ABSTRACT
The Introduction to Producing the Archival Body offers an intimate narrative-focused entrée into the archival body. Through a critical archival studies approach to community archives and their distinct communities of archivists, records creators, and users of the archives, and through storytelling as a method of archiving in and with communities, this chapter defines concepts and connects theory and practice to demonstrate the generative potential of such a rich and in-depth inquiry into embodied archives and their productions. Engaging both archival and queer theories along with theories of the body, this chapter details the groundwork of the collaborative work to build a local Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) archives.
