diff --git a/radicle-cob/src/backend/git/change.rs b/radicle-cob/src/backend/git/change.rs
index b9b476e8..9d5aa316 100644
--- a/radicle-cob/src/backend/git/change.rs
+++ b/radicle-cob/src/backend/git/change.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ use crate::{
     change::{self, store, Change},
     history::entry,
     signatures::{Signature, Signatures},
-    trailers, HistoryType,
+    trailers,
 };
 
 const MANIFEST_BLOB_NAME: &str = "manifest";
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ impl change::Storage for git2::Repository {
 
         let tree = self.find_tree(commit.tree())?;
         let manifest = load_manifest(self, &tree)?;
-        let contents = load_contents(self, &tree, &manifest)?;
+        let contents = load_contents(self, &tree)?;
 
         Ok(Change {
             id,
@@ -210,20 +210,15 @@ fn load_manifest(
 fn load_contents(
     repo: &git2::Repository,
     tree: &git2::Tree,
-    manifest: &store::Manifest,
 ) -> Result<entry::Contents, error::Load> {
-    Ok(match manifest.history_type {
-        HistoryType::Radicle | HistoryType::Automerge => {
-            let contents_tree_entry = tree
-                .get_name(CHANGE_BLOB_NAME)
-                .ok_or_else(|| error::Load::NoChange(tree.id().into()))?;
-            let contents_object = contents_tree_entry.to_object(repo)?;
-            let contents_blob = contents_object
-                .as_blob()
-                .ok_or_else(|| error::Load::ChangeNotBlob(tree.id().into()))?;
-            contents_blob.content().to_owned()
-        }
-    })
+    let contents_tree_entry = tree
+        .get_name(CHANGE_BLOB_NAME)
+        .ok_or_else(|| error::Load::NoChange(tree.id().into()))?;
+    let contents_object = contents_tree_entry.to_object(repo)?;
+    let contents_blob = contents_object
+        .as_blob()
+        .ok_or_else(|| error::Load::ChangeNotBlob(tree.id().into()))?;
+    Ok(contents_blob.content().to_owned())
 }
 
 fn write_commit<O>(
diff --git a/radicle-cob/src/change/store.rs b/radicle-cob/src/change/store.rs
index 1269c376..2df8cd71 100644
--- a/radicle-cob/src/change/store.rs
+++ b/radicle-cob/src/change/store.rs
@@ -7,10 +7,7 @@ use std::{error::Error, fmt};
 
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
-use crate::{
-    history::{Contents, HistoryType},
-    signatures, TypeName,
-};
+use crate::{history::Contents, signatures, TypeName};
 
 pub trait Storage {
     type CreateError: Error + Send + Sync + 'static;
@@ -47,7 +44,7 @@ pub trait Storage {
 
 pub struct Create<Id> {
     pub typename: TypeName,
-    pub history_type: HistoryType,
+    pub history_type: String,
     pub tips: Vec<Id>,
     pub message: String,
     pub contents: Contents,
@@ -126,10 +123,10 @@ where
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct Manifest {
     /// The name given to the type of collaborative object.
     pub typename: TypeName,
     /// The type of history for the collaborative oject.
-    pub history_type: HistoryType,
+    pub history_type: String,
 }
diff --git a/radicle-cob/src/change_graph.rs b/radicle-cob/src/change_graph.rs
index f21f8482..67b10341 100644
--- a/radicle-cob/src/change_graph.rs
+++ b/radicle-cob/src/change_graph.rs
@@ -102,9 +102,9 @@ impl ChangeGraph {
         // This is okay because we check that the graph has a root node in
         // GraphBuilder::build
         let root = roots.first().unwrap();
-        let typename = {
+        let manifest = {
             let first_node = &self.graph[*root];
-            first_node.typename().clone()
+            first_node.manifest.clone()
         };
         let topo = Topo::new(&self.graph);
         let items = topo.iter(&self.graph).map(|idx| {
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ impl ChangeGraph {
             evaluate(*root_change.id(), &self.graph, items)
         };
         CollaborativeObject {
-            typename,
+            manifest,
             history,
             id: self.object_id,
         }
diff --git a/radicle-cob/src/history.rs b/radicle-cob/src/history.rs
index 09bb5d83..e8f4eb25 100644
--- a/radicle-cob/src/history.rs
+++ b/radicle-cob/src/history.rs
@@ -17,16 +17,6 @@ use crate::pruning_fold;
 pub mod entry;
 pub use entry::{Clock, Contents, Entry, EntryId, EntryWithClock};
 
