Preserving Democracy: The Future of American Political History

Historical records help people understand how earlier generations navigated conflict, built civic trust, and addressed difficult public problems. Preserving Democracy: The Future of American Political History will bring together archivists, librarians, scholars, students, public officials, advocacy groups, and community members to explore how political history should be preserved and made accessible in the 21st century.

The project is a collaboration among the Bentley Historical Library, William L. Clements Library, and U-M Library. It will address challenges such as fragmented collections, fragile and obsolete formats, electronic communications, social media, limited resources, and the need to document a broad range of political perspectives.

Audience

Archivists, librarians, students, scholars, policymakers, general Michigan public.

What it offers

Through workshops, interviews, surveys, and a statewide convening, participants will examine how historical records can inform present-day dialogue and strengthen democratic life.

• Explore how political history shapes contemporary debates and public policy.
• Learn how archives preserve records created by public officials, political parties, advocacy organizations, and community members.
• Discuss whose perspectives are represented — and whose may be missing — from political collections.
• Consider how institutions can collaborate to preserve fragmented, digital, and at-risk materials.
• Help identify records that should be saved to document today’s political moment.
• Develop strategies for improving public awareness of and access to political-history collections.
• Connect with archivists, scholars, students, policymakers, and community organizations across Michigan.

Project activities

Research and public engagement — fall 2026 through winter 2027 — The project team will survey users of U-M political-history collections and conduct interviews and focus groups with elected officials, policymakers, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders. Students from at least three U-M schools and colleges will help gather information and participate in public engagement.

Community workshops — fall 2026 through winter 2027 — Archivists and students will lead three interactive workshops across Michigan. Participants will discuss how history is used in current debates, receive an introduction to archival collections, and learn practical approaches to preserving political and community records.

Statewide convening — spring 2027 — A full-day event will bring together archivists, librarians, scholars, students, elected officials, policymakers, community organizations, and members of the public. Panel discussions and interactive breakout sessions will address:

• Responsible stewardship of political collections;
• Preservation of digital, audiovisual, and other at-risk records;
• Access to collections divided among multiple institutions;
• Cooperation and resource-sharing among repositories;
• Representation of differing perspectives on contested issues; and
• Ways political collections can support public engagement and dialogue across differences.

Resources and next steps — Summer 2027 — Participant input will guide future activities, which may include a statewide working group, shared best practices, follow-up programs, and an online guide to political collections and preservation resources.

Impact on the public good

Preserving political records is essential to an open and accountable democracy. These materials allow the public to examine how decisions were made, how civic trust was strengthened or undermined, and how elected officials, political organizations, and citizens responded to the major questions of their time.

The project will encourage collecting institutions to work together, improve access to historical materials, and preserve a fuller range of perspectives. It will also help public officials and community groups understand how their records can become part of the historical record. By connecting historical evidence with contemporary civic dialogue, the initiative will support informed discussion, transparent governance, and stronger public problem-solving.