Marian Stokes, a passionate activist and media archivist, dedicated nearly 35 years to an extraordinary mission: capturing the essence of television news as it unfolded. Her relentless commitment amassed an unparalleled collection of over 800,000 hours of footage, spanning decades of history, social change, and political turmoil. Born in Germantown, Philadelphia, in 1929, Stokes emerged as a fierce advocate for social justice, engaging actively in movements for civil rights and against the Vietnam War. This fervor led her down a path of dissent, surveillance, and ultimately, a groundbreaking archiving project that would change how we perceive media history.

Stokes’s journey into archiving began in earnest during the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis, a moment she felt exposed the discrepancies in news reporting. Alarmed by the media’s selective storytelling, she launched a mission to record broadcasts 24/7, believing that truthful information was essential for an informed public. Utilizing up to eight VCRs simultaneously, she meticulously captured everything from major news networks to local broadcasts, often delivering tapes in trash bags to maintain secrecy. Her operation became a guerrilla archiving project, preserving content that television networks typically discarded.

After her passing in 2012, Stokes left behind a monumental legacy: 71,000 VHS and Betamax tapes that filled apartments and storage units across two states. The final recording in her vast collection documented the tragic Sandy Hook massacre. Her son, entrusted with this treasure trove of history, chose to donate it to the Internet Archive, where the daunting task of digitizing her work began. Despite ongoing challenges, her collection represents a critical resource for understanding media bias and the public’s perception of historical events.

Marian Stokes exemplifies how a single individual’s tireless dedication can safeguard the truth. Her extraordinary journey serves as a reminder of the vital role independent efforts play in preserving our shared history, ensuring that the narratives of the past remain accessible and unfiltered for future generations.