Taking a moment to reflect

Eighteen months ago, we started The Moment to respond quickly and thoughtfully to the events and challenges disrupting our field. 

As we look back on why we started The Moment, our goal today is the same: to support you and the work you do on the front lines of history. That hasn't changed. However, the landscape keeps shifting, and we must shift with it. 

For the past year and a half, we've navigated a barrage of challenges and tough decisions together. But the news has slowed. The challenges facing our field remain, but what we're seeing now looks more like updates and iterations than brand-new headlines.

Which is why we’ve decided to take a break from writing The Moment. Here’s why, and what’s next. 

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Like many of you, we're navigating ongoing politically-fueled disruptions, and making tough choices to stay in this field for the long haul. 

The pace has changed. Looking at “The Federal Assault on History: A Record of Executive Actions,” compiled by the History, Archives, and Records Preservation Project (HARPP), we can see just how much has happened since January 2025. The comprehensive report is the first of its kind to document and analyze the Trump administration’s sweeping efforts to reshape how the American past is recorded and shared, as noted in a recent press release from the Organization of American Historians (OAH). 

When we started The Moment, executive orders and emergencies hit fast, one after another. Now, we're watching the slow grind of litigation and follow-through on actions already set in motion. The crisis hasn't ended, but we've moved from a sprint into the endurance phase.

On a much smaller scale, The Moment allowed us to document and share similar events as they unfolded in real time. We've read every reply, and we're grateful to know it's made a difference:

💬 “Thank you for sending this. It's one of the more directly helpful things I've read during this mess we're in.” 

💬 “Your emails from Relicura have been inspiring and fortifying during these challenging times.” 

Now, rather than stretch ourselves thin, we're pausing to reflect on where our time and resources can have the greatest impact moving forward. Self-care as a form of resilience was never a footnote in this newsletter—and it's time we take our own advice.

CLOSING REFLECTIONS

At the time of writing, the United States celebrates 250 years since independence. It has us asking questions we've carried through our whole career: how will this moment shape the next 250 years? What will we, as stewards of history and culture, be remembered for? Will we leave this field better than we found it?

We don't have all the answers—and we're not sure these questions are meant to be answered so much as carried. What steadies us is knowing our professional forebears asked themselves the same things, and the field carried on. 

The work is to keep going, be generous where we can, and leave things a little better than we found them.

We’d love to hear from you

Your feedback helps shape what we do next. Hit “reply” and let us know what you found helpful in The Moment, or what types of resources you’d like to see in the future. 

Thank you for reading, replying, and staying in this work with us. 

P.S. The Moment is pausing, but we're not going anywhere. Here's how to stay in touch:

• Quarterly webinars: our next one is July 30, Collaborative Collections: Navigating Shared CMS Models and Discovery Portals, a practical guide to shared digital infrastructure for resource-stretched institutions. Sign up here. 
• Guest speaking: Rachael will present at the Western Museums Association conference in September. View the details here.
• Social media: follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube, where you'll find dozens of past webinars and resources. 
• Other resources: check out our evergreen resources and revisit past issues of The Moment on our blog. 

Interested in partnering with us? Visit our website for information about our services or book a call to discuss a potential project. 

This blog post content was originally included in our community newsletter: The Moment -- where we respond quickly and thoughtfully to impactful events and decisions that challenge or disrupt our profession.