Purpose
The purpose of this Governance Charter is to establish how the Cooper-Ackwood Family Archive is managed, how decisions are made, and how responsibility is transferred from one generation to the next.
The archive shall be administered with integrity, transparency, and accountability in accordance with this Constitution.
Ownership
The Cooper-Ackwood Family Archive exists for the benefit of the Cooper-Ackwood family as a whole.
No individual family member may claim exclusive ownership of the family's collective history.
The archive is held in stewardship for present and future generations.
Founding Administrators
The original Founding Administrators are:
- Kashaun Cooper
- Domonique Cooper
The Founding Administrators are responsible for establishing the archive, adopting this Constitution, approving initial policies, and guiding the archive through its formative years.
Authority of Administrators
Administrators are entrusted with the responsibility to:
- Protect the integrity of the archive.
- Approve or deny submitted content.
- Maintain historical accuracy.
- Enforce privacy policies.
- Resolve disputes regarding records.
- Appoint future administrators in accordance with this Constitution.
- Ensure the archive remains available to future generations.
Administrators shall exercise these responsibilities as stewards of the archive rather than owners of it.
Appointment of Future Administrators
Future administrators should be selected based upon:
- Demonstrated integrity.
- Respect for family history.
- Commitment to privacy.
- Willingness to maintain the archive over time.
- Ability to act fairly and responsibly.
Family relationship alone shall not automatically qualify an individual to become an administrator.
Number of Administrators
Whenever practical, the archive should have at least two active administrators.
Maintaining multiple administrators helps provide continuity, accountability, and shared decision-making.
Decision Making
Administrators should seek consensus whenever possible.
When consensus cannot be reached, decisions should be guided by:
- This Constitution.
- The privacy and dignity of living family members.
- The long-term preservation of the archive.
- Historical accuracy supported by available evidence.
Conflict Resolution
When disagreements arise regarding records, photographs, stories, or historical interpretation:
- All relevant evidence should be reviewed.
- Multiple perspectives should be considered when appropriate.
- Uncertainty should be documented rather than hidden.
- Corrections should be made when supported by credible evidence.
Whenever reasonable, administrators should favor documentation over deletion.
Removal of Administrators
An administrator may voluntarily resign at any time.
An administrator may also be removed if they:
- Repeatedly violate this Constitution.
- Intentionally misuse administrative authority.
- Compromise the privacy or security of the archive.
- Deliberately falsify or destroy historical information.
- Become permanently unable to fulfill their responsibilities.
Removal should occur only after careful review by the remaining administrators.
Vacancies
If an administrator resigns, passes away, or becomes unable to serve, the remaining administrator or administrators shall appoint a qualified successor according to this Constitution.
If no administrator remains, the succession procedures established in the Stewardship and Succession Policy shall take effect.
Amendments
This Constitution is intended to provide long-term stability.
Amendments should be made only when necessary to improve stewardship, strengthen privacy protections, or address circumstances not anticipated by the Founding Administrators.
Any amendment should preserve the original mission, vision, values, and purpose of the Cooper-Ackwood Family Archive.
Guiding Principle
Administrative authority exists to protect the archive, not to control it.
Every administrator serves as a temporary steward of a family legacy that belongs equally to future generations.