Archives & Public History

How are archives defined?

What exactly constitutes an archive? Are academic or institutional archives the only valid form of archives? What has been the main purpose of archives? Has/should that main purpose change for users in the 21st century? How do archives engage the public? What does the public need and want from archives? Should individuals and/or institutions offer their collections to archives, either in analog or digital form? How should archives be accessible? What does accessible mean in archives that assume ownership, see collections as property, require identification and other information, are heavily surveilled, and use categorization systems that reinforce cultures of exclusion and oppression?

In the last five years or so, individuals and groups throughout the U.S. and the diaspora have increasingly created their own analog and digital archive projects. They have collected, organized and contextualized material in ways that make sense for them. 

Examples of Inclusive Archives

Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries & Museums (ATALM)

ATALM is an international non-profit organization that maintains a network of support for indigenous programs, provides culturally relevant programming and services, encourages collaboration among tribal and non-tribal cultural institutions, and articulates contemporary issues related to developing and sustaining the cultural sovereignty of Native Nations. 

The Blackivists

Blackivists provide professional expertise on cultural heritage archiving and preservation practices to document historically excluded communities. They do this by helping individuals and organizations inventory, document, and  preserve all aspects of their historical experiences. The organization aims to empower people to use the past to speculate on and create through direct action radical, liberatory, and inclusive futures for us all.

The Society of American Archivists

The Society of American Archivists empowers archivists to achieve professional excellence and foster innovation to ensure the identification, preservation, understanding, and use of records of enduring value. SAA is a vital community that promotes the value and diversity of archives and archivists and serves as the preeminent resource for the professional archives.