About

The Archives Commune is a constellation of history, memory, documentary, and archival projects and resources loosely affiliated since 2021, and formally established May 1, 2025. While dispersed in subject focus, the Commune is broadly rooted in anticapitalist, working class, anti-imperialist, and abolitionist worldviews, and aims to cultivate spaces of liberatory social struggle inspired by an array of revolutionary memory and practice.

We are committed to redistribution and social struggle during a time when “community based archives and memory work” is being channelled, repressed, and centralized into the hands of elite minorities in non-profits, government, and academia under the rhetorics of “diversity, inclusion, and visibility.” Archives Commune participants work across institutional and grassroots spaces to gather what has been dispossessed by racial-capitalist empire and bring it back to those it belongs to.

Members and Collaborators

Archives Commune members include the Inside Books Project Archive, Perilous Chronicle, the Jewish Zine Archive, the Defend the Atlanta Forest Archive and Tucson Solidarity with Palestine collection as well as individual scholars and activists. Our collections and projects span both digital and physical spaces, geographically dispersed with in-person hubs in Tucson, Arizona at the Historic Y and the Blacklidge Community Collective (BCC). We use secure, collaborative, and independent digital storage space from the Permanent Legacy Foundation.

Archives Commune at the Historic Y

Physical collections, education space, and technologies are primarily housed at the Historic Y, which will host drop-in hours for visitors to talk through ideas, access tools and resources, and get hands-on support with their projects. This space will be open by May 1st, 2025, which hours TBD, at Suite 214, 738 N 5th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705. For location and directions see their website.

Resources

• 2-3 work stations (reserveable for members, otherwise first come first serve)
• Technology: laptop, flatbed scanner, overhead book scanner, printers, cameras, video recorder, audio recorder.
• Physical preservation materials (as available and per request): Acid free boxes and folders.
• Archival support and consultation, hands-on guidance from individuals who hold expertise and experience in both grassroots and professional spaces.

Accessibility

As of May 1, we are housed on the second floor of the Y, in suite 214. We do not use fragrances or scents in this room (we ask guests do the same). There is often only one of us here at a time, and we will mask if you are masked. We do not come in to work if we have symptoms of illness. Please reschedule your visit if are sick so we can keep each other and our neighbors in the building safe.

There is no elevator, so we are awaiting a ground level suite to open up. However, there are first-floor spaces we can reserve, accessible by two ADA wheelchair ramps in the front and back of the building. There are also ADA parking spots and gender neutral bathrooms. If the 2nd floor suite isn’t accessible, just email us so we can reserve a time and location on the ground level for your visit!

The Blacklidge Community Collective

Additional resources, collaborations, events, and exhibits will happen at the BCC, at 657 W St Marys Rd, Tucson, AZ 85701 (see bcctucson.org or Instagram @bcctucson for updates). The BCC has just moved into this location and are doing building renovations to better meet structural access needs. The main rooms and events are ground level, with wheelchair access currently being constructed. You can email info@bcctucson.org or message us on IG @bcctucson to share access needs and get more information!

Donating and Membership

You do not have to be a formal Archives Commune member to collaborate, share space, and utilize resources and technology. However, we suggest donating if you can, so we can continue to pay rent, upkeep our technology, retain access to education and collaboration spaces, compensate workers, and purchase supplies for public use. Below are some suggested amounts for donations, but feel free to discuss with us, and no one is denied access for lack of funds!

• One time visit for consultation or workspace use: $5-10 one-time
• Infrequent visits to the Commune (1-2 a month) for guidance or support: $5-10/mo
• Regular use (multiple times a month) of the space, resources, and in-person guidance: $10-15/mo
• Frequent use (biweekly or more) of the resource technologies, physical preservation materials, and hands-on guidance: $20-50/mo

You can donate at https://opencollective.com/archives-commune

Venmo (please mark “Archives Commune”): Blank Reg. Reg @dewey_decimator

You can email our project director at anarchivist.futures@proton.me with any questions. Resposes will likely be paused until June as we move into the new space and set things up. We look forward to meeting you then!