- $150 RAISED OF $5,000 GOAL
- 2 DONORS
HONOR ROLL
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Rocky Beckett $50.00
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Matthew Zierler $100.00
Creating a “Living Archive” on the Collapse of the Soviet Union
“The collapse of the USSR was one of the most significant events of the last decades of the twentieth century ---especially if you understand the demise of the Warsaw Pact and the end of Soviet domination in Eastern Europe as but part of the “first act” of this “drama.” - Prof. Olcott
The goal of the Living Archive is to create a repository of primary sources that outlines the collapse of the USSR. The project also provides undergraduate students with the chance to get hands-on experience researching, archiving, and writing about the events leading up to, and following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Living Archive is creating a first of its kind, publicly accessible digital archive that documents the events surrounding the collapse of the U.S.S.R. and the severe economic and social challenges that followed, using primary and secondary source documents from the Soviet Union.
“This project allows us to better understand the how and why this system fell apart, and maybe better understand warning signs in other political systems—even those with very different ideologies and political and economic systems, such as our own.” - Prof. Olcott
Support student researchers and help to preserve critical history!
The Living Archive has made a profound impact on student researchers and project team members since 2018. It adds value to James Madison College’s living-learning environment, enriches their relationships with fellow students and professors, and is a transformational experience during their undergraduate education.
“Growing up in a Ukrainian, Russian-speaking household made me who I am today. However, moving to campus brought the fear of not being able to keep up with my language skills. Joining the Living Archive has been the opportunity of a lifetime. Through this project I have been able to maintain my language and heritage, especially now at a time of critical importance given the Russian war in Ukraine.” – David Rabinkov, JMC expected graduation 2026
This archive makes Michigan State University a major source for media on the final years of the U.S.S.R., and the 15 independent states which emerged. It also strengthens MSU’s claim to be a leading center and repository for publicly accessible Digital Humanities collections. The Living Archive was one of the first projects to be accepted into the MSU Library’s Digital Scholarship Incubation Lab. The ambition of the project speaks to the academic excellence of James Madison College, our students, and our professors.
Your donation will support our student work to preserve archival materials.
The Living Archive is a teaching and research tool primarily developed by undergraduate students in JMC and other parts of MSU. It highlights key events on regional maps, timelines, and student-written stories highlighting significant events during the collapse of the Soviet Union. Each event is accompanied by a narrative and is identified by category and republic.
Your donation will support the work of student researchers to develop and curate content in the Living Archive. Students label, scan, create metadata, and map content for the project website. They also research and write stories about events and critical turning points in Soviet and post-Soviet history using materials from the archive with other sources they find online. Students translate this content to make connections that others view on the project website.
“My time with the Living Archive has been an integral experience for me during my undergraduate studies. The work has taught me so much about how archival research is conducted and the importance of what we are doing on this project. Working with various people has given me a much more informed and broader perspective of the various components of academic projects; whether working with Project Managers, Librarians, or Professors. Almost every other research position I have taken on during my studies has been unpaid. Being paid for this work not only helps me pay for groceries, but it also makes me feel that what I am doing is important, and not just for the goal of academic studies like any other class. I recently took a more managerial role with the project, which coupled with being able to use Russian professionally has been a valuable, fulfilling experience. Overall, I am ecstatic and grateful for being able to take part in this project, and I hope that my colleagues who are just beginning their studies will be able to enjoy this same privilege in the future.” – Matt LaBounty, Russian 2022
Who We Are
We are a group of undergraduate, graduate, and recently graduated student researchers working under the supervision of faculty at JMC to research and document the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Student assistants provide the backbone for The Living Archive lead by JMC Profs. Martha Olcott and Matt Zierler along with MSU Librarians and the Digital Scholarship Lab. Over a dozen students have already graduated and are alumni of the project. Many have strong Russian language or area skills, and several are preparing for graduate education in digital humanities or data science.
Make a Gift by Mail:
University Advancement
Spartan Way
535 Chestnut Road, Room 300
East Lansing, MI 48824
*Make check payable to Michigan State University and write “Appeal 24GGDCFJMLA” in the note section.