Just Say No Campaign collection, 1985-1996

(bulk 1985-1992)


John Hay Library , Special Collections
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
email: hay@brown.edu

Published in 2013

Collection Overview

Title: Just Say No Campaign collection
Date range: 1985-1996, (bulk 1985-1992)
Creator: Just Say No International
Extent: 1 linear foot (1 record center box)
Abstract: This collection contains material, chiefly photographs, related to the "Just Say No" campaign against drug use from 1985 to 1996. It also includes some correspondence to and from the Just Say No Foundation and Just Say No International, slides, negatives, videocassettes and a workbook.
Language of materials: English
Repository: John Hay Library , Special Collections
Collection number: Ms.2008.010

Scope & content

This collection contains material, primarily photographs, related to the "Just Say No" campaign against drug use from 1985 to 1996. The first series includes some correspondence to and from the Just Say No Foundation and Just Say No International. While most of the material in this series concerns "Just Say No" activities in the United States, photographs of events in Sierra Leone and the Philippines are included.

The second series includes an undated photograph of Kurt Cameron, one of many celebrities who supported the "Just Say No" campaign. The first album in this series, labeled No.1, contains photographs from the 13th IFNGO Conference against Drug and Substance Abuse in the Philippines in 1991 as well as photographs of "Just Say No" conferences in Nepal and Thailand from 1991 to 1995. The second album contains photographs of "Just Say No" activities in Nepal and Thailand from 1995 and 1996. The three boxes of slides are unlabeled. They were originally in a folder dated 1990.

The three videocassettes in this collection were probably used for training purposes. The workbook published by the Just Say No Foundation contains anti-drug information and suggestions for activities related to the "Just Say No" program.

Access Points

Subject Names Subject Organizations Subject Topics Document Types Subject Topics

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into the following series:

  • Series 1. "Just Say No" activities
  • Series 2. Photographs
  • Series 3. Videocassettes
  • Series 4. Workbook

Historical note

The first "Just Say No" club was formed in Oakland, California in 1985 in response to First Lady Nancy Reagan's campaign against drug use. The Just Say No Foundation was incorporated in 1986 and later renamed Just Say No International. Mrs. Reagan was its honorary chairperson.

The Just Say No Foundation first served as a coordinator for school "Just Say No" clubs across the country. It received financial support from other national organizations such as the 4-H Club and the Girl and Boy Scouts of America as well as from the Department of Agriculture and various private companies, foundations and celebrities. Its goal was to prevent the use of alcohol and other drugs by children and young teenagers. In addition, it provided free services to existing clubs and communities interested in forming clubs, including educational materials, on-site training for club leaders, and coordination of annual national events such as Back-to-School Month and the Spring Walkathon.

In 1989 Just Say No International joined forces with public housing authorities in six cities to train local residents as adult club leaders and to help them form "Just Say No" clubs in public housing projects. The program was later expanded to eight cites and lasted through 1992.

After leaving the White House, Mrs. Reagan established the Nancy Reagan Foundation to continue her campaign to educate people about the dangers of substance abuse.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials: Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation: Just Say No Campaign collection, Ms. 2008.010, Brown University Library.
Contact information: John Hay Library , Special Collections
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
email: hay@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: The "Just Say No" Campaign collection was donated to the Brown University Library by John de Miranda in July 2003.
Accruals: No further materials are anticipated for this collection.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Mary A. Harrison
Encoding: This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013-03-05

Additional Information

Related material: Several related collections may be found at the Brown University Library. The Artha May McConoughey papers contain material related to the American Temperance Movement and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. The Robert Holbrook Smith and the Clarence H. Snyder collections contain material related to alcoholism and its treatment. Artha May McConoughey papers, 1896-1939Robert Holbrook Smith ("Dr. Bob") collection, 1936-1992Clarence Snyder A.A. collectionAdditional material concerning the "Just Say No" campaign may be found at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, Calif. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum
Other information:

Inventory

Series 1. Just Say No Activities, 1985-1992
Box 1, Folder 1-45
This series consists primarily of photographs of walks, rallies, training sessions and conferences related to the "Just Say No" campaign in the United States, Sierra Leone and the Philippines from 1985 to 1992. It also includes a brochure, contact sheets, correspondence, fliers, negatives, a copy of a proclamation from the governor of Nebraska declaring May 7 to May 13, 1989 as "Just Say No" Week, and color slides. Some of the photographs are official White House photographs. The material from the Philippines includes an invitation from Mrs. Corazon D. Aquino, President of the Republic of the Philippines, to the opening ceremony of the 13th IFNGO (International Federation of Non-Governmental Organizations) Conference against Drug and Substance Abuse in November of 1991.

