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When facing a tragedy in one’s own community, archivists carry the unique burden of suddenly and swiftly needing to process both their grief and the physical materials to document the event at the same time. The SAA Crisis Collecting Assistance Team (CCAT) stands ready to help archives workers, archival and cultural heritage institutions, and community members documenting or experiencing a crisis, disaster, or tragedy in their community or the community they serve.
The CCAT response team offers remote assistance with identifying best practices or logistics for documentation, referrals to appropriate allied organizations, and general guidance on crisis collecting. CCAT volunteers include expert archivists who have all faced similar situations in leading and supporting their staff through processing and documenting tragedies great and small.
Send a message via the form below to request help; a member will respond by phone or email within 72 business hours.
In addition to direct support from CCAT, resources for individuals and organizations documenting a crisis in their communities are provided in Documenting in Times of Crisis: A Resource Kit. The templates are designed to be a starting point to customize for local use in consultation with communities, administrators, and legal counsel as necessary.
Resources and support related to disaster response and recovery pertaining to physical damage to collections or facilities are outside the scope of CCAT and CDTRWG. For resources and recommendations regarding damage sustained as a result of floods, fires, natural disasters, or other emergencies, we recommend consulting SAA’s Disaster Response and Recovery Resources, and/or contacting organizations such as the National Heritage Responders.
Any and all assistance is based on CCAT members’ personal experience and/or network of professional assistance organizations.
The Crisis Collecting Assistance Team is organized by the SAA Crisis, Disaster, and Tragedy Response Working Group (CDTRWG).
Disclaimer: The Society of American Archivists and its Crisis Collecting Assistance Team will not be responsible for damage to your collection should damage result from the use of information provided by the Team, on the SAA website, or by other organizations to which SAA and CCAT refer. CCAT members are not mental health professionals and cannot provide mental health services.
Hello
The role of archivists during a community tragedy is both critical and deeply emotional, requiring them to balance their personal grief with the professional responsibility of documenting the event. Organizations like the SAA Crisis Collecting Assistance Team (CCAT) provide invaluable support to archivists and institutions by offering guidance on best practices, logistical planning, and professional resources tailored to crisis documentation. This ensures that communities can preserve their stories and materials for reflection, healing, and future understanding. Beyond traditional archival tools, modern technologies and platforms can also contribute to community engagement and creative expressions during these crises. For example, platforms like Roblox—typically known for gaming—can be used innovatively to create virtual memorials or interactive experiences that preserve the memory of a tragedy while fostering community connection. Paired with tools like a Roblox executor, users can design custom scripts to develop immersive environments, allowing affected individuals to interact with and contribute to a shared space of remembrance. While the immediate response from groups like CCAT focuses on physical materials and documentation templates, expanding the scope to include digital storytelling through platforms like Roblox could add a new dimension to archiving in times of crisis. By blending traditional practices with modern digital tools, archivists and community members can create a richer, more inclusive historical record that resonates across generations and mediums.