Gregory Colati
Director, Connecticut Digital Archive
University of Connecticut
Michael Kemezis
Repository Manager, Connecticut Digital Archive
University of Connecticut
Heather Owen
Graduate Student
Syracuse University
Rachael Nutt
Graduate Student
Syracuse University
The Connecticut Digital Archive (CTDA), a statewide digital preservation and access service, launched CTDA in Context in the Summer of 2021. It is a program designed to break down traditional power structures and inspire change in the cultural heritage preservation landscape in Connecticut. The first step in this program was to understand the baseline landscape of digital cultural heritage in the United States and in Connecticut in particular. During the summer of 2021, we conducted a self-examination of the CTDA and an analysis of its peers in the Digital Public Library of America Hub network. This briefing presents the research team’s findings in terms of general observations on the current state of digital cultural heritage as well as a more specific analysis of the CTDA and offers some suggestions about how to address systemic bias in programs, technology, and organization for cultural heritage digital preservation.