-#[derive(
-    Clone, Copy, Debug, Default, PartialEq, Eq, Hash, serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize,
-)]
-#[serde(rename_all = "lowercase")]
-pub enum HistoryType {
-    #[default]
-    Radicle,
-    Automerge,
-}
-
 /// The DAG of changes making up the history of a collaborative object.
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct History {
diff --git a/radicle-cob/src/lib.rs b/radicle-cob/src/lib.rs
index f4cce633..b2d29c6d 100644
--- a/radicle-cob/src/lib.rs
+++ b/radicle-cob/src/lib.rs
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ pub use change::Change;
 pub mod identity;
 
 pub mod history;
-pub use history::{Contents, Entry, History, HistoryType};
+pub use history::{Contents, Entry, History};
 
 mod pruning_fold;
 
diff --git a/radicle-cob/src/object/collaboration.rs b/radicle-cob/src/object/collaboration.rs
index 430734ec..a54a5503 100644
--- a/radicle-cob/src/object/collaboration.rs
+++ b/radicle-cob/src/object/collaboration.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ use std::collections::BTreeSet;
 
 use git_ext::Oid;
 
+use crate::change::store::Manifest;
 use crate::{change, identity::Identity, Contents, History, ObjectId, TypeName};
 
 pub mod error;
@@ -28,8 +29,8 @@ pub use update::{update, Update};
 /// A collaborative object
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub struct CollaborativeObject {
-    /// The typename of this object
-    pub(crate) typename: TypeName,
+    /// The manifest of this object
+    pub(crate) manifest: Manifest,
     /// The CRDT history we know about for this object
     pub(crate) history: History,
     /// The id of the object
@@ -46,7 +47,11 @@ impl CollaborativeObject {
     }
 
     pub fn typename(&self) -> &TypeName {
-        &self.typename
+        &self.manifest.typename
+    }
+
+    pub fn manifest(&self) -> &Manifest {
+        &self.manifest
     }
 
     fn tips(&self) -> BTreeSet<Oid> {
diff --git a/radicle-cob/src/object/collaboration/create.rs b/radicle-cob/src/object/collaboration/create.rs
index 052fb4a4..620babc3 100644
--- a/radicle-cob/src/object/collaboration/create.rs
+++ b/radicle-cob/src/object/collaboration/create.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 // This file is part of radicle-link, distributed under the GPLv3 with Radicle
 // Linking Exception. For full terms see the included LICENSE file.
 
-use crate::{HistoryType, Store};
+use crate::Store;
 
 use super::*;
 
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ pub struct Create<Author> {
     /// The identity of the author for this object's first change.
     pub author: Option<Author>,
     /// The type of history that will be used for this object.
-    pub history_type: HistoryType,
+    pub history_type: String,
     /// The CRDT history to initialize this object with.
     pub contents: Contents,
     /// The typename for this object.
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ impl<Author> Create<Author> {
     fn create_spec(&self) -> change::Create<git_ext::Oid> {
         change::Create {
             typename: self.typename.clone(),
-            history_type: self.history_type,
+            history_type: self.history_type.clone(),
             tips: Vec::new(),
             message: self.message.clone(),
             contents: self.contents.clone(),
@@ -101,7 +101,10 @@ where
         .map_err(|err| error::Create::Refs { err: Box::new(err) })?;
 
     Ok(CollaborativeObject {
-        typename: args.typename,
+        manifest: Manifest {
+            typename: args.typename,
+            history_type: args.history_type,
+        },
         history,
         id: init_change.id().into(),
     })
diff --git a/radicle-cob/src/object/collaboration/update.rs b/radicle-cob/src/object/collaboration/update.rs
index a8da328b..3a947865 100644
--- a/radicle-cob/src/object/collaboration/update.rs
+++ b/radicle-cob/src/object/collaboration/update.rs
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 // Linking Exception. For full terms see the included LICENSE file.
 
 use crate::{
-    change, change_graph::ChangeGraph, identity::Identity, CollaborativeObject, Contents,
-    HistoryType, ObjectId, Store, TypeName,
+    change, change_graph::ChangeGraph, identity::Identity, CollaborativeObject, Contents, ObjectId,
+    Store, TypeName,
 };
 
 use super::error;
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ pub struct Update<Author> {
     /// The identity of the author for the update of this object.
     pub author: Option<Author>,
     /// The type of history that will be used for this object.
-    pub history_type: HistoryType,
+    pub history_type: String,
     /// The CRDT changes to add to the object.
     pub changes: Contents,
     /// The object ID of the object to be updated.
diff --git a/radicle-cob/src/tests.rs b/radicle-cob/src/tests.rs
index b3b78fdb..1730ad28 100644
--- a/radicle-cob/src/tests.rs
+++ b/radicle-cob/src/tests.rs
@@ -6,8 +6,7 @@ use quickcheck::Arbitrary;
 use radicle_crypto::Signer;
 
 use crate::{
-    create, get, list, object, test::arbitrary::Invalid, update, Create, HistoryType, ObjectId,
-    TypeName, Update,
+    create, get, list, object, test::arbitrary::Invalid, update, Create, ObjectId, TypeName, Update,
 };
 
