Mapping the Landscape of Community-Based Archives

Community-based archives preserve histories that mainstream institutions often overlook, from the oral histories of immigrant communities to the records of social movements to the cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples. Yet little systematic information has existed about the field at a national scale. To address this gap, the Mellon Foundation funded a two-year landscape study of community-based archives across the US and its territories, partnering with a Design Circle of archival field experts and practitioners to guide the research and hear directly from archives about their experiences, priorities, and recommendations.

Engage R+D served as the research and evaluation partner for this effort, designing and fielding a national survey of 336 community-based archives, leading interviews and focus groups with more than 20 practitioners, and facilitating the Design Circle throughout the process. The resulting report, Powerful but Precarious, finds that CBAs play a powerful role in preserving cultural history, sharing knowledge, and building community connection, yet operate under significant strain. Drawing on survey data and voices from the field, the report offers funders and leaders concrete recommendations for helping this essential and underrecognized field thrive.

Image credit: Center: Acción Latina, Paseo Artístico, October 2025, taken by Manuel Orbegozo.