Genocide Archives: Do They Have a Life Cycle?Genocide Archives: Do

They Have a Life Cycle?

Review of selected research on genocide archivesMeagan Calogeras, Fall 2010

Review of selected research on genocide archivesMeagan Calogeras, Fall 2010

Genocide Archives are Unique

Genocide Archives are Unique

• Evil origins• Crimes detailed and frequently

mundane• Morph into different functions• Wide range of people create, form,

and consult them• Ethical issues predominate early on• Legitimate ownership matters

• Evil origins• Crimes detailed and frequently

mundane• Morph into different functions• Wide range of people create, form,

and consult them• Ethical issues predominate early on• Legitimate ownership matters

Genocide Archives are Unique

Genocide Archives are Unique

• Access and accountability are important issues• Have the potential to influence public policy• Offers rich source of historical research--

perhaps ad infinitum• Takes years to organize and systematize• Raw data can be disseminated digitally with

dubious consequences• Outreach and education is extremely important

• Access and accountability are important issues• Have the potential to influence public policy• Offers rich source of historical research--

perhaps ad infinitum• Takes years to organize and systematize• Raw data can be disseminated digitally with

dubious consequences• Outreach and education is extremely important

Several genocide archives:

Several genocide archives:

• Anfal files of Iraqi Kurdistan• Ottoman archives of Turkey• Tuol Sleng archives of

Cambodia• Holocaust archives of the world

• Anfal files of Iraqi Kurdistan• Ottoman archives of Turkey• Tuol Sleng archives of

Cambodia• Holocaust archives of the world

The Phases…The Phases…

Parting quote:Parting quote:• “Each succeeding generation of users will

view a collection differently, coming to it with different motives, increased hindsight, and different tools for interpretation. These future users will sift, appraise, and digest the information we preserve, each according to his or her needs, acculturation, and understanding.” --

Jeffrey Mifflin, 1998

• “Each succeeding generation of users will view a collection differently, coming to it with different motives, increased hindsight, and different tools for interpretation. These future users will sift, appraise, and digest the information we preserve, each according to his or her needs, acculturation, and understanding.” --

Jeffrey Mifflin, 1998