ABSTRACT
Moss and Thomas discuss approaches to resolving some of the issues raised in this volume. They argue that, in some cases at least, dictatorial regimes are good at record keeping. However, tyrannies and even less extreme governments can destroy records, deny access or even tell lies about what exists. It is possible to explore other resources, to go beyond the archive, to radically subvert officially imposed silences, while traditional, critical analysis of records can help obtain the maximum value from what survives. At the same time, new thinking about new forms of record keeping institutions – rebel and rogue archives – points the way to ensuring the capture and availability of records. They go on to urge archivists to be bolder in their approaches to acquiring material and to be a little more unruly. Finally, they admit that not all silences can be overcome and that there are limits to what can be done. They argue that there are two possible responses to this. One is to focus on the process of research and not its outcome and the other to accept and celebrate what has remained.
