How to Contribute

Creating a contributor account allows you to:

• Upload historical photographs
• Edit your submissions
• Participate in discussions
• Receive feedback from the community
• Track the status of your contributions

Create an account to get started.

Contributors are encouraged to provide as much information as possible, including title, location, approximate date or period, description, source or archive reference, photographer (if known), and additional historical context.

Even if some information is unknown, photographs can still be submitted.

When information is incomplete, the Mapma AI Historian Guide can assist by suggesting possible locations, estimating historical periods, identifying architectural or cultural clues, recommending descriptions and metadata, and highlighting potential inconsistencies.

All suggestions remain subject to human review and verification.

After submission, photographs enter a collaborative review process. Contributors may update information, while experienced volunteers and administrators review submissions to improve accuracy, consistency, and source attribution.

The objective is not simply to collect photographs but to build a reliable historical archive.

• Contributor — any registered user can become a contributor by uploading photographs or helping improve existing records. Contributors form the foundation of the project and are encouraged to participate actively in documenting and preserving historical material.
• Trusted Contributor — contributors who consistently provide high-quality submissions and demonstrate a commitment to historical accuracy may be invited to become Trusted Contributors, receiving additional moderation and review privileges.
• Volunteer Curator / Administrator — selected from active members of the community based on historical knowledge, quality of contributions, commitment to the project, respect for archival standards, and constructive participation. Their role includes reviewing submissions, validating metadata, resolving conflicting information, maintaining archival consistency, and supporting contributors.

Mapma seeks to build a diverse team of historians, researchers, photographers, local experts, and heritage enthusiasts from across Morocco and beyond.

Mapma is more than a website. It is an ongoing collaborative initiative dedicated to safeguarding Morocco's photographic heritage. We welcome historians, researchers, archivists, librarians, photographers, collectors, students, local history enthusiasts, and cultural heritage professionals.

If you believe that historical photographs deserve to be preserved, documented, and shared responsibly, we invite you to participate.

The founders are currently exploring the creation of an independent non-profit association dedicated to the preservation, documentation, and promotion of Morocco's photographic and visual heritage. The future association aims to:

• Support the long-term sustainability of the archive
• Promote heritage preservation initiatives
• Organize collaborative research projects
• Develop educational resources
• Partner with archives, museums, universities, and cultural institutions
• Encourage citizen participation in documenting local history

Individuals interested in contributing to this initiative, volunteering their expertise, or supporting the future association are encouraged to contact the project team.

We believe that preserving historical photographs is not only about protecting images. It is about preserving stories, places, identities, traditions, memories, and the countless human experiences that have shaped Morocco through time.

Together, we can build a living archive that connects the past with future generations.