Embedded Files
Every day, pieces of our history risk being lost whether through neglect, lack of funding, or intentional erasure.
Every day, pieces of our history risk being lost whether through neglect, lack of funding, or intentional erasure.
Guerrilla archiving is about ordinary people stepping up to preserve extraordinary stories, documents, and artifacts before they disappear. You don’t need to be a professional archivist — you just need the willingness to act. This page will guide you through simple ways to get started: deciding what’s worth saving, joining the #SaveItForward challenge, and capturing oral histories from your own community.
Is It Worth Saving?
Is It Worth Saving?
Use this quick guide to help you in your guerrilla archivist journey!
What may feel “too ordinary” — a flyer, a church fan, a recipe card — is often the most powerful evidence of culture, kinship, and community life. These materials rarely make it into mainstream archives unless families recognize their worth.
Together, they build the “everyday history” that textbooks never capture but descendants will treasure.
Here’s a list of overlooked but highly valuable items that Black families often have — and should consider preserving for the historical record:
Everyday Life & Community
Everyday Life & Community
Church fans, bulletins, and anniversary programs (documenting congregations, pastors, choirs, and events)
Obituaries and funeral programs (rich genealogical detail, often including extended family connections)
Cookbooks and recipe cards (documenting culinary traditions and community identity)
School report cards, diplomas, and honor certificates (especially from historically Black schools or segregated schools)
Neighborhood association newsletters or flyers (Black-led civic organizations, block clubs, social clubs)
There's many other items in art, weddings, and academics. Download the full list below!
Preserve What Matters
Preserve What Matters
Scanning Best Practices
Scanning Best Practices
Sharing Best Practices
Sharing Best Practices
The Guerrilla Archivist's Manifesto
The Guerrilla Archivist's Manifesto
I believe that…
I believe that…
Memory is worth protecting — even the small, quiet moments.
If I don’t save it, it might be gone forever.
I commit to…
I commit to…
Being alert: I notice what’s at risk.
Acting quickly: I don’t wait for perfect conditions.
Prioritizing: I focus on what matters most to me or my community.
Accepting imperfection: A blurry photo is better than a lost story.
Staying ethical: I protect people, not just data.
I understand…
I understand…
Archiving is an act of care.
I don’t need permission to preserve history.
Small acts, repeated, build a living archive.
“The perfect time to archive is now.”
Take the #SaveItForward Challenge!
Take the #SaveItForward Challenge!
History isn’t just in textbooks...it lives in your photos, your family traditions, your community’s stories, and even old websites that could disappear tomorrow. The Save It Forward Challenge is about capturing one piece of history and inspiring others to do the same.
It’s simple: save one, share one, and nominate three friends to keep the chain going.
Middle & High School ( Ages 13–18 )
Middle & High School ( Ages 13–18 )
Do this: Use your phone to find and capture one piece of your family or community’s history. You can even create your own archive of change.
Example: Take a high-quality photo of grandma’s recipe card, an old jersey, a protest flyer, or a mural.
Post this: Share it on TikTok/IG with the story behind it + tag #MemoryHunt.
Get this: Earn badges (“The Storyteller,” “The Detective,” etc.) for each artifact type.
College / Young Adults (18–25)
College / Young Adults (18–25)
Do this: Pick a digital item at risk (like an old community blog, protest video, or zine PDF). Archive it with a free tool (Wayback Machine, Webrecorder, Google Drive).
Post this: Share a screen capture of your saved file + why it matters.
Get this: Compete as campus teams or orgs (fraternities/sororities, student unions, clubs). Leaderboard for “Most Pages Saved.”
Post-College / Professionals (25+)
Post-College / Professionals (25+)
Do this: Host or join a 2-hour “Archiving Sprint” (in a library, cafe, or online). Focus on saving endangered websites, documents, or oral histories.
Post this: Group photo/selfie + snapshot of the archive (before/after).
Get this: Teams earn points for volume + diversity of what they save.
No matter your age, when you Save It Forward, you make sure our history lives on.
No matter your age, when you Save It Forward, you make sure our history lives on.
Learn About Storage Devices
Learn About Storage Devices
What are the differences between all these storage devices and which are the best ones for archiving? Watch this helpful video before selecting your equipment!
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
Culture In Transit Toolkit - Metropolitan New York Library Council
DIY Oral History Recording Kit
DIY Oral History Recording Kit
Every elder, activist, or community leader carries a library of lived history. Recording their voices ensures their stories outlive any single memory. With just a phone, a notebook, and our Do-It-Yourself kit, you can capture oral histories that might otherwise vanish.
Download the free kit below and start recording stories today.
Guerrilla archiving is about making sure truth is preserved. Every photo, flyer, memory, or recording you save becomes a shield against erasure. When you take action, you’re not just saving the past — you’re protecting the future.
Guerrilla archiving is about making sure truth is preserved. Every photo, flyer, memory, or recording you save becomes a shield against erasure. When you take action, you’re not just saving the past — you’re protecting the future.
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