What is the Archive Committee?
The Archive Committee maintains the CUPE 3903 Archives, which are necessary for the preservation of institutional memory.
The curators are responsible for:
- creating and subsequently maintaining CUPE 3903’s archive
- encouraging members to look for and donate their records to the 3903 collection
- Arranging and describing sources transmitted to the archive through either private donation or as part of regular CUPE 3903 business
- organising at least one annual event on any given 3903/archive-related topic
- acquainting themselves with the collection’s finding aid, and updating and editing the finding aid as warranted
- informing members and non-members of records held by the Archive, and any conditions of access
- officiating as go-betweens for members wishing to talk to an archivist
- handling sensitive and confidential materials
- issuing calls for testimonies from past and present members, and others associated with CUPE 3903’s history
- select records management responsibilities, as required for the optimal operation of CUPE 3903 business
The CUPE 3903 Archivists are elected for a one-year term, with a $750 per position.
Current members: Arpita Bajpeyi, Kelsey Ioannoni
How do I get involved?
Archive Project
The CUPE 3903 Archive Committee is recruiting volunteers interested in sharing their time and expertise in a long-term archival and public history project. Volunteers do not necessarily need to be current CUPE 3903 members. Sign up to be on the Archive Project mailing list! Reach out to the Archive Committee (cupe3903archive@gmail.com) if you have questions.
Having completed an inventory of approximately fifty years worth of documentary material, the Archive Committee now requests assistance in the formidable task of organizing our records for use by membership in both special projects and day-to-day operations (e.g. arranging, describing, digitizing, and distributing archival records, among many other jobs). We are also soliciting those interested in assisting in a potential future public history project. More details to follow later—including through this mailing list!
No previous experience with archival work or public history required! All members are welcome to sign-up! Signing-up does not commit you to any work, but it does commit you to knowing more about our shared history! You can sign up for the Archive Project at this link. Volunteers can expect opportunities to support the work of the Archival Committee approximately twice a month, and are welcome to join as and when they can. Other opportunities to participate in ongoing and individual Archive Committee projects may emerge on an ad hoc basis.
Do you have a piece of CUPE 3903 history?
Email the Archive Committee with your archival finds: cupe3903archive@gmail.com
The Archive Committee is interested in all sorts of CUPE 3903 records, including pamphlets, t-shirts, buttons, photos, audio, moving image material, published and non-published print, and more.
Do you want to view the CUPE 3903 archives?
The CUPE 3903 Archive contains both materials useful to the ongoing operations of the union, and resources revealing of the rich heritage of academic organizing, activist campaigns, and graduate student life at York University, and throughout Canada. Consultations are available to both CUPE 3903 members and external parties through appointment. Access to certain records is restricted.
Finding aids are available for some of the records held within the Archive, and may be consulted upon request. More will become available as the Archive Committee and its committed volunteers continue arranging and describing the material in our possession. Certain records have also been digitized, with more to follow.
Those interested in learning more about our holdings and/or consulting the records of the CUPE 3903 Archive should e-mail the Archive Committee at cupe3903archive@gmail.com. Please include information on the nature of your inquiry, and your relationship to CUPE 3903 (e.g. member, staff, external researcher, etc.)
Current Projects
2025 is the 50th Anniversary of CUPE 3903’s certification by the Ontario Labour Relations Board! Check back soon for more information about 50th Anniversary related initiatives and events, like the screening we hosted of the Strike to Win documentary about CUPE 3903’s 2000-2001 strike.