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 1 1985 Oakland, Calif.
Box 1, Folder 2 1985 Sacramento, Calif.
Box 1, Folder 3 1986 Austin, Tex.
Box 1, Folder 4 1986 Harpers Ferry, W.Va.
Box 1, Folder 5 1986 San Francisco, Calif.
Box 1, Folder 6 1986 Washington, D.C.
Box 1, Folder 7 1987 Hawaii
Box 1, Folder 8 1987 Los Angeles, Calif.
Contents Note: This folder includes photographs of Nancy Reagan at a "Just Say No" rally at the Universal Amphitheater.
Box 1, Folder 9 1987 Pasadena, Calif.
Contents Note: This folder contains photographs of a "Just Say No" rally at the Rose Bowl.
Box 1, Folder 10 1987 San Antonio, Tex.
Box 1, Folder 11 1987 Washington, D.C.
Box 1, Folder 12 1988 Anderson, S.C.
Contents Note: This folder contains one letter, with a photograph attached, to the Just Say No Foundation newsletter describing Anderson's third annual "Just Say No" walk.
Box 1, Folder 13 1988 Crawfordsville, Ind.
Contents Note: This folder contains photographs and a letter describing Crawfordsville's third annual "Just Say No" walk.
Box 1, Folder 14 1988 Hanna Barbara/Taft Entertainment
Contents Note: This folder contains several black-and-white photographs of characters from the cartoon series "The Flintstones", produced for a "Just Say No" television special, as well as a letter from Taft Entertainment to the Just Say No Foundation regarding the photographs and the special.
Box 1, Folder 15 1988 Nashua, N.H.
Contents Note: This folder includes correspondence between the Nashua Housing Authority and the Just Say No Foundation.
Box 1, Folder 16 1988 San Francisco, Calif.
Contents Note: This folder contains photographs of "Just Say No" club activities and negatives of an RSVP training session. RSVP was a program designed to help students identify and address various issues in their schools and communities.
Box 1, Folder 17 1988 Washington, D.C.
Box 1, Folder 18 1988 Woodstown, N.J.
Box 1, Folder 19 1989 Chicago, Ill.
Box 1, Folder 20 1989 Georgia
Box 1, Folder 21 1989 Norfolk, Va.
Contents Note: This folder contains slides of "Just Say No" activities at various Norfolk public schools.
Box 1, Folder 22 1989 Scottsbluff, Nebr.
Box 1, Folder 23 1990 Cartoon All-Stars
Contents Note: This folder contains both a color and a black-and-white image of the "All-Star" cartoon characters and a letter regarding copyright for the "Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue" artwork.
Box 1, Folder 24 1990 Detroit, Mich.
Box 1, Folder 25 1990 Durant, Okla.
Box 1, Folder 26 1990 First Regional Director Orientation
Box 1, Folder 27 1990 Japan
Box 1, Folder 28 1990 Los Angeles, Calif.
Box 1, Folder 29 1990 Maryland
Box 1, Folder 30 1990 San Diego, Calif.
Contents Note: This folder includes an aerial photograph of the flight deck of the USS Okinawa, showing a human billboard spelling out "Just Say No".
Box 1, Folder 31 1991 Bedford, Tex.
Box 1, Folder 32 1991 Brookfield, Wis.
Box 1, Folder 33 1991 Chicago, Ill.
Contents Note: This folder includes copies of two newspaper clippings showing photographs of the activities of a local "Just Say No" club. One photograph is of Ozzie Guillen of the Chicago White Sox.
Box 1, Folder 34 1991 Douglas County, Colo.
Box 1, Folder 35 1991 Grand Prairie, Tex.
Box 1, Folder 36 1991 Kenosha, Wis.
Box 1, Folder 37 1991 Los Angeles, Calif.
Box 1, Folder 38 1991 Milwaukee, Wis.
Box 1, Folder 39 1991 Orange, Calif.
Box 1, Folder 40 1991 Philippines
Box 1, Folder 41 1991 Rodeo, Calif.
Box 1, Folder 42 1991 Sacramento, Calif.
Box 1, Folder 43 1991 Sierra Leone
Box 1, Folder 44 1991 Weslaco, Tex.
Box 1, Folder 45 1992 Carmichael, Calif.

Series 2. Photographs, 1990-1996
Box 1, Folder 46-48
This series contains one undated black-and-white photograph of Kurt Cameron, star of the television series "Growing Pains", two small photograph albums, and three boxes of unlabeled slides that were found in a folder dated 1990. The albums are labeled No.1 and No.2. The first includes photographs of the 13th IFNGO Conference in the Philippines and well as photographs of "Just Say No" conferences in Nepal and Thailand. The conferences pictured took place from 1991 to 1995. The second album contains photographs of "Just Say No" activities in Nepal from 1995 to 1996.

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 46 Kurt Cameron
Box 1, Folder 47 Albums
Box 1, Folder 48 Slides

Series 3. Videocassettes, 1991-1996
Box 1, Folder 49-51
The three videocassettes in this series were probably used for training purposes.

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 49 Young & Rubicam "Just Say No"
 1991 Dec 4
Box 1, Folder 50 Jonathan Taylor Thomas "Youth Power"
 1996 Jan
Box 1, Folder 51 Just Say No "Training Master" Adult

Series 4. Workbook
Box 1, Folder 52
This series consists of The Just Say No Club Book by J. Scott Wallace, published in 1987 by the Just Say No Foundation.

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 52 The Just Say No Club Book
 1987