Documentation Lab is an informal group of archivists, educators, and memory workers sharing resources and experiences related to personal, family, and community archives.

Our 2022 workshops have been informed and made possible by the University of Pittsburgh’s Engaged Scholarship Development Initiative Summer Design Intensive. 

By convening community conversations and workshops, we hope to strengthen relationships between community-based archivists and memory workers and those employed in larger institutionsor enrolled in the Masters of Library and Information Science at the University of Pittsburgh.


Documentation Lab supports archival work, but we aren’t an archives. We don’t collect materials or maintain collections. Our focus is on identifying and facilitating meaningful forms of support and connection for memory workers.

About Our Team

Chelsea Gunn is a teaching assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Computing and Information, where she teaches in the Master of Library and Information Science program.

Jane Thaler is a Ph.D candidate in Information Culture and Data Stewardship at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Computing and Information.

Mahogany Thaxton is a student in the Master of Library and Information Science program at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Computing and Information. Her focus area explores the value of librarianship and library skills within nonprofits and community archives and their unique needs for information and data organization.

Workshops

In spring and summer of 2022, we hosted a series of workshops and conversations with community archivists at Prototype PGH. You can find event descriptions below, and links to workshop slides in the Resource Library. All events were free and open to the public.

Open Hours

We also offer monthly open hours, which provide an opportunity to discuss your specific collections, interests, and needs. Bring your materials, your questions, or whatever else you’d like. Open Hours dates and times are shared following each workshop. You may also fill out the contact form on the main menu if you’d like to find out about our upcoming schedule. 

2023 Schedule

We do not have any workshops scheduled at this time. If you’re interested in one of the workshops described below, please send us a message here. 

2022 Schedule 

Crafting a Narrative
Date and Time: Saturday, September 24, 2022 – 12:00-2:00pm Eastern
Location: Online

The stories behind documents, photographs, and other records can have richer context, perspectives, and enduring value beyond the file name, tag, or short description associated with our personal and professional records. Using photographs from your personal, professional, and/or volunteer lives, this workshop explores the connection between documentation and storytelling and provides practical methods to sustain family memories and organizational history.

Documenting Social Justice Activism Date and Time: Saturday, July 23, 2022 – 12:00-2:00pm Eastern
Location: Online

This informational workshop will explore communication and documentation practices for activists. It will touch upon legal and ethical considerations, including privacy and surveillance in archives, intellectual property, and the uses of documentation as evidence. Participants will be introduced to a range of resources, and invited to share their own experiences and practices.

Intro to Personal and Community Archiving
Date and Time: Saturday, February 26, 2022 – 12:00-2:00pm Eastern
Location: Online 

This online workshop invites participants to reflect on and share your experiences with personal and community archives. We ask you to bring an object or document that holds memory for you. These artifacts will help us ground and structure our discussion. No prior experience with archives is necessary – experienced memory workers and curious newcomers are welcome. This was the first workshop in a series hosted by Documentation Lab at Prototype PGH.  

Managing Photo Archives
Date and Time: Saturday, April 23, 2022 – 12:00-1:00 Eastern
Location: Online

Photographs are valuable records. Whether print or digital, artistic or documentary, public or private, photos can serve as extensions of human memory and evidence of past events. Many of us have boxes, hard drives, or social media accounts full of photographs that we aren’t sure what to do with. In this online workshop, we invite you to bring your questions about how to manage your photo archives. We’ll discuss a variety of tools and strategies for organizing, preserving, and sharing your photo archives with others. This was part of a workshop series hosted by Documentation Lab at Prototype PGH. 

On this page you’ll find links to community archives and memory projects in Pittsburgh, as well as some general resources and readings of interest. We also offer materials, including slides and activities, from our workshops and programs.