05/19/2026
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Decolonizing the Archives: Toward a more inclusive historical record
The historical record is never simply a chronology of events, a set of facts, or even profiles celebrating courageous heroes. The records collected and preserved in archives contain layers, perspectives and limitations. Documentation is typically created by structures of authority, and while we can find other cultures and groups in our society within them, the perspective is often not their own. Beginning in the late 20th century, however, archivists began to explore—in professional literature, discussions and conferences—how to better represent and serve all cultures. How do we more thoroughly represent humanity in all its complications? How do we acknowledge the agency of those without power? How do we recognize their history as told in their own voices? To paraphrase archival literature, how do we de-colonize the archives?
The Sisters of Mercy of the Americas includes countries and cultures in North, South and Central America, the Pacific and the Caribbean. The Institute Archives represents these pluralities of life in Mercy—many cultures, many stories and many perspectives. To represent these layers of cultural contexts, we must examine our process a little more closely—not only how we research and write history, but also how we collect materials, how we represent the materials in our holdings and how we provide access to them.
The Society of American Archivists reflects these concerns in their Core Values and Code of Ethics statement, which requires archivists “to respect the diversity found in humanity and advocate for archival collections to reflect that rich complexity.” But the document extends beyond this collecting obligation, requiring a cultural competency that enables archivists to “build and maintain relationships with source communities and seek their guidance” on their own records. This cultural competency, as discussed in workshops, professional writings and presentations, encourages those in the profession not only to more holistically engage with stakeholders, but also to represent intercultural perspectives in education and hiring practices.
A concrete example of this shift in perspective is the Protocols for Native American Archival Materials, developed by the First Archivists Circle in 2007 and formally endorsed by the Society of American Archivists in 2018. These protocols serve as guidance for archives “engaging in culturally responsive care” when documenting Native American communities. They outline obligations not only for collecting materials and providing access responsibly but also for offering services that are beneficial to the cultural group and creating a welcoming environment. By centering both the creators of the records and their cultures, archivists who steward Native American materials can foster an environment of interculturality in the archives.
What does this mean for Mercy Archives? It means that we strive to recognize the many cultures within Mercy, to be respectful of those represented in our records, and to seek input from all groups. As we move forward in recording the history of Mercy, we are tasked with representing all the layers of culture found in Mercy. Grounded both in the profession’s commitment to culturally competency and in Mercy’s Critical Concerns and emphasis on interculturality and community, the archives is provided with strong support to continue to grow the concrete of work interculturality in the historic record.
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