Documenting Communities & Movements in Real Time

Abstract

By now, there is consensus within the archival community that our collecting practices must change to keep up with the times. No longer can we wait for photographs, diaries, and films to emerge from the attics and closets of individuals and organizations; immediate interventions are necessary to preserve digital media before it disappears into the void. But how do we go about documentation in real time? What ethical and technical hurdles do we confront? How do we partner with communities to make sure our efforts align with their interests? In this panel, archivists with diverse experiences will explore topics such as developing tools to archive social media, documenting the ever-changing borough of Queens, NY, tenant organizing in New York City, and life aboard a maritime training vessel.