05/05/2026
Today is GiveBIG, Washington’s day of giving, and we’re taking a moment to share what your support makes possible.
At MIPoPS, we preserve moving image and sound materials that document the lives, histories, and communities of the Puget Sound region. Much of this material exists on formats like VHS and audio cassette, which were never designed to last.
Without preservation, these recordings become unplayable. The stories they hold become inaccessible.
Recently, that work has included:
Digitizing VHS materials from Scarecrow’s Q***rcrow collection, which highlights LGBTQIA+ stories created by and for the community
Supporting the Wing Luke Museum in preserving oral histories from the Chinatown-International District, including veterans, artists, and longtime community members
Partnering with organizations like Sound Transit to help ensure important regional records remain accessible over time
This work is often quiet and technical, but its impact is long-term: it ensures communities retain access to their own histories.
While MIPoPS partners with the City of Seattle, that support comes in the form of shared space, not direct funding. Our work is sustained through earned revenue and community support.
We’re also working to expand access through new educational resources and training opportunities, helping more people care for and preserve their own audiovisual materials.
If you’re able, we invite you to support this work today.
Donate: https://www.wagives.org/donate/MIPOPS
Thank you for helping ensure these materials remain accessible, now and in the future.
In community,
The MIPoPS team
