holderssuch

Holdersuch is a term used in cultural studies and digital anthropology to describe the deliberate search for, acquisition, and retention of objects—physical or digital—that function as anchors for memory, identity, and social belonging. The term emerged in scholarly discourse in the early 2020s as researchers examined the role of objects in personal and collective memory in an era of rapid digital mediation. It encompasses practices ranging from careful curation of physical collections to strategic archiving of digital artifacts.

Practitioners include individuals, families, collectives, museums, and online communities who engage in mindful custodianship rather than indiscriminate accumulation. A key distinction from hoarding is intent and social meaning: holdersuch centers on curated, meaningful holdings that support memory work or community identity, rather than compulsive accumulation. Critics note that holdersuch can reinforce nostalgia and market-driven commodification, while proponents argue it supports long-term cultural preservation and accessibility.

Examples of holdersuch practices include family photo archiving, local history projects, preservation of obsolete software and hardware, and the collection of zines or other culturally significant ephemera. The concept intersects with memory studies, material culture, and digital preservation, inviting questions about ethics, access, and power in custodianship. See also memory studies, material culture, archiving, and digital preservation.