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American Conservative Union

 Organization

Biography

The American Conservative Union, or ACU, founded in 1964, is an American lobbying organization that also serves as a form of representation for American political conservatives.

Historians believe that conservatism as a political movement really gained a new foothold in the 1960s, and with that came the founding of many conservative organizations, including the ACU in 1964. It claims to be the United States' oldest conservative grassroots organization. The ACU's first founders created only a 50-person board of directors, but by 1972 the organization had grown to 45,000 members. As the ACU gained more funding, it worked to oppose different policies with huge campaigns. For example, they used a mass mailing campaign in 1977 to try to oppose the Panama Canal treaties, which cost them $1.4 million. The organization also began hosting the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, in 1974. The ACU advertises itself in the present more with CPAC. They claim that it "seeks to preserve and protect the values of life, liberty, and property for every American."

Citation:
Wikipedia, November 13, 2023 (The ACU is an organization started around the time conservatism grew popular in the USA. Its membership grew from seemingly 50 to 45k in 1972. It worked to oppose the Panama Canal treaties in 1977) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Conservative_Union

CPAC, via WWW, November 13, 2023 (The ACU runs an annual CPAC conference, it now brands itself as CPAC online instead of ACU, it "seeks to preserve and protect the values of life, liberty, and property for every American") https://www.digital.cpac.org/us/about

Found in 31 Collections and/or Records:

American Conservative Union records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 176
Abstract

Correspondence, notes, newsletters, memoranda, meeting minutes, charters, bylaws, resolutions, and miscellaneous items. The ACU has been active in raising funds, corresponding with conservative political leaders, supporting projects, helping candidates, providing advice, and addressing issues relating to conservative causes and political activities all over the United States.

Dates: 1964-1980

American Conservative Union records on founding, 1964-1976

 Sub-Series — Box 1: Series 1 [Barcode: 31197227646947], Folder: 1-4
Identifier: MSS 176 Series 1 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

The ACU was founded for the purpose of coordinating conservative political influence in the United States. The documents in this series pertain to the organization and establishment of the ACU as a legal entity.

Dates: 1964-1976

American Conservative Union records on progress, 1965-1980

 Sub-Series — Box 1: Series 1 [Barcode: 31197227646947], Folder: 5-16
Identifier: MSS 176 Series 1 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

As the political involvement of the ACU increased, its organizational structure also expanded to accomplish its goal of greater conservative political influence. This series traces the evolution and development of the ACU's organizational structure as it progressed to become one of the nation's leading conservative orgainzations.

Dates: 1965-1980

American Conservative Union records on special projects, 1962-1980

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 176 Series 1 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

The ACU sponsered "special projects" (i.e., conferences, seminars, forums, receptions, task forces, etc.) as a means to address contemorary issues and to Influence public opinion. This series documents the planning and proceedings of these projects.

Dates: 1962-1980

American Conservative Union seminars and debates, 1974-1979

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 176 Series 1 Sub-Series 3 Sub-Series 7
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

The ACU sponsered "special projects" (i.e., conferences, seminars, forums, receptions, task forces, etc.) as a means to address contemorary issues and to Influence public opinion. This series documents the planning and proceedings of these projects.

Dates: Other: 1974-1979

American Conservative Union: Speakers Bureau files, 1962-1979

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 176 Series 1 Sub-Series 3 Sub-Series 8
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

The ACU sponsered "special projects" (i.e., conferences, seminars, forums, receptions, task forces, etc.) as a means to address contemorary issues and to Influence public opinion. This series documents the planning and proceedings of these projects.

Dates: Other: 1962-1979

American Conservative Union task forces files, 1977-1979

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 176 Series 1 Sub-Series 3 Sub-Series 9
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

The ACU sponsered "special projects" (i.e., conferences, seminars, forums, receptions, task forces, etc.) as a means to address contemorary issues and to Influence public opinion. This series documents the planning and proceedings of these projects.

Dates: Other: 1977-1979

Human Events records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 6733
Abstract

The Human Events records contains the files, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and journals of the Human Events organization.

Dates: 1944-1994

Part One: General Organization and Activities, 1962-1980

 Series
Identifier: MSS 176 Series 1
Scope and Contents note From the Collection:

Correspondence, notes, newsletters, memoranda, meeting minutes, charters, bylaws, resolutions, and miscellaneous items. The ACU has been active in raising funds, corresponding with conservative political leaders, supporting projects, helping candidates, providing advice, and addressing issues relating to conservative causes and political activities all over the United States.

Dates: Other: 1962-1980

Part Three: Staff Operations, 1957-1981

 Series
Identifier: MSS 176 Series 3
Scope and Contents note From the Collection:

Correspondence, notes, newsletters, memoranda, meeting minutes, charters, bylaws, resolutions, and miscellaneous items. The ACU has been active in raising funds, corresponding with conservative political leaders, supporting projects, helping candidates, providing advice, and addressing issues relating to conservative causes and political activities all over the United States.

Dates: Other: 1957-1981

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 28
Collection 3
 
Subject
Letters 30
Politics, Government, and Law 30
Charters and articles of incorporation 29
Conservatism -- United States -- History 29
Memorandums 29