetings. We also encourage the use of the Area Archives Guideline (G-30), a comprehensive resource for trusted servants stepping into archival and record-keeping roles.
We encourage Areas to preserve their own records and stories. A guiding question we often ask when reviewing donations or curating exhibits is, “How will preserving this item contribute to the history of decision-making in Al‑Anon or help family members and friends of alcoholics?” This thoughtful discernment ensures we retain materials that align with the purpose and spirit of our fellowship, while sometimes suggesting Areas retain specific items themselves.
As we learned from Lois W. and our early pioneers, “We look to the past to preserve the future.” This perspective guides our ongoing efforts to document and safeguard Al‑Anon and Alateen’s history for future members. Like a family passing down its stories, we strive to ensure our legacy is preserved with care and accuracy.
With evolving technology, the WSO Archives now retains many materials digitally, while still keeping historically significant paper records on site. This shift allows us to safeguard our history while embracing modern archival practices.
Just as personal inventories help us grow, archival inventories ensure our fellowship’s stories remain clear and accessible for generations to come. The efforts we make today will continue to benefit members, Staff, Volunteers, and families well into the future.
We invite you to visit the WSO Archives. To book a tour, click here.
For historical research or archival requests, please fill out the Archives Request for Research (AR-9) online form.
By Jennifer U., Archivist & Conference Specialist
The Forum, July 2025
“Inside Al‑Anon Family Groups” presents news, policy, and commentary from volunteers, staff and readers sharing experience through service. Please feel free to reprint these articles on your service structure website or newsletter, along with this credit line: Reprinted with permission of Al‑Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA.