Archives and Total Defense

Episode 1 – September 14, 2023

What does emergency preparedness planning mean for archives? In this episode, we discuss threats and how they have evolved over time, from the nuclear threat of the 20th century to today’s heightened security situation. And what in the archives is particularly worth protecting from a preparedness perspective? Is there information so sensitive that an archive could be attacked by an enemy wanting to access it? Or are there valuable cultural artifacts at risk of being looted and removed?

Furthermore, what information is needed to rebuild society afterward? Or to restart one’s own operations if they’ve been shut down? Archives hold documents that establish how everything should be organized, what has been decided, who owns what, and much more. For example, people who have fled may need to prove that the house they once lived in is indeed theirs.

Listen to the episode (opens in SoundCloud)
Transcript of Episode 1: Archives and Total Defense (pdf)