What is Archivist Online?
Archivist Online is a web-based application designed to help cultural heritage institutions capture and preserve oral histories using video calling. It allows interviewers to conduct video interviews with narrators remotely using any device with a camera and internet connection.
The platform handles key aspects of collecting and managing oral histories such as obtaining consent from narrators, organizing interviews into collections, editing metadata, restricting access based on consent terms, and long-term preservation. Interviewers can schedule sessions through the calendar feature, record high-quality video and audio directly within the browser, take notes during interviews, and tag parts of recordings for easy reviewing later.
Once completed, interviews are stored securely with backup copies. Institutions can restrict access to sensitive content, redact segments if needed, and publish excerpts publicly while retaining full recordings for long-term preservation. The software also generates interview transcripts using AI-based speech recognition.
Overall, Archivist Online aims to make it easier for cultural heritage institutions to conduct and manage oral history interviews remotely. Its end-to-end workflow supports everything from consent management to public access while ensuring long-term preservation.