DataCenter is founded by Fred Goff with the hiring of Harry & Loretta Strharsky, the backing of the West Coast office of the North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA), and the help of 40 volunteers.

Establish customized research service for immigration attorneys representing Central Americans seeking political asylum.

Publish The Reagan File, a press profile on Presidential candidate Ronald Reagan, followed in 1981, after his election, with four press profiles on Reagan's policies on labor, El Salvador, foreign policy, and military policy in Asia.

Launch Right-to-know Project in response to growing restrictions on access to information.

Expand Search Service to include research to support community, labor, and investor corporate campaigns.

Ben Bagdikian, future DataCenter board member, publishes the first edition of The Media Monopoly. A lot of the research for his groundbreaking book is done at the DataCenter. In Ben's words: "I spent hours in the old newspaper clipping files. They were the best I'd found in 30 years of journalism and writing, for archives of newspaper and journal articles on global corporations. I can even be nostalgic about the chaotic pile of recycled soap-carton cardboard boxes of old files on the ground floor of the old building."

Publish additional press profiles, including Terrorism: A Closer Look and Jamaica at the Crossroads.

Launch Pro Bono Fund to subsidize services to low-budget social justice organizations.

Receive Meritorious Achievement Award for Community Journalism from Media Alliance.

Search Service goes online.

Publish a 3-volume press collection on the Persian Gulf during the Gulf War.

Launch the Cuba Project to respond to information needs of institutions in Cuba.

Receive the James Madison Freedom of Information Award from the Northern California Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Launch CultureWatch newsletter, edited by Bill Berkowitz, monitoring the culture wars raged by the Religious Right.

At the Community Strategic Training Initiative (CSTI), sponsored by the Western States Center in Portland, OR conduct workshop on "Research Methods for Community Activists." It uses case studies and hard copy and electronic resources to teach how to research a company, an organization, an elected official and a landlord.

Work with Communities for a Better Environment on the Petrochemicals, Money and Politics Project, providing research and training for grassroots toxics activists on the political influence wielded by the oil industry.

Launch first website.

Host two book parties celebrating the lives and work of Ben Bagdikian and Zoia Horn, two close associates of the DataCenter who each publish their memoirs.

Celebrate our 20th Anniversary with a gala celebration honoring Asian Immigrant Women Advocates, Communities for a Better Environment, The International Campaign to Ban Landmines, Progressive Asset Management, Public Media Center, United Farm Workers, and Women's Educational Media.

Launch Capacity Building Campaign to underwrite move to new offices and provide computers for all staff members.

Donate archives to Bancroft Library at University of California, Berkeley.

Information Services Latin America (ISLA) becomes independent.

CultureWatch publishes its last newsletter.

Create the Youth Strategy Project to address the rise in youth organizing in response to the rising criminalization of youth of color.

Ryan Pintado-Vertner and Carol Cantwell become Co-Directors.

Launch Endowment Campaign to raise $2 million.

Launch new website.

Veteran Information Activist Leon Sompolinsky named Research Director.

25th Anniversary celebration in May.