# International Digital Ephemera Project

> UCLA digital ephemera library project

**Wikidata**: [Q100997920](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q100997920)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/international-digital-ephemera-project

## Summary
The International Digital Ephemera Project (IDEP) is a digital library initiative and online database managed by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Established in 2012, the project focuses on the digitization and preservation of cultural heritage ephemera. It serves as a repository for unique collections, including the Tahrir documents and the Palestinian Museum Digital Archive.

## Key Facts
*   **Formal Name:** International Digital Ephemera Project
*   **Acronym:** IDEP
*   **Inception:** 2012
*   **Owner:** University of California, Los Angeles
*   **Publisher:** University of California, Los Angeles Library
*   **Country:** United States
*   **Website:** https://idep.library.ucla.edu/
*   **Instance of:** Project, Website, Online Database
*   **Primary Subjects:** Cultural heritage (dating from 1900), Digitization, Ephemera, Preservation
*   **Identifiers:** OCLC Number 1066745653; VIAF ID 3156988884961001364; Library of Congress Authority ID no2019140068
*   **Constituent Collections:** Mighty Man, Cuban Ephemera, Kirkuk’s Great Sufi Mosque, Tahrir documents collection, the Palestinian Museum Digital Archive, Kurdish referendum for independence collection.

## FAQs
### Q: Who owns and operates the International Digital Ephemera Project?
A: The project is owned by the University of California, Los Angeles and published by the UCLA Library.

### Q: What type of materials are collected in the IDEP?
A: The project focuses on digitized ephemera and cultural heritage materials. Specific collections include the Tahrir documents, Cuban Ephemera, and the Palestinian Museum Digital Archive.

### Q: When was the International Digital Ephemera Project created?
A: The project was inceptioned in 2012.

## Why It Matters
The International Digital Ephemera Project plays a critical role in the field of digital preservation and cultural heritage. By definition, ephemera are transient materials intended for short-term use—such as pamphlets, posters, or protest documents—which are often at high risk of being lost or destroyed. IDEP addresses this challenge by digitizing these fragile records, ensuring their long-term survival and accessibility.

The project is significant for its focus on international collaborations and distinct historical moments. For instance, the inclusion of the "Tahrir documents collection" and the "Kurdish referendum for independence collection" highlights the project's role in preserving primary source documentation related to pivotal political and social events in the Middle East and beyond. Furthermore, by hosting the "Palestinian Museum Digital Archive," IDEP provides a vital platform for diasporic and regional historical records. Through these activities, the project supports research in museum, library, and archival sciences while democratizing access to unique historical artifacts that might otherwise remain inaccessible to the global academic community.

## Notable For
*   **Preservation of Transient History:** Specializes in digitizing ephemera—items not meant to be preserved—ensuring historical evidence of cultural heritage survives.
*   **Diverse International Collections:** Hosts specific, distinct collections ranging from "Cuban Ephemera" to the "Kurdish referendum for independence collection."
*   **Institutional Authority:** Operates under the University of California, Los Angeles Library system, lending academic credibility and stability to the digital archives.
*   **Scope of Content:** Encompasses materials dating back to 1900, covering over a century of cultural and political history.

## Body
### Project Overview
The International Digital Ephemera Project (IDEP) is an online database and digital library project classified as a website and digital repository. It was inceptioned in 2012 and is accessible in English. The project is identified in major bibliographic databases, including the Library of Congress (Authority ID no2019140068) and OCLC (Number 1066745653).

### Governance and Management
IDEP is a property of the **University of California, Los Angeles**. The project is published and managed by the **UCLA Library**. It is recognized within the Wikimedia ecosystem, specifically listed on the "WikiProject PCC Wikidata Pilot/UCLA" focus list.

### Scope and Subject Matter
The primary field of work for the project is **digitization** and **preservation**. Its main subject is **cultural heritage**, with a temporal scope starting from the year **1900**. The project defines itself through the acquisition and management of "ephemera," supporting the library and archival field's goal of prolonging the life of records.

### Component Collections
The project aggregates several distinct digital collections under its umbrella. Specific sub-collections and "has part" components include:
*   **Mighty Man**
*   **Cuban Ephemera**
*   **Kirkuk’s Great Sufi Mosque**
*   **Tahrir documents collection**
*   **The Palestinian Museum Digital Archive**
*   **Kurdish referendum for independence collection**

## References

1. [Source](https://www.cni.org/topics/special-collections/building-distinctive-collections-through-international-collaborations-lessons-from-uclas-international-digital-ephemera-project)