PSD Collaborates with UCLA Community Archives students
Students cataloging items from the archive
In Spring of 2026, Postal Service for the Dead collaborated with students in Dr. Michelle Caswell’s Community Archives class at the University of California, Los Angeles as part of their Master of Library & Information Science (MLIS) program. Working alongside members of our Advisory Board, students processed, digitized, and catalogued materials from the PSD archives, giving them hands-on experience working with community-generated and cared for materials. Additionally, each student also led their own mini "independent study” program where they engaged with other aspects of running a community archive such as auditing our website for broken links, proposing a community program, and even hosting a passive letter-writing station.
In the context of archival work, “processing” refers to preparing archival materials by arranging them (not always chronologically, alphabetically, etc., but rather in ways that make sense according to the intention of the project and its communities), safeguarding them from future wear and tear, and describing them. “Cataloging” is a related but distinct element of that work: it's the more granular, item-level description of each letter. In total, we processed 400 letters, digitized 50, and catalogued 15 over four sessions that were four hours each.
As an advisory board, we understand that the work of archival processing requires significant emotional labor, and we started our sessions by talking with students about what care practices look like to them – inside archival work as well as daily life. Some of the practices shared by students included spending time with loved ones, resting without guilt, and taking care of our bodies. We also discussed how consent operates in PSD, and how contributor-led consent protocols – marking an envelope with a star, heart, or leaving it blank – help us shape what we collect and how we share it. Processing these materials as a group allows us to support one another while we honor the stories of grief and loss found within each envelope. From joyful remembrances to heartbreaking experiences – PSD is consciously creating systems where the weight of grief is made lighter by being held collectively. We welcome you to learn about resources for care practices in archival work our team has collected on this page.
Students scanning items from the archive
The collaboration was guided by PSD's existing Processing Document, which walks archival processors through the life cycle of receiving and archiving letters, including ensuring thoughtful description, adhering to confidentiality protocols, and enhancing accessibility for future researchers.
The document, which has been built up over the course of the project, is intended to remain a living and changing reflection of PSD itself. As students used it, we were able to incorporate their questions and ideas into future aspirations for the document and for PSD initiatives. As a volunteer-led project, these processing interactions shape how the PSD archive is maintained, used, and cared for, both now and in the future.
Thank you to Professor Michelle Caswell for connecting us with your incredible students. Thank you to Casey Winkleman for allowing us to utilize UCLA’s IS Library and Media Preservation Lab. And thank you to Patricia Alvarado, Emma Cameron, Kaylie Harley, and Adela Valenzuela for volunteering your precious and valuable time and skills.
GIF of processing document