AFU (Archives for the Unexplained)

Background

Archives for the Unexplained (AFU) is a Swedish civilian research organization and non-profit archive dedicated to preserving and organizing historical UFO/UAP documentation, case reports, and related materials.

• Founded in 1973 in Södertälje, Sweden
• Relocated to Norrköping in 1980
• Maintains the world's largest collection of research materials on UFOs and paranormal phenomena
• Collections span approximately 3.5 kilometers of shelf space across 15 locations

Research Collections

AFU houses extensive databases and materials utilized by international researchers and organizations:

• 30,000-volume collection including books on UFOs, ghosts, unusual natural phenomena, parapsychology, and conspiracy theories
• 50,000 periodical issues and 7,200 linear feet of news files
• 20,000 Swedish UFO observations and copies of Swedish Armed Forces investigations (approximately 2,000 cases)
• Donations from UFO research archives in Norway, Denmark, and other countries
• Acquisitions of approximately 5,000 new books annually

Key Contributions

AFU serves as a critical infrastructure resource for the global UAP research community:

• Manages archives and libraries for the national organization UFO-Sweden
• Provides materials incorporated into international UFO research databases and digital libraries
• Supports researchers, historians, and investigators studying unidentified anomalous phenomena globally
• Operates with a permanent staff and more than 20 volunteers