 use super::test;
@@ -30,7 +29,7 @@ fn roundtrip() {
         &proj.identifier(),
         Create {
             author: Some(terry),
-            history_type: HistoryType::Automerge,
+            history_type: "test".to_string(),
             contents: Vec::new(),
             typename: typename.clone(),
             message: "creating xyz.rad.issue".to_string(),
@@ -63,7 +62,7 @@ fn list_cobs() {
         &proj.identifier(),
         Create {
             author: Some(terry.clone()),
-            history_type: HistoryType::Automerge,
+            history_type: "test".to_string(),
             contents: b"issue 1".to_vec(),
             typename: typename.clone(),
             message: "creating xyz.rad.issue".to_string(),
@@ -78,7 +77,7 @@ fn list_cobs() {
         &proj.identifier(),
         Create {
             author: Some(terry),
-            history_type: HistoryType::Automerge,
+            history_type: "test".to_string(),
             contents: b"issue 2".to_vec(),
             typename: typename.clone(),
             message: "commenting xyz.rad.issue".to_string(),
@@ -113,7 +112,7 @@ fn update_cob() {
         &proj.identifier(),
         Create {
             author: Some(terry.clone()),
-            history_type: HistoryType::Automerge,
+            history_type: "test".to_string(),
             contents: Vec::new(),
             typename: typename.clone(),
             message: "creating xyz.rad.issue".to_string(),
@@ -133,7 +132,7 @@ fn update_cob() {
         Update {
             author: Some(terry),
             changes: b"issue 1".to_vec(),
-            history_type: HistoryType::Automerge,
+            history_type: "test".to_string(),
             object_id: *cob.id(),
             typename: typename.clone(),
             message: "commenting xyz.rad.issue".to_string(),
@@ -174,7 +173,7 @@ fn traverse_cobs() {
         Create {
             author: Some(terry),
             contents: b"issue 1".to_vec(),
-            history_type: HistoryType::Automerge,
+            history_type: "test".to_string(),
             typename: typename.clone(),
             message: "creating xyz.rad.issue".to_string(),
         },
@@ -197,7 +196,7 @@ fn traverse_cobs() {
         Update {
             author: Some(neil),
             changes: b"issue 2".to_vec(),
-            history_type: HistoryType::Automerge,
+            history_type: "test".to_string(),
             object_id: *cob.id(),
             typename,
             message: "commenting on xyz.rad.issue".to_string(),
diff --git a/radicle/src/cob.rs b/radicle/src/cob.rs
index 6a2f71c7..7c86d675 100644
--- a/radicle/src/cob.rs
+++ b/radicle/src/cob.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ pub mod thread;
 
 pub use cob::{
     identity, object::collaboration::error, CollaborativeObject, Contents, Create, Entry, History,
-    HistoryType, ObjectId, TypeName, Update,
+    ObjectId, TypeName, Update,
 };
 pub use common::*;
 
diff --git a/radicle/src/cob/store.rs b/radicle/src/cob/store.rs
index e6422c78..e41a721a 100644
--- a/radicle/src/cob/store.rs
+++ b/radicle/src/cob/store.rs
@@ -8,13 +8,16 @@ use serde::Serialize;
 use crate::cob;
 use crate::cob::common::Author;
 use crate::cob::CollaborativeObject;
-use crate::cob::{Create, History, HistoryType, ObjectId, TypeName, Update};
+use crate::cob::{Create, History, ObjectId, TypeName, Update};
 use crate::crypto::PublicKey;
 use crate::git;
 use crate::identity::project;
 use crate::prelude::*;
 use crate::storage::git as storage;
 
+/// History type for standard radicle COBs.
+pub const HISTORY_TYPE: &str = "radicle";
+
 /// A type that can be materialized from an event history.
 /// All collaborative objects implement this trait.
 pub trait FromHistory: Sized {
@@ -102,7 +105,7 @@ where
             Update {
                 author: Some(cob::Author::from(*signer.public_key())),
                 object_id,
-                history_type: HistoryType::default(),
+                history_type: HISTORY_TYPE.to_owned(),
                 typename: T::type_name().clone(),
                 message: message.to_owned(),
                 changes,
@@ -125,7 +128,7 @@ where
             &self.project,
             Create {
                 author: Some(cob::Author::from(*signer.public_key())),
-                history_type: HistoryType::default(),
+                history_type: HISTORY_TYPE.to_owned(),
                 typename: T::type_name().clone(),
                 message: message.to_owned(),
                 contents,
@@ -141,6 +144,9 @@ where
         let cob = cob::get(self.raw, T::type_name(), id)?;
 
         if let Some(cob) = cob {
+            if cob.manifest().history_type != HISTORY_TYPE {
+                panic!();
+            }
             let (obj, clock) = T::from_history(cob.history())?;
             Ok(Some((obj, clock)))
         } else {