LAWG materials and historic documentation consist of the Archives of the Organization, which are housed at the Archives of the Library of York University and the LAWG Resource Centre or Library materials which are housed at York University’s Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean (CERLAC).

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LAWG Archives

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The Archives contain the files from the working life of the Latin American Working Group (LAWG) over its 30 year existence: minutes of meetings; correspondence files; documentation of advocacy work (including with trade unions, churches and religious groups, and other non-government organizations). It also includes the publications of the organization – the LAWG Letter, the Central American Update, the Labour Report, press releases and slide shows.

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The holdings show the extent of the work done by LAWG on many issues and countries over the years. This includes the Dominican Republic, the advocacy following the 1973 coup in Chile,  the solidarity work that was undertaken on Central America in the 1980s, the corporate research and the organizing of tours between Canada and Latin America.  LAWG’s work was coalitional and collaborative and consequently researchers will also find materials related to the work of the churches, trade unions, NGOs and other solidarity organizations involved in similar work.

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This material is contained in 34 boxes held at the York University Archives in Toronto, Ontario. A list of the LAWG archives files can be found at this link:

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http://archivesfa.library.yorku.ca/fonds/ON00370-f0000463.htm

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To access the LAWG Archives please contact the York University Archives at:

archives@yorku.ca

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The LAWG Library

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During its years of operation, LAWG amassed a library which included an impressive range of publications from Latin America, Canada and the U.S. to help with its research and publication. Periodicals came from the region itself as well as internationally. These materials were made available to the public. The LAWG Library is now part of the Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean (CERLAC) at York University.

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This collection also contains extensive country files with an emphasis on countries reflecting the focus of LAWG’s work over the years. These rich files contain materials from a variety of sources (NGOs, church, labour) that are not easily available elsewhere. They are gathered together in subject areas such as human rights, international relations, political movements and women.

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Two special sections have been created that highlight the uniqueness of the material. One is on international solidarity which contains articles and publication (mostly Canadian) showing the extent of Canadian commitment to supporting the struggles of the people in Latin America for change.

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The other is of materials published by Latin Americans in exile. This material is very rare and comes from wherever the exiles found themselves after the military coups of the 1970s.