Archives can be like a black box. Description is like carving a window into the black box; the better the description, the bigger the window.
Archival Concepts
When working an institutional archive or starting an archival project, it helps to understand what it is that archives do and what you need to consider before getting started.
Gift Agreements
In an archival context, gift agreements transfer the physical ownership of materials from groups or individuals to an institution. Gift agreements should clearly lay out what the donor can expect from the institution and vice versa.
What Happens to Your Collection When It Goes to an Archive?
What is a Community Archive?
Community archives and other community-centric history, heritage, and memory projects work to empower communities to tell, protect, and share their history on their terms.
What is a Charrette?
A charrette is a focus group that brings together a wide variety of stakeholders in order to map solutions.
What is a Community?
When we talk about communities, we aren’t just talking about towns that exist right here, right now with neatly registered zip codes.
Why Archives Matter
Copyright and Community-Driven Archives
When it comes to protecting intellectual property that is part of your or your community’s history, it helps to understand what legal rights apply to your materials.
Copyright and Legal Issues in Archives
Types of Digital Storage
The difference between preserving something and making something accessible to the public is important for communities to consider when managing digital files.
Sample Oral History Consent Form
Before conducting an oral history interview, make sure to create a consent form for you and your interviewee to sign.
Why are Oral Histories Important for Community-Driven Archives?
From the beginning, the Community-Driven Archives Team has prioritized oral history training and the collection of oral histories as a key part of our work.
How to Work with Archival Materials
Archival items, like photos and documents, let you discover history firsthand. Following a general research format can help you find amazing histories.
Archives 101