History is not set in stone and archives are not objective repositories of records. Understanding the interpretive role of archives in producing historical narratives will unveil the emerging importance of college archives in co-creating a more equitably informed future. This panel will feature speakers who will discuss how we can accurately and comprehensively document CUNY’s legacy of social activism and upward mobility. Annie Tummino and Obden Mondésir will discuss the civil rights archives and SEEK History Project at Queens College, and Cynthia Tobar will discuss Raising Ourselves Up, an effort to document the stories of first-generation college students at BCC. In developing these initiatives, the panelists centered participatory and collaborative approaches to archival documentation, working in partnership with students, faculty, staff, and alumni to create rich new collections which highlight the experiences of low-income, immigrant, Jewish, and BIPOC students. Overall, the panelists will discuss the role of archivists as facilitators of liberatory memory work in CUNY.