John Peel Archive is a public digital project that opens up the legendary record collection of BBC DJ John Peel as a living resource rather than a frozen museum. It presents thousands of items from his 106,000‑strong archive, combining database‑style access with curated “Record Boxes” where musicians like Mala or Joe Boyd select and narrate their own paths through Peel’s shelves.
Even as rare records and memorabilia are auctioned via Bonhams, the online archive keeps the spirit of the collection accessible and evolving, foregrounding Peel’s role in championing new, underground and global music.
It invites users to browse by artist, format and theme, effectively turning Peel’s private obsession into a collective playground for discovery.
His almost comical passion for collecting — card indexes, sheds built for vinyl, star‑rating systems and a lifelong hunt for obscure pressings — becomes the engine of a shared cultural memory.
This mix of personal mania and public access is very close to the David Graeber Institute’s own approach: a belief that individual collections, if opened up and annotated together with users, can keep a legacy alive across times, scenes and communities.
Here is David’s Music and Books library. Let us know how do you think we should develop it.