ABOUT the Archives

GLORY ANNE LAFFEY embodied the exemplary open-handed historian, one who shared her knowledge and skills freely with anyone in the community. Her kindness and willingness to assist even the most novice of researchers, and her modesty of personality, belied her brain trust of information about the past that our community came to rely upon. The quality of her research and writing provide a standard by which historical documentation should be done today.

In 1996 Glory Anne helped foster the Historical Architectural Lecture Series and co-founded the Valley Architectural Slide Library in San Jose, California. This well received public lecture series presented eighteen noted authors and experts, who spoke to the variety and riches that could be found in our local man-made environment. The lectures helped establish a fund to support the development of the archives. The archives was named the Glory Anne Laffey Architectural Archives following her passing in 1999.

Laffey Archives, which until recently was a program of the Preservation Action Council of San Jose, is a resource center for learning about and researching the local built environment of Santa Clara Valley, as well as the nearby communities in the Monterey Bay area. The long term goal is to develop a resource center to better understand and explore the local evolution of our modern urban environment.

Examples of materials collected for the archives:

• Images of the built environment, from the historic to the anticipated: slides, videotapes, photographs, drawings, electronic images, etc.

• Local Historical Resource Inventories

• Historical reports, EIR/EIS documents, and other written project material (gray literature) relating to local historic properties

• Architectural reference materials and construction documents

• Education materials on Historic Preservation

How can you help further this effort?

You can donate materials. If you have historic reports, project documents, architectural slides and photographs, reference materials, or other architecturally related materials that you would like to donate, please contact us. Laffey Archives is a California public benefit corporation. The organization has received 501c3 non-profit status from the IRS, so your donation may be tax deductable.

You can help with funding. Laffey Archives is accepting monetary donations to be used toward purchasing reference works and original materials, supplies and equipment and to support the public lecture and workshop programs.

You can donate time. We need volunteers to help gather materials, catalog, provide technical assistance, and help coordinate the lectures and workshops.

For donations or more information, contact us at:

Laffey Archives

(669) 999-1851