Archive Editions
The archive is issued in editions — each one a considered snapshot of what was known, and how it was known, at the moment it was catalogued.
- Edition2006HistoricalOriginal Launch
First Edition
The archive begins as a single quiet observation: there are surprisingly few people named Alastair, and a surprising number of them are worth reading about.
- Four founding entries recorded by hand
- Original masthead set in a borrowed typewriter face
- Curator's first published note dated 4 November 2006
- Edition2009HistoricalExpanded Collection
Second Edition
Three years of quiet documentation. The archive doubles, then doubles again. A taxonomy of primary fields is introduced and Curator's Notes become a standing feature.
- Introduction of the Primary Field taxonomy
- First international entries added to the collection
- Curator's Notes formalised as an editorial convention
- Edition2026CurrentRecovered & Restored
Third Edition
After the loss of the original site, the archive returns — carefully rebuilt from surviving notes, printed clippings, and twenty years of correspondence. Every entry has been re-verified before being restored to the collection.
- Complete visual redesign in the style of a museum catalog
- Formal Archive IDs assigned to every entry (A-00001 …)
- Documentation Sources panel added to each record
- EditionFutureForthcomingThe Continuing Collection
Forthcoming Edition
New editions will be added as the archive grows. Each edition is intended to stand on its own — a durable record of what was known, and how it was known, at the moment it was catalogued.
- Planned inclusion of a Research Notebook print companion
- Public reading room for cross-referencing entries
- Guest curators invited to write occasional editorial notes
Future editions will be added as the collection grows.