Records to Remember

Memories shape our identities. They affect how we make sense of ourselves and our surroundings, how we interpret streams of information and make decisions. Memories aren’t just a thing of the past, they play a key role in helping us understand the present and predict what is likely to occur in the future.

Our cultural heritage influences our collective memories. Documentary heritage includes the vast amount of information that has been created and stored in a variety of ways and passed on from generation to generation.

Documentary heritage comes in a wealth of varied forms including: papyrus, parchment, palm leaves, wooden and stone tablets, medieval manuscripts, books, maps, photographs, paintings, oral traditions, music, films, television, digital files and audio-visual media. It’s an essential part of humanity's collective memories and past.

Collective memories reflect our shared pool of recollections and our humanity. They’re how groups remember (and also forget) their past and make decisions on community, national, and international levels.

Failure to preserve the world’s documentary heritage would impoverish the heritage of humanity.

Often countries jointly share and submit documentary heritage to the MoW International Register, but hold different perspectives on, sometimes painful, past events. Recognizing these differing points of view can catalyze inter-cultural dialogue and contribute to mutual understanding and reconciliation.

Documentary heritage helps future generations to better understand the present and create a better future.