Trust by Association: A Case of Borrowed Confidence to Grow New Relationships

Abstract

Archival collections shape our collective memory but have historically privileged the records of
governments, institutions, and powerful individuals. This practice leads to archival silences that
excludes communities outside the mainstream. Building more representative collections requires not
only intentional collecting but also rebuilding trust with communities that have been historically
underserved by archival institutions. This paper presents a case study from the University of Calgary
Archives and Special Collections, examining how a significant queer archival collection was acquired
through a process of "borrowed trust". In this case an established relationship between a community
historian and a university faculty member created the foundation for a new