Introduction to Archive Team
Established in 2009, the Archive Team (distinct from the archive.org Archive-It Team) is a collective of rogue archivists focused on preserving copies of rapidly disappearing or deleted websites in the interest of preserving history and digital heritage. The team is entirely made up of volunteers and enthusiastic individuals, and it has branched out into numerous related initiatives aimed at safeguarding online and digital history.
The Importance of Preservation
History is filled with numerous instances of conflicts regarding the future of communities, organizations, locations, or businesses that were « resolved » by one party taking drastic action, often resulting in the destruction of what existed. Once the initial point of conflict was erased, discussions would tend to fade away. The Archive Team asserts that by duplicating data that is at risk, conversations and debates can persist, along with the valuable knowledge and insights that come from retaining these materials. Our projects vary widely, from a single volunteer downloading essential data from a small site to over a hundred volunteers collaborating to acquire terabytes of user-generated data for future generations.
Resources and Projects
The primary website for the Archive Team can be found at archiveteam.org, providing the latest updates on various projects, manifestos, plans, and guides.
Data Collections
This collection showcases the results of numerous Archive Team projects, both ongoing and completed. With the generous support of disk space from the Internet Archive, multi-terabyte datasets are made available and utilized by the Wayback Machine, allowing access to lost websites and content.
Exploring the Collections
Our collection has expanded to feature sub-collections organized by the type of data we gather. For those looking to explore these collections, the Wayback Machine is the ideal starting point. Alternatively, feel free to sift through the stacks to discover what may catch your interest.
Archive Team Panic Downloads
The Archive Team Panic Downloads consist of full backups of existing websites, designed to serve as emergency resources for important sites that face the risk of shutting down, or that would be sorely missed if they were suddenly lost due to hardware failures or server issues.