LSSI (Institute of Indonesian Socialist History) has a primary mission to archive and preserve historical documents related to the socialist and leftist movements in Indonesia. This effort aims to ensure the continuity of this historical archiving program, as well as to become an important reference source for future research, studies, or even the main source for examining the history of the leftist movement in Indonesia. Through this archiving program, LSSI (Indonesian Socialis History Institute seeks to ensure that the historical legacy of the Indonesian people’s struggle can be preserved, read, and studied by current and future generations.
In carrying out the program to preserve the history of social movements and leftist movements in Indonesia, LSSI (Institute of Indonesian Socialist History) emphasizes the importance of collaboration and community participation. One of the main strengths in this documentation process is the direct interaction of former activists of the People’s Democratic Party (PRD). Many of them have voluntarily contributed, submitting important documents that they personally own. The active participation of old PRD friends not only collects archive collections, but also strengthens the authentic value of this program. Each donated document carries an irreplaceable story, context, and spirit of the times. LSSI (Institute of Indonesian Socialist History) ensures that the archives collected are not just a collection of dry documents, but live as a collective historical narrative that voices the struggles, ideals, and dynamics of social movements in Indonesia. This assistance is an important part of LSSI’s vision to build an open, participatory social history archive that is strongly rooted in the real experiences of the historical actors themselves. Through this collective work, we believe that history is not only maintained, but also continues to be brought to life and passed on to future generations.
LSSI (Institute of Indonesian Socialist History) collects documents from various sources, both official and non-official, related to the left movement in Indonesia. This program implements conservation measures to protect physical archives from damage due to age or certain conditions that result in damage or loss. So that the choice is guaranteed for a long time. To facilitate public access, LSSI (Institute of Indonesian Socialist History) has developed a comprehensive cataloging system. Using database software, all archival materials, both physical and digital, are systematically organized and indexed, allowing for fast and accurate information searches. In an effort to extend the life of documents while expanding their reach, LSSI digitizes physical archives. Every important document is converted into digital format, protecting its contents from the risk of physical damage and ensuring that it can be accessed by more people. LSSI (Institute of Indonesian Socialist History) builds a bold, user-friendly platform to store and display digital archives. Through this platform, the public can easily access various historical documents from anywhere, supporting the principles of openness of information and democratization of knowledge. This initiative aims to raise awareness of the history of socialism in Indonesia and the importance of preserving historical heritage for future social development. With these programs, LSSI (Institute of Indonesian Socialist History) is present not only as an institution that stores history, but also as a driving force for efforts to restore collective memory and form critical public awareness about the journey of social struggle in Indonesia.
In order to implement the program and achieve its goals, several steps are taken covering several stages. In this initial stage, the program focuses on archiving documents originating from the People’s Democratic Party (PRD) and other left-wing movements in Indonesia. The archived documents include official and unofficial documents, including 1) Official Documents: newspapers and organizational journals, articles of association and bylaws (AD-ART), results of organizational congresses or conferences, meeting results, bulletins, and various other documents related to the formal activities of the organization. 2) Unofficial Documents: Newspaper clippings, magazines, audio-visual documentation, photo documentation, or books and various writings related to the struggle of the PRD and other left-wing movement networks.
This program will continue to set the stage for sustainability in the future. At this stage, the scope of archiving is expanded to not only be limited to the People’s Democratic Party (PRD), but also to include various forms and varieties of left-wing movements in Indonesia from various historical periods. The collected documents will enrich the historical narrative of the struggle of the working class, farmers, students, laborers, and various other progressive elements of society who played a role in building the tradition of social resistance in Indonesia.
Through this systematic effort, LSSI (Institute of Indonesian Socialist History) is committed to preserving the historical legacy of the Indonesian left movement so that it is not forgotten. Providing authentic research sources for academics, researchers, and activists, as well as encouraging a deeper understanding of the dynamics of social struggle in Indonesia and building an alternative historical database that is free from official historical bias.
With this program, we hope to contribute to enriching a more inclusive and comprehensive insight into Indonesian history and opening up space for future generations to learn from the long journey of the people’s movement in fighting for social justice.
