Documenting Turmoil: The British Library’s Curatorial Response to the Yugoslav Civil Wars (1991–1999)

The brutal disintegration of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s resulted in a series of conflicts now collectively known as the Yugoslav Wars (1991–1999). Recognising the profound global importance of this event, the British Library initiated an active collection strategy from the very beginning of the turmoil. This paper analyses the historical context of the conflict and details the comprehensive scope of materials acquired, ranging from official government narratives and international organisations reports to harrowing personal accounts and forensic evidence related to war crimes. Furthermore, it discusses the core professional and ethical challenges faced by curators and cataloguers, focusing on the imperatives of staying neutral by collecting from all sides, overcoming immense logistical challenges posed by active war and sanctions, and maintaining strategic foresight to preserve history for the future.2 The resulting collection stands as an unmatched resource, providing future researchers with the evidence needed for a detailed, informed and empathic understanding of this modern European tragedy.