Exploring The Jedi Archives: The Greatest Compilation of Galactic Knowledge

When referring to The Jedi Archives, most picture the vast halls of the Jedi Temple Library on Coruscant with its perfectly symmetrical stacks of holocrons lining a central aisle. Inspired by the real-life Trinity College Library Long in Dublin, the Archives shown in Episode II: Attack of the Clones represent the sum of galactic knowledge.

Within both Canon and Legends timelines, the Jedi Archives as a whole are an integral presence in the lives and work of Jedi. Examples include the Canon database of criminal activity on Coruscant that Ahsoka Tano used to identify the criminal who had stolen her lightsaber in The Clone Wars television show and the collected oral histories of Jedi such as Mace Windu within Legends. With such a large collection, this guide aims to help you navigate any Jedi archive like a Master.

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Navigating the Jedi Archives

In this guide, we’ll mainly focus on the Jedi Temple Library on Coruscant, as it contains the largest collection and is most widely recognized by fans. However, other libraries and archives exist, and each one is its own wealth of knowledge — one of the most important resources a Jedi could have.

Collections within any Jedi archive or library include electronic or holographic data, such as maps or academic journals, data tapes, holobooks, profiles on members of the Jedi Order, criminal profiles, and holocrons.

Some archives in the Star Wars universe are private or community archives run by non-public entities or community groups. Some of these archives even hold physical books, such as the sacred Jedi texts secreted away by Luke Skywalker or the texts contained within the Sith academy on Korriban.

Aside from assessing and preserving information, the archives serve all members of the Order. They are used for independent study by Jedi scholars, mission research, test preparation, and even casual curiosity. An answer, or a path to an answer, can likely be found within an archive's walls.

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Council of First Knowledge

The Council of First Knowledge is a select group of Jedi Masters who oversee the Jedi academy curriculum, maintain the Jedi Archives, provide guidance regarding ancient powers of the Force, and eradicate Sith teachings and artifacts around the galaxy.

The Caretaker of First Knowledge leads these stewards. While other council members sit for several years, the Caretaker leads for life or until they choose to step down. In Legends, this individual is also the only one who oversees the Holocron Chamber within the Archives.

Separate from the Caretaker, the Chief Librarian is the primary Lore Keeper who also leads the Educational Corps. Part of the Council of First Knowledge, they work closely with the Caretaker, but their responsibilities differ. In some cases, such as Restelly Quist, a Jedi can hold both titles.

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Notable Archives and Special Collections

Special collections have unique artifacts or materials, mainly used for research and organized under a specific mission or purpose. They can also be part of a larger archival collection or stand alone.

A few known archives and special collections include but are not limited to:

The Archive on Jedha: The work of Cere Junda, Narkis Anchorites, and other members of the Hidden Path, the Archive on Jedha was Cere’s attempt to protect the Jedi Order's remaining textual ephemera. It also contained Zeffo armor and served as a home base for the Hidden Path.

Bogan Collection: The Bogan Collection consisted of several vaults where the Jedi secured dark side artifacts to protect the galaxy from Sith teachings. These vaults existed on Coruscant, Starlight Beacon, and Jedha.

Eeshaypher Collection: Luke Skywalker studied a catalog of this collection in Shadow of the Sith, wherein he found an entry about a Sith wayfinder and Sith holocron.

Sith Academy Archives on Korriban: Darth Bane was an avid visitor to the Sith Academy Archives during his time on Korriban. However, the Sith Masters at the Academy discouraged studying such archaic texts. Later, Darth Bane created his own repository of Sith knowledge.

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Notable Archive Users

‍Jocasta Nu and Sember Vey: Jocasta Nu is perhaps the most notable archivist ever to grace our screens. She served as Chief Librarian of the Jedi Archives during the Clone Wars, when she helped Obi-Wan Kenobi uncover Kamino. She survived Order 66 and attempted to preserve what she could after the Great Jedi Purge. She notably appears in Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade, and more.

Under the tutelage of Jocasta Nu, Sember Vey traveled the galaxy looking for materials and artifacts to add to The Jedi Archives. Later, she continued that work with her own Padawan. She appears in Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade.

Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi: Qui-Gon Jinn followed the philosophies of the Living Force, frequently utilizing archival knowledge to further his own. He also sent his Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, to the Archives for various research projects during their time together. Qui-Gon is known for his on-screen appearance in Episode I: The Phantom Menace. However, he also has several notable roles in other media, such as the book Master & Apprentice.

With the help of Jocasta Nu, Obi-Wan notably used the archives to uncover the origin of a dart used in the attempted assassination of Senator Amidala. Obi-Wan appears in numerous films, books, and comics. Aside from using the Archives in Attack of the Clones, we also see him visit there in the Canon novel Padawan.

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Darth Bane and Darth Zannah: Darth Bane collected tomes on many ancient teachings of the Sith. He had a private archive of physical books and other materials related to the Force, as he wanted to understand its power and prolong his life.

Zannah, Bane’s apprentice, also studied the ways of the dark side but notably snuck into the Jedi Archives to learn more about orbalisks, a parasitic creature important to the Darth Bane Trilogy novels.

Reath Silas: Reath Silas was a Jedi Knight who lived during the High Republic. He spent most of his apprenticeship on Coruscant, where he frequented the Archives for research and pleasure — so much so that he had his own honorary computer bay. If it weren’t for his studious nature, he and the refugees might not have sought safety on the Amaxine station following The Great Disaster. He’s an important character in the books published during The High Republic Phase I.

Cere Junda: Cere Junda frequently used the Archives. Following the events of the game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, which takes place after Order 66, she works her way to the city of NiJedha, where she works with a local group to create a community archive to preserve Jedi tradition as much as she can. Cere is an integral character in the Star Wars Jedi game series.

Restelly Quist: Restelly Quist was Chief Librarian and Caretaker of First Knowledge during the Golden Age of the Old Republic. She also authored several chapters in the in-universe text The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force.

‍Mander Zuma: Mander Zuma was a Jedi Master and Archivist during the New Republic. Like Reath Silas, he was more comfortable in the Archives than in the field and, thus, had trouble feeling confident in himself when he went to investigate the death of his Padawan. However, being knowledgeable about mind tricks and strong in the Force, he eventually overcame these feelings of self-doubt. He is the main character featured in the novel Scourge.

In a universe as large and with a history as rich as the one in Star Wars, it’s no surprise that both heroes and villains need to conduct detailed research and uncover long-lost knowledge to overcome challenges and meet their goals. For us bookworms, the key role archives and libraries play in several Star Wars plotlines can feel like an added bonus! What’s your favorite Star Wars film, TV, or book scene that takes place in an archive? Do you have a favorite not mentioned here? Join the conversion in Youtini’s Discord channel and let us know!