This study explores how community-based digital archive projects are collaboratively designed by universities and community stakeholders, specifically examining practices that may be associated with archive sustainability. My study builds upon existing knowledge in both digital archive studies and the Digital Humanities (DH) by investigating the currently underemphasized issue of archive sustainability outside of only technical or financial considerations, but also the impact of deep engagement and collaboration among stakeholders. My project is therefore guided by the following research questions: What types of collaborative practices are being used to design community-based digital archive projects? What collaborative practices are associated with sustainability of community-based digital archive projects? To answer these questions, I began with an integrative literature review, surveying published collaborative methods used by archive developers to address specific challenges associated with building community-based digital archives, including "reciprocity and stakeholder representation, community ownership and rhetorical sovereignty," and "archive sustainability." Current practices included collecting interviews and digitizing materials from community participants, metadata consultations, and ongoing discussion with community participants throughout archive development. This review offered insight into gaps for additional research; namely, I found a lack of discussion about how archival websites are developed, as well as little documentation of the practical collaborative strategies being used by stakeholders that may impact archive sustainability. Following the integrative literature review, I conducted a qualitative case study analysis of an existing community-based digital archive, the Genoa Indian School Digital Reconciliation Project, through interviews with community participants and an archive developer from the collaborating university. In these interviews, I asked participants about their experiences in collaboratively developing the archive. Using cultural historical activity theory (CHAT) as an analysis framework, I reached several conclusions. First, conversation sustains the archive. Participants consistently pointed to ongoing meetings as the primary reason that the archive is revisited or stays at the forefront of conversation in their circles. Second, representation is vital to sustainability, but complex. Thoughtfully managing representation--who is included within archival discussions and within the archive itself--is vital toward the overall health of an archival project; however, fully representing every participant can be difficult, emphasizing the need for ongoing conversations among participants. Third, sustainability is a launchpad for more. Interviewee responses suggest that the archive is not just about sustaining the original project, but "growing" and expanding the range of possibilities. Based on these findings, I recommend several approaches to developing collaboratively-designed, community-based digital archives. Drafting a working calendar early on with set times for stakeholders to meet can help to establish ongoing relationships as the archive develops, as well as facilitate stakeholder control over the project. Establishing and revisiting rhetorical goals during ongoing conversations can help developers to design an archive that meets community goals in the website layout, how records are structured, etc. Welcoming the opportunity to discuss challenges and working through tensions can also facilitate trust for all stakeholder groups. Finally, considering CHAT as a valuable framework for developers and community participants to reflect on how a collaboration is going can help to support a sustainable archive project. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]