Archive team

Archive Team Overview

Established in 2009, the Archive Team (distinct from the archive.org Archive-It Team) is a collective of passionate archivists committed to preserving copies of rapidly disappearing or deleted websites for the sake of history and digital heritage. This initiative is powered entirely by volunteers and enthusiasts, evolving into a broad array of projects designed to safeguard online and digital history.

Importance of Preservation

Throughout history, numerous conflicts have arisen regarding the fate of communities, entities, locations, or businesses, often « resolved » by one party destroying what existed. Such actions frequently silenced further debate. The Archive Team asserts that by duplicating endangered data, important discussions can persist, enriching the historical narrative that comes from retaining these materials. Projects vary significantly, from individual volunteers downloading critical data from small websites to an extensive effort involving over 100 volunteers working to recover terabytes of user-generated content for future generations.

Main Resources

The official website for Archive Team, archiveteam.org, offers the latest updates on various projects, manifestos, plans, and helpful guides.

Project Collection

This collection showcases the results of numerous Archive Team initiatives, both ongoing and completed. With generous support from the Internet Archive, multi-terabyte datasets are accessible and utilized by the Wayback Machine, which aids in restoring access to lost websites and content.

Exploring Collections

Our collection has expanded to include sub-categories based on the types of data we gather. If you’re interested in exploring these collections, the Wayback Machine serves as an excellent starting point. Alternatively, feel free to delve into the archives to discover what treasures await.

Archive Team Panic Downloads

The Archive Team Panic Downloads feature comprehensive backups of currently active websites. These backups are intended as emergency reserves for websites that face the risk of closure or would be significantly missed if they were suddenly lost due to hardware failures or server crashes.