Rapid Response Collecting: Record-keeping sector leaders launch two complementary resources
Today the Archives and Records Association (UK & Ireland) and The UK National Archives have launched new guidance for archive professionals across the country about rapid response collecting. This is when archives collect material in response to unforeseen, sudden or unprecedented situations such as spontaneous protests, accidents, natural disasters, or acts of violence. Archives may also collect individual and national responses to the death of a prominent person or to a major occurrence in society like the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Archives & Records Association (UK and Ireland), published their new report: "The impact of collecting after sudden, unforeseen or violent events on the mental wellbeing of the record-keeping workforce" on 30th January 2025. Working in archives during these stressful and often traumatic periods can take its toll and this report, written by Dr Kostas Arvanitis and Jen Kavanagh, examines the effects of rapid-response collecting on archive staff and volunteers. The report assesses current gaps in support, resources and training, and provides recommendations for mitigating the effects on wellbeing.
John Chambers, Chief Executive of the Archives & Records Association, said:
“In carrying out this important work, archivists and others working alongside them may be deeply emotionally affected by the materials they are conserving and cataloguing. As the leading membership body for the record-keeping profession it is our duty to look at how they can be supported to mitigate any long term effects on their wellbeing.”
The new guidance from the UK National Archives has been developed by archive and museum practitioners with experience of rapid response collecting and spontaneous memorialisation. It aims to provide anyone working in an archive with a range of approaches and practical advice that they can apply when deciding whether to collect in response to unpredictable events.
The guidance applies to collecting both physical and digital material, since communities may have created dedicated websites or social media posts as well as leaving tangible items at protest sites or temporary memorials. There is also practical conservation advice for dealing with tributes at memorial sites as they may have been exposed to the elements and may have become wet or damaged.
Tina Morton, Head of Archive Sector Leadership at The National Archives, said: “Rapid response collecting is a clear example of how archives are not just about the past but are also about the present and preserving it for the future. Working closely and sensitively with affected communities, archives play a vital role in ensuring that future generations remember and learn from significant events in our time.”
Where to find the guidance
The Archives & Records Association (UK and Ireland)’s new report: "The impact of collecting after sudden, unforeseen or violent events on the mental wellbeing of the record-keeping workforce" Can be found here: https://www.archives.org.uk/resources#wellbeing
The UK National Archives guidance on Rapid Response Collecting can be found here: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archives-sector/advice-and-guidance/managing-your-collection/rapid-response-collecting/
Thumbnail image by Mary Oakey via Unsplash