Fonds F4047 - Alcohol and Drug Concerns Inc. fonds

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Alcohol and Drug Concerns Inc. fonds

General material designation

  • Multiple media

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Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

CA ON00340 F4047

Edition area

Edition statement

Edition statement of responsibility

Class of material specific details area

Statement of scale (cartographic)

Statement of projection (cartographic)

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Statement of scale (architectural)

Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 1899-1992, predominantly 1920-1989 (Creation)
    Creator
    Alcohol and Drug Concerns Inc.

Physical description area

Physical description

31.03 m of textual records and other material

Publisher's series area

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(1924-)

Administrative history

The Ontario Prohibition Union was founded as a successor organization to the Ontario Branch of the Dominion Alliance at the Alliance’s Annual Convention held in Toronto, March 18, 1924. Following several turbulent and controversial years of Alliance activity, leading temperance workers were urged by the Prohibition Federation of Canada to constitute a more representative organization to unify temperance forces in Ontario. This new group was initially called the Ontario Temperance Alliance but was changed to the Ontario Prohibition Union (OPU) at a subsequent meeting. The need for greater unity in the prohibition effort was cited in the new organization’s constitution:

The temperance workers of Ontario will expect that, in its leadership of the Prohibition forces, the Ontario Prohibition Union will, very earnestly seek the co-operation of all organizations and individuals that are all in sympathy with its one great object “The total and immediate suppression of the traffic in all intoxicating Liquors and beverages.”

Policy of the Organization was set at Conventions and carried out by an Executive Committee. The Union’s activities spanned an increased emphasis on temperance tracts, non-partisan political activity urging the abolition of the liquor traffic, the organization of county units, and assistance to ‘dry’ forces in local option contests, and the forwarding of information received at OPU offices regarding bootlegging and Liquor Control Act violations to the Provincial Attorney-General’s office.

After the passing of the Liquor Control Act in 1926 approving government control of liquor sales, prohibition sentiment experienced a gradual decline, especially in urban area. In 1934 the OPU was again reorganized, this time to reflect a stronger emphasis on education rather than legislation, and emerged the Ontario Temperance Federation.

The Ontario Temperance Foundation defined itself as “An interdenominational, non-partisan organization maintained largely by support of church congregations and individuals to co-ordinate the efforts of religious and other groups concerned with the promotion of sobriety in personal conduct and social behavior.” The Ontario Temperance Foundation emerged as the most influential temperance group in the nation.

Throughout its history the Federation found its main source of support in the United and Baptist churches, and to a lesser extent among Presbyterian, Congregationalists, and a number of smaller Protestant denominations. Little or no support was provided by the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches and in many cases was never actively strong.

Combining scientific temperance with the moral appeals of earlier prohibitionists, the Federation became active in many fields, including education, youth work, legislation, community organization, and an administrative role as coordinator of provincial temperance forces. The Federation dissolved in 1968 to become the Alcohol and Drug Concerns Inc. The aim of the new organization was to promote lifestyles non dependent on drugs and alcohol, foster public awareness on the harms of those substances, advocate reduction of their use, counteract advertising promoting the use of substances, reinforcing the spiritual dimension of the work, and creating support and funding resources for the previous initiatives. In 1987 the organization surrendered its Ontario Charter and filed a National Charter to operate on a national level.

Custodial history

This material forms part of the General Council program of the United Church of Canada Archive.

Scope and content

Fonds consists of seven series: 1) Central Administration Records, [192-]-1989, 2) Regional Administration Records, 1926-1978, 3) Department and Committee Records, [192-]-1992, 4) Toc Alpha Records, 1950-1992, 5) Ontario Plebiscite Committee Records, 1899-1932, 6) Information and Reference Material, 7) Clippings, 1916-1944, 8) Photographs, 1924-1984 and 9) Audiovisual Material, 1971-1985.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Arrangement

Language of material

    Script of material

      Location of originals

      Availability of other formats

      Restrictions on access

      Some restrictions apply.

      Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

      All researchers using these records must sign a "Researcher Agreement and Privacy Notice" form (Form 26) since these records may include personal information on church staff, members, or clients. Some restrictions may apply.

      Finding aids

      Associated materials

      See 1985.101P/59-81, 82-94 in the Inter-Church Photograph Collection (F4049) for related photographs.

      Accruals

      Physical description

      Includes: 182 photographs and negatives, 82 audio cassettes, 1 scrapbook, 1 diskette.

      Alternative identifier(s)

      Accession

      1985.059C

      Accession

      1985.061C

      Accession

      1985.062C

      Accession

      1985.074C

      Accession

      1985.075C

      Accession

      1985.101C

      Accession

      1988.064C

      Accession

      1988.086C

      Accession

      1990.116C

      Accession

      1990.173C

      Accession

      1990.179C

      Accession

      1991.176C

      Accession

      1991.177C

      Accession

      1993.145C

      Accession

      1993.146C

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      Standard number

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      Description record identifier

      Institution identifier

      Rules or conventions

      Status

      Level of detail

      Dates of creation, revision and deletion

      Sept. 2019 AZ

      Language of description

        Script of description

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          Accession area