Call for participation: The archivist, the researcher and the activist: challenges of collaboration from a historical and comparative perspective

On 18 May 2026, the second seminar of Work package 2 will take place at Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli and online

The workshop is co-organised by University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, International Institute of Social History and Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli.

This second seminar of Work Package 2 focuses on the challenges archivists and researchers face when collaborating with and collecting archives from political and social movements, from the 19th century to the present day. The following themes will be prioritized in the case studies and challenges discussed: revolutionary movements, feminisms, environmental struggles, international solidarity.

The seminar is conducted in a hybrid mode on site and online and is open to consortium partners and external contributors. It will take place in English.

We encourage archivists, activists, and researchers to submit papers addressing these topics either from a theoretical and methodological perspective or by presenting specific case studies or experiences (for further information, see the call for proposals below):

1)  The process of establishing contact and dialogue

2) Archival activists and activist archivists

3) New forms of activism and new archiving challenges

Download and share the call for proposals

To apply: Please submit your proposal, with a maximum of 300 characters including spaces, along
with a brief CV, by 27 February 2026 to caroline.moine@uvsq.fr and edr@iisg.nl (Subject: “ACTIVATE Seminar WP2
May 2026”)

Application deadline: 27 February 2026

Organizing Committee:

Caroline Moine (University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines)

Eric de Ruijter (International Institute of Social History)

Serena Rubinelli (Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli)