A short essay on how film archives developed and how their role has evolved over time. It originally appeared in a slightly different form as part of a non-public, European Film Gateway project deliverable.
This is an academic look at the development and role of film archives. It offers an interesting defense for the existence and relevance of film archives today and why access to film archive material can be essential to interpreting social and cultural history. Useful for film archive managers as well as media studies students.