You make history, we save it

Have you ever worked for social justice? Were you active in an association, action committee, or union? Did you participate in demonstrations or campaigns on themes such as labor, gender, the environment, migration, or other social issues? Then you have contributed to a valuable history.

Amsab-ISG exists to preserve that history for the future. Read on to find out how you can transfer your archive so your story isn't lost.

Your archive or that of your organization can consist of all kinds of materials: documents, publications, posters, photos, videos, digital files, and even artifacts. All of this material can make a significant contribution to understanding social movements, both past and present. Amsab-ISG wants to preserve your heritage so that future generations can consult it.

Do you believe you possess valuable archive material and would like to entrust it to us for safekeeping? Please contact us to discuss the transfer options.

How does an archive transfer take place?

Contact and initial assessment - When you contact us, we'll work with you to determine whether your archive fits within Amsab-ISG's collection profile. We'll do this by discussing the content, size, and condition of the material. We'll usually make a decision within two weeks on whether the archive is eligible for transfer.
Site visit and selection - If necessary, an Amsab-ISG employee will visit you to review the material. We will select the relevant archives and decide which documents to include. Duplicate or less important documents will not be included.
Transfer and transport - We will agree on how the archive will be delivered to us. This can be done by collection, delivery, or, for digital files, via secure transfer.
Second selection - After the transfer, we make a second selection. In some cases, material can still be removed later, but this is always discussed beforehand. A transfer declaration is signed at the time of the transfer, in which any special agreements can be recorded.
Storage and processing - The selected archives are professionally registered and stored in our depot. To ensure the materials are properly preserved, we ensure suitable climate control and use acid-free folders and archive boxes.
Accessibility - After processing, the archive will be made available through our online catalog and reading room, so that researchers and other interested parties can consult it.

Conditions for transfer

Transferring your archive to Amsab-ISG is completely free, but there are some conditions:

The material must fit within our collection profile - This will be discussed in an initial meeting.
Transfer of ownership - Archival documents are generally accepted as a gift, meaning that ownership is transferred to Amsab-ISG.