The Black Memory Collective was founded by Archivist Melissa J. Nelson in 2023. The Collective was born out of her efforts to connect with Black people who create, work with, and care for Black archives in Canada. The Collective is a response to issues that are prevalent in the archival profession. In Canada, about 1% of working archivists are Black. We often work in isolation trying to navigate white spaces. The profession struggles to attract Black students for a number of reasons. Students do not see themselves represented in archives and are not exposed to the possibilities of archival work. There is also a lack of support for Black researchers. These issues are interconnected. The answer is community. Memory work should be collective.
The Black Memory Collective evolved from Melissa’s work on her podcast “Archives & Things.” Melissa found a diverse and vibrant community, but realized there was a need to expand our networks. Melissa brought the founding members together as collaborators to dream what this Collective can and should be. It was created to form a national network and build a community of practice around Black memory work. The Black Memory Collective is part of a larger movement to reclaim, recognize, and celebrate Black memory and imagine Black futurities.