Digital Archives as Sites of Commoning: Connecting the University Museum Inside and Out

Abstract

This article reflects on the digital archive (DA) initiatives of the Keio Museum Commons (KeMCo), a university museum grounded in the idea of the “commons,” from the standpoint of commons-based practice (commoning). It discusses a series of activities, including the visualisation of collections through the human-centred digital archive Keio Object Hub, the expansion of the DA through collaborative exhibitions, and the development of programmes that put the DA to use beyond the university and museum. Drawing on these examples, the article points to the need for closer integration between digital archives and everyday museum work, and considers how the DA might function as a platform for the museum’s engagement with wider society.