By: Akoi M. Baysah, Jr.
Two visiting American scholars have pledged to mobilize support for the preservation and digitization of endangered historical documents in Liberia following a research visit to the Center for National Records and Archives Agency (CNRRA).
The scholars, Ben Wright, Associate Professor of History at the University of Texas at Dallas, and Andrew Wegmann, Assistant Professor of History at Texas Tech University, made the commitment on Monday, December 22, 2025, after engaging Liberian archivists on strategies to modernize the country’s archival system in line with international standards.
Discussions during the visit focused on identifying sustainable approaches to fundraising and technical collaboration aimed at digitizing historically significant records housed at the Liberian National Archives in Monrovia.
The initiative, according to officials, is critical to safeguarding Liberia’s documentary heritage, much of which remains vulnerable due to age, poor storage conditions, and limited resources.
As a gesture of appreciation for the scholars’ interest in transforming Liberia’s archival system, Director General of the National Archives, D. Nelson Bearngar, presented them with traditional Liberian attire.
Bearngar emphasized that digitization remains a central pillar of the agency’s five-year strategic plan, designed to ensure long-term preservation and accessibility of national records.
He noted that prolonged resource constraints and the effects of years of instability have hindered the Archives’ ability to fully transition into the digital era, limiting service delivery to both Liberians and the international research community.
In response, Professor Wegmann praised the National Archives for its openness to collaboration, describing the recognition as “one of the truest honors of my life.”
Professor Wright also underscored the urgency of digitization, noting that it would enhance access, standardization, and continuity in records management for the public.
