Cent ans, cent opportunités, cent défis: le Centenaire de l’Université américaine au Caire et le rôle des Archives de l’Université comme médiatrices de mémoire (100 Years, 100 Opportunities, 100 Challenges: The American University in Cairo’s Centennial and its University Archives as Mediator of Memory)

Authors

Stephen UrgolaFollow

Author's Department

Rare Books and Special Collections Library

Document Type

Research Article

Publication Title

Archives

Publication Date

2024

Abstract

Throughout 2019 and 2020 the American University in Cairo (AUC) celebrated the centennial of its founding, supported extensively by AUC’s University Archives. This paper explores the opportunities that emerge for an archives playing the role of shaper of identity and memory when its parent organization reaches a major milestone, but also the challenges involved in such a commemoration. Beyond outlining the University Archives’ contributions to AUC’s 100th anniversary (including events, on-campus and online exhibitions and displays, and publications like magazines and a book) the paper will indicate how the run-up to such a commemoration can shape an archives’ program, for example through digitization projects. The collaborations with other university units are addressed, as is that with the author of AUC’s Centennial book, illustrating the dynamics of such relationships. Use of prior University Archives programming activities as a “template” for major commemorations is explored, as well as the potential for involvement in an occasion like an anniversary to elevate the profile of an archives and to grow its collections.

First Page

66

Last Page

81

Comments

Archives is a journal published by the Association des archivistes du Québec (AAQ).

Recommended Citation

APA Citation

Urgola, S. (2024). Cent ans, cent opportunités, cent défis: le Centenaire de l’Université américaine au Caire et le rôle des Archives de l’Université comme médiatrices de mémoire (100 Years, 100 Opportunities, 100 Challenges: The American University in Cairo’s Centennial and its University Archives as Mediator of Memory). Archives, 51(2), 66–81.

MLA Citation

Urgola, Stephen "Cent ans, cent opportunités, cent défis: le Centenaire de l’Université américaine au Caire et le rôle des Archives de l’Université comme médiatrices de mémoire (100 Years, 100 Opportunities, 100 Challenges: The American University in Cairo’s Centennial and its University Archives as Mediator of Memory)." Archives, vol. 51, no. 2, 2024, pp. 66–81.