PRIMARY SOURCES — STRAIGHT, INC.

The Paper Trail

The program’s own documents — the rules, the scripts, the reports, the advertising. Open any document to read it enlarged.

Everything here was printed by the program itself or published about it at the time. The documents are shown as they were made, with nothing added except the restoration noted on individual items.

Archive material contributed anonymously.

The Program’s Own Materials

The handouts and diagrams the program used as part of the work itself.

Hand-drawn program handout titled "The Phases", showing a central self shape ringed by family, friends, school, work and spiritual activity, annotated by hand with phase numbers. — The Phases — Third HandoutUndated — program materials
The program’s own diagram of what each phase works on: self, family, achievement, leisure, and service.
Archive material contributed anonymously.

The Rules

Rules on paper — for parents at open meetings, and for clients at home or in group.

Typed page headed "Rules for New Parents" listing thirteen rules covering honesty, confidentiality, open meeting attendance, dress, seating, and no eye games with your child. — Rules for New ParentsUndated — Straight, Inc. of Greater Washington
The rules handed to every new parent: mandatory open meetings, dress, seating, and no eye games with your child.
Archive material contributed anonymously.

Typed page of client rules from Second Chance, Inc., covering honesty, seating, newcomers talking to newcomers, medication, smoking, lateness, and confidentiality. — Client RulesUndated — Second Chance, Inc.
Rules for daily living at home or in group, issued under Second Chance, Inc.
Archive material contributed anonymously.

Families in the Program

What parents were handed: a script for speaking in group, and a typed report on their own child.

Situation #3Undated — parent open meeting
The role-play script handed to parents before they spoke into the microphone in front of the group.
Archive material contributed anonymously.

Typed page titled "Situation #3", role-playing a parent speaking into the microphone as a newcomer, a fourth phaser, and a seventh stepper. — Situation #3Undated — parent open meeting
The role-play script handed to parents before they spoke into the microphone in front of the group.
Archive material contributed anonymously.

Progress Report — Day 17December 9, 1983
A client’s progress report, day 17 — identifying details redacted.
Archive material contributed anonymously.

Typed Straight, Inc. progress report for day seventeen, with ratings for motivation, raps, host home, expression of feelings and daily goals; the names are blacked out. — Progress Report — Day 17December 9, 1983
A client’s progress report, day 17 — identifying details redacted.
Archive material contributed anonymously.

The Calculated Bid

A program courting legitimacy — a royal visit, and a board letter counting admissions.

The Royal VisitSpringfield, Virginia — 1985
Princess Diana inside the Springfield facility — digitally restored.
Archive material contributed anonymously.

Sepia-toned photograph of Princess Diana walking through the Springfield facility while staff and clients line the far wall. — The Royal VisitSpringfield, Virginia — 1985
Princess Diana inside the Springfield facility — digitally restored.
Archive material contributed anonymously.

Letter from the Board of DirectorsMarch 1985
The board announcing a national record: one hundred and thirty new admissions in February 1985.
Archive material contributed anonymously.

Typed March 1985 letter from the Straight, Inc. board of directors announcing 130 new client admissions in February and thanking staff for it. — Letter from the Board of DirectorsMarch 1985
The board announcing a national record: one hundred and thirty new admissions in February 1985.
Archive material contributed anonymously.

How Straight Sold Itself

Fact sheets, advertising, and press coverage — the public face of the program.

“Drug abusers learning to go Straight”Richmond Times-Dispatch — January 13, 1985
Newspaper illustration by Martin Rhodes on the program’s public reach into families.
Archive material contributed anonymously.

Newspaper illustration credited to Martin Rhodes showing a hand reaching into a young person’s jeans pocket, under the headline "Drug abusers learning to go Straight". — “Drug abusers learning to go Straight”Richmond Times-Dispatch — January 13, 1985
Newspaper illustration by Martin Rhodes on the program’s public reach into families.
Archive material contributed anonymously.

Straight Factsc. 1980s — Straight, Inc. of Greater Washington
The program’s own press sheet: fees, completion rates, and the demographics it sold to the public.
Archive material contributed anonymously.

Typed press sheet headed "Straight Facts", listing client fees, insurance, ages, treatment length, crime statistics, and program staff. — Straight Factsc. 1980s — Straight, Inc. of Greater Washington
The program’s own press sheet: fees, completion rates, and the demographics it sold to the public.
Archive material contributed anonymously.

Adolescent Drug-Use Assessmentsc. 1980s
The sign advertising the intake line: assessments, urinalysis, family therapy, aftercare.
Archive material contributed anonymously.

Printed sign in red lettering reading "Adolescent Drug-Use Assessments" with the intake phone number, "Straight — a direction for youth", and the services offered. — Adolescent Drug-Use Assessmentsc. 1980s
The sign advertising the intake line: assessments, urinalysis, family therapy, aftercare.
Archive material contributed anonymously.