Scope and arrangement
The September 11th Fund records consist of electronic and paper files. The bulk of the records are electronic. Users should consult both the electronic and the paper records to gain a full understanding of the organization.
The administrative files consist primarily of Board of Directors files, correspondence of consultant Helene Lauffner and project director Suzanne Immerman, Fund annual reports, and 9/11 impact studies used to prioritize grants and make funding decisions. The Board files hold copies of the board books sent to each board member, which consist of the meeting agenda and accompanying readings such as articles on 9/11 recovery, victim statistics, and grant spreadsheets. Electronic board records include board correspondence, reports presented to the board, and notes. There are annual reports, correspondence (primarily internal) and impact studies. Additionally, the electronic administrative files hold contact lists, financial documents, and disaster impact studies. There are documents relating to Safe Horizon including intake procedures, meeting agendas, eligibility zone borders for cash assistance, and informational session packets for victims and coordinating agencies.
The correspondence of project director Suzanne Immerman and consultant Helene Lauffner spans nearly the entire life of the Fund. The most frequent correspondents are fellow staff - primarily project director Tim Wu, director of communications Jeanine Moss, and administrative assistant Jeffrie Allan. The email consists of three separate backups of Immerman's accounts, and one backup of Lauffner's account. Since the bulk of the correspondence is internal, it documents the day-to-day workings of the Fund. Issues discussed are policy changes, securing meeting spaces and coordinating presentations, internal meeting wrap-ups and post-meeting discussion, and networking with outside groups such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Other frequent correspondents include Mary McShane from The New York Community Trust, Gerald McCleery from the Mental Health Association of New York City, and Elizabeth McCarthy from Safe Horizon. These files have accompanying documentation such as calendars and address books. Email is restricted indefinitely.
The Grant files hold grant approval and denial recommendations, as well as case management files and eligibility requirements. Electronic records are presentations describing requirements, letter drafts to grant recipients, case management reports, grant guidelines, and documents provided by grant-seeking organizations. These files document grant seeking organizations' initial contact with the Fund, as well as their continued case management, which was primarily focused on financial accountability.
The cash assistance program files hold eligibility requirements, statistics, correspondence with agencies providing cash assistance, presentation materials, and coordination documents. The Fund received regular reports on how many individuals had received money and basic demographic information regarding the victims. Since the Fund did not directly write the checks, there is no personal information from those who received compensation except those who volunteered to be interviewed for promotional materials.
The Employment Assistance Program files contain training evaluations, client summaries, presentations, and meeting agendas for the Employment Assistance Operations Workgroup. The Community Development Program files focus primarily on the revitalization of Chinatown and other downtown neighborhoods. The bulk of these files are advertising proposals for a program to promote tourism in Chinatown. Within the electronic files, there are meeting minutes from the Chinatown Tourism and Marketing Advisory Committee (a grantee), as well as strategy notes and long-term neighborhood impact studies. Grantees involved with the Employment Assistance and Community Development Programs include the Chinatown Manpower Project, the Chinatown Tourism and Marketing Advisory Committee, the Federation of Employment and Guidance Services, Seedco, and Wildcat Service Corporation, among others.
Health Care Program records document the Fund's commitment to making sure the survivors of 9/11 received adequate health care coverage. Grants falling into this category supported groups working with insurance providers and local hospitals to track the care of the affected, transition the unemployed from temporary health insurance, and enroll individuals in disaster Medicaid. There are also documents relating to health screening and assessments for day laborers downtown, and minutes from strategy meetings with health care providers.
The Mental Health Program files have intake training manuals for service providers, brochures and other handouts given to victims and their families, and reports on the performance of mental health-related grant groups. Electronic records include correspondence and memos with the 9/11 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Program and the Mental Health Association of New York City. There are also estimated program costs and presentations on trauma training initiatives for mental health workers. Studies and articles within these files include incidence estimates of individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder and explorations of different treatments such as acupuncture or sand play therapy for children.
Press files document the Fund's many challenges with public relations and their efforts to disseminate information in a timely and accurate manner to donors, victims, and their families. The early days of the Fund were plagued with misinformation, with donors not understanding where their money was going, and survivors unclear about where they should register for services. The press files contain press releases, annotated copies of articles written about the Fund, website text, and press strategies, as well as brochures and posters. There are also master VHS and cassette copies of several September 11th Fund commercials, including a "Taking Your Life Back" spot in several languages and the "One Life" national commercial. Promotional video interviews of individuals assisted by the Fund's programs are held here.
The 9/11 United Services Group (USG) files document their collaboration with the Fund. These files consist of meeting minutes, presentations regarding the victim database, and progress update memos. USG's electronic files hold impact studies commissioned by the group, press strategy meeting minutes, client assessment forms, presentations detailing ongoing recovery programs, and service coordinator training packets. Users may also wish to consult the 9/11 United Services Group records, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.
Arrangement
Alphabetical by file title.