Question 1

What is a Community Archive?

Accepted Answer

Archives are collections of historical records in any media. Put simply, an archive is a collection of stuff - like a library, scrapbook, memory box, or time capsule. Traditionally, archives are often created, managed, and preserved by trained professionals in an institution.

Community Archives are archives created and preserved by the members of a specific community who wish to document a shared cultural history, experiences, or identity. These archives are created to meet the needs of its creators and can use non-traditional methods of archival creation, preservation, or exhibition.

UNDUE BURDEN is a community archive led by Disabled people. We collaborate with other Disabled people to digitally document and publish their personal collections, histories, and experiences.

Our archive is in a digital format. This means our archive can be accessed remotely and ensures that our donors maintain physical possession of their materials - allowing our donors to be fully in charge of how their materials are remembered and live out their natural lives.

Examples of a collection or archiving process:
Scanning your photo albums
Writing down your memories and dreams
Photographing your artwork 
Videotaping you using your lift
Photographing protest posters or fliers 
Taking pictures of the leftovers in your fridge
Recording your laughter

Question 2

What is UNDUE BURDEN?

Accepted Answer

UNDUE BURDEN is a digital community archive and exhibition series created and led by Disabled, Neurodivergent, Chronically Ill, Mad, and Sick people, based in Philadelphia.
 
We collaborate with Disabled Philadelphians to document their histories, experiences, and collections. We work with our donors as co-archivists to scan, record, or photograph any information that is important to their stories. Together, we organize, describe, and publish the digital copy of their materials on our digital archive.

Our organization, programming, and content focus on the accessibility needs of our collaborators and community. We value resource sharing, remote work, rest, and breaks. We allow our archive to be imperfect and in-process, a reflection of our own access needs and our commitment to the evolving needs of our community.

Our archive is in a digital format, meaning our archive can be accessed remotely and ensures that our donors maintain physical possession of their materials. This allows our donors to be in full control of how their materials are remembered and live out their natural lives. 
​
Our digital archive is in-progress as we welcome new donors and collaborators. In 2023 UNDUE BURDEN will experiment with our Artist in Residency, Body as an Archive, and Oral/Video Histories projects.  Materials from these projects will be documented and woven back into the community archive, expanding our library and creating a ripple: WE ARE HERE.

UNDUE BURDEN’s Artist in Residency program invites local Disabled artists to select materials from our community archive and create work in response. These responses are documented and folded into the community archive. Our 2023 Artist in Residency program will be facilitated by Vinetta Miller and Pearl Correy.

Body as an Archive is a research group of disabled artists that uses movement and performance to research the intersections of the body, archives, and Disability.

‘ART : under special conditions’ is a video/ oral histories series of conversations between Parker Gabriel and Philadelphia-based Disabled artists.

Our public archive is accessible on our collections page.

Question 3

What kinds of materials or experiences can be archived in UNDUE BURDEN?

Accepted Answer

UNDUE BURDEN is interested in documenting anything valuable to you as a Disabled, Neurodivergent, Chronically Ill, Mad, or Sick person in Philadelphia.

This may include scanning your photo albums, writing down your memories and dreams, videotaping you using your lift, taking pictures of your leftovers, or recording your laughter. You can find a non-exhaustive, ever-growing list of the materials and experiences we document by clicking  HERE .

Our archivists will work with you to create a personalized process for documenting any of your materials and experiences.We are excited to collaborate with you to expand the possibility of what an archive can hold!

Remember, any materials donated will be archived digitally, but the physical materials will remain in the donor's possession.

Question 4

How do I donate materials to UNDUE BURDEN?

Accepted Answer

If you are interested in documenting and donating to UNDUE BURDEN, or if you are interested in talking to one of our archivists, please read and follow the steps below:

1. Fill out our Donor Interest Form with as much information as you can. Email us at undueburden(at)gmail(dot)com for support or if this form is not accessible to you.

2. Our archivists will contact you to discuss the details of what you would like to archive and to read and sign UNDUE BURDEN's consent form.

3. Collaborate with our team to organize, digitally document, and describe the materials you've donated. Our team will work with you to develop an archiving process that works with your accessibility needs.

4. Upload and publish your collection to our digital archive and website. Remember, any materials donated will be archived digitally, but the physical materials will remain in the donor's possession. UNDUE BURDEN credits the donors and creators of the materials in our digital community archive.

Question 5

What happens after I donate materials to UNDUE BURDEN?

Accepted Answer

After your materials/collection/artifacts(?) are uploaded and published to our digital archive, they will be available on the UNDUE BURDEN website and database for the public to view. Any materials donated will be archived digitally, but the physical materials will remain in the donor's possession.

Any materials or details may be taken out of the archive or altered by the donor at any time upon request. UNDUE BURDEN credits the donors and creators of the materials in our digital community archive.

Donors will be notified if UNDUE BURDEN would like to use any materials or information in the archive for a future project, exhibition, or publication. Donors will give final consent before any materials are made available to the public outside of the context of the archive.

Question 6

Why is UNDUE BURDEN important?

Accepted Answer

The experiences and histories of Disabled people have been marginalized, pathologized, and ignored. UNDUE BURDEN is a record of our histories created by us and about us.

UNDUE BURDEN preserves the histories and experiences of Disabled people as acts of solidarity that challenge oppressive power structures. We celebrate the complexity of our lives and our commitment to dismantling hierarchies both within and outside of the Disabled community.

UNDUE BURDEN is created by Disabled people and centers accessibility. We allow our archive to be imperfect and in-process, a reflection of our own access needs and our commitment to the evolving needs of our community.

Our archive is in a digital format. This means our archive can be accessed remotely and ensures that our donors maintain physical possession of their materials - allowing our donors to be fully in charge of how their materials are remembered and live out their natural lives.