About the Anarchist Archive

Anarchist iconThe Anarchist Archive is devoted to the study of anarchism, with a special focus on the history of the movement in Canada.

Holdings include the papers of:

  • British anarchist and art critic Herbert Read
  • Activist and prison abolitionist Jim Campbell
  • Keith McHenry, founder of the international activist organization Food Not Bombs
  • Ann Hansen, author of Direct Action: Memoirs of an Urban Guerrilla

Issues relevant to the collection include:

  • Indigenous struggles
  • Anti-war activism
  • Ecological militancy
  • Prison abolition
  • Decolonization
  • Feminism
  • Queer politics
  • Radicalism in the arts

History and mandate

Founded in 2005 by Director Allan Antliff, the Anarchist Archive has a special mandate to collect and preserve anarchist-related materials, including posters, photographs, art work, videos, audio recordings, journals, pamphlets and zines, books, oral histories, correspondence (written and digital), organizational records, and other items.

The Archive also houses a digitization centre devoted to scanning materials for preservation purposes and to facilitate online accessibility for researchers across Canada and internationally.

The Anarchist Archive is a public institution and research inquiries are welcome.

Contacts

Allan Antliff, director and acquisitions adviser: 250-361-4986
Lara Wilson, archivist and acquisitions: 250-472-4480