18a Collecting Archivist as Opportunist: Breaking the “rules” to build relationships and collect the stories of those under-represented in collections
Tracks
Collaboration and Advocacy
| Wednesday, October 19, 2022 |
| 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM |
Presentation Type
Traditional Paper -- Moderator: Barbara Reed
Session Information
Addressing Silences: The papers in session 18 address silences in archives, there either because the records were never created, they were lost or destroyed, or they were created ‘about’ a group of people who became mute ‘subjects’. These initiatives are presented from different organisational perspectives and resulting different approaches. Each speaks to the potential to constructively disrupt existing practice; respond to damage done by past actions; and bring change and reward.
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Jessica Begley
Programs And Engagement Librarian
ACT Heritage Library (Libraries ACT)
Collecting Archivist as Opportunist: Breaking the “rules” to build relationships and collect the stories of those under-represented in collections
Suzy Nunes
Archivist
ACT Heritage Library (Libraries ACT)
Collecting Archivist as Opportunist: Breaking the “rules” to build relationships and collect the stories of those under-represented in collections
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In 2021 the ACT Heritage Library partnered with the Red Cross Humanitarian Settlement Program’s art therapy program to display artworks produced by refugees who had recently arrived in Australia. The artworks in the exhibition documented the individuals’ experiences of place. As part of the project, the Library also created high resolution images of the artworks which were then added to the collection. Focusing on the actions taken by the ACT Heritage Library to collect the stories of these first-generation migrants and refugees, this paper investigates non-traditional contemporary collecting, relationship building and collecting hidden voices to tell the stories of individuals and communities that are significantly under-represented in collecting archives.
Using this collaboration as a case study, this paper looks at challenging the importance of provenance when describing an archival collection, by exploring why documenting the lived experience of migrants and refugees may be more important than applying fundamental archival principles. Furthermore, it investigates how, by letting go of a primary documentation aspect of donating items to a collecting archive, we are providing the individuals involved a positive experience of working with a government agency with mutually beneficial outcomes. By building trusting relationships, participants are given a positive experience of interacting with a government organisation in the ACT, promoting trust of government more broadly. This has the effect of enhancing community wellbeing, while also allowing the ACT Heritage Library to develop its collections and document the contemporary refugee experience.
Using this collaboration as a case study, this paper looks at challenging the importance of provenance when describing an archival collection, by exploring why documenting the lived experience of migrants and refugees may be more important than applying fundamental archival principles. Furthermore, it investigates