Preserving History in the Digital Age: JDC’s Ukraine Crisis Collection
Archivists are overcoming challenges to create a lasting digital legacy.
JDC was recently awarded a generous grant from the Charles H. Revson Foundation to document and preserve the organization’s historic and wide-ranging response to the Ukraine conflict in perpetuity, and make it accessible over time to future researchers, the wider public, and to JDC. This effort, building on JDC’s 30+ years of work in Ukraine developing Jewish life and aiding the neediest Jews, includes the ongoing support of 41,000 Jews in the country, including the displaced and newly impoverished; aid for more than 13,000 Ukranian Jewish refugees in Europe; the evacuation of 13,000+ Jews from the country; and the delivery of more than 800 tons of humanitarian aid during the 2+ years of conflict.
Already underway, the 1-year grant covers JDC’s recording new oral and video testimonies of staff and others involved in Ukraine in the early days of the crisis including recent filming in cities where no previous material had been gathered. Additionally, the Archives hired a part-time temporary digital archivist dedicated to collecting documentation related to the Ukraine crisis from within the organization from the beginning of the conflict in 2022 and beginning to inventory and catalog these materials.
This important project enables the Archives to work with “born-digital” materials and gather material closer to the time of creation rather than years down the line. The records of JDC’s work with Jewish communities in Ukraine during the crisis have significant long-term historical value and will likely inform future JDC operations.
A JDC volunteer lights Shabbat candles with her daughter at the JDC-supported Kedem Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Chișinău, Moldova. Integrating Shabbat experiences and other Jewish cultural and education activities into its refugee relief work and ongoing services in Ukraine have been key to ensuring some sense of normalcy among those suffering great strife. Chișinău, Moldova, 2022. Photo: Arik Shraga
Project Digital Archivist Amanda Widom has faced many unusual challenges. “One of the primary challenges we’re navigating is regular internet and power outages in Ukraine, where our esteemed and brave colleagues are located. This has required that we remain flexible and nimble in our approach to gathering these records as we better understand the obstacles and strategize our outreach effectively.”
In addition to making the material accessible in the future and ensuring long-term preservation, the experience of collecting born-digital materials will provide the JDC Archives with valuable insights to develop additional workflows to be used to collect digital materials moving forward. Working with new media always presents challenges for archivists; this project will provide experience with a variety of new formats, including email, social media, and other mobile communications.
Widom has collaborated closely with IT and the entire JDC Archives team throughout the process to determine the best course of action for storing and preserving the digital assets. “Moving forward, our main objective is to consolidate all assets into one platform. This will not only ensure the security of our archives but also provide an organized and accessible repository for perpetual use and preservation.”
By proactively preserving born-digital records, the JDC Archives is creating a valuable model for future born-digital projects. Collaborating across departments and overcoming technical challenges, JDC is ensuring that the history of its response to the Ukraine crisis is fully documented and accessible for future generations.
