Some content may be harmful or difficult to view, using words considered offensive, biased, outdated and upsetting today. Some material preserved for its historical significance may relate to graphic or violent events.

The Story is committed to working with staff, communities, and peer institutions to assess and update descriptions that are harmful and to establish standards and policies to prevent future harmful language in staff-generated descriptions.

To report potentially harmful language in collection descriptions at The Story

Email us at collections@thestorydurham.org and include:

  • the title of the description
  • the collection item reference number
  • a quote of the specific language you feel is harmful
  • a suggested alternative if you have one.

With acknowledgement to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) https://www.archives.gov/research/reparative-description/harmful-content