Preserving our digital content to honour the communities we support
By Patricia Sleeman Digital storytelling, such as news pieces, videos, and reports, is an integral part of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency’s digital memory. As the content that showcases the stories of the communities we work with and for is primarily held on digital and...
Archiving a Cherished Chapter: Celebrating Montserrat’s Retirement at UNHCR
By Motahareh Mohebi[1] “She balances creativity and a positive “can-do” attitude so perfectly.” “Always ambitious and never taking no for an answer.” “Visionnaire, enthousiaste, intelligente, instruite, courageuse, persuasive, positive et tenace, elle a su...
Preserving the Digital Legacy: Safeguarding Against All Odds with UNHCR
By Tom Wilson, Charlie Barbe and Patricia Sleeman[1] When we think of archives, we often picture paper records, but nearly all our records are digital. How to manage them? UNHCR has had a digital preservation program since 2016 but Records and Archives have been...
A Pen Through Time: Nicholas Morris’ 27-Year UNHCR Journey
In every journey, countless stories are born. Imagine being an envoy for over 27 years with a humanitarian organization like UNHCR – how many tales await narration? Beyond that, consider the wealth of valuable information one can accumulate for research or organizational purposes. Nicholas Morris was one such precious staff member who worked for UNHCR from 1973 until 2001, with hundreds of fascinating stories to share.
A century of mobility: A glimpse into the history of refugee travel documents
By Charalampia Armpounioti and Amanda Stovall © UNHCR/Jose Cendon The idea of travel documents for refugees dates back to Fridtjof Nansen, first High Commissioner for Refugees, who introduced the Nansen passport. An exhibition aimed to shed light on the history of...
Presenting the UNHCR Archives: A Short Film
The UNHCR Archives: A Short Film. © UNHCR “To see [in the records] the UNHCR and the Thai Marine Police conducting an anti-piracy campaign … I think helped with the healing. It reminds us that there is humanity buried underneath the inhumanity in our world” Tiffany...
Welcome to the UNHCR Records and Archives Blog!
Welcome to UNHCR’s newest blog, from the UNHCR Records and Archives Section, a window into the history we hold, those we assist, and the challenges and rewards of recordkeeping in a humanitarian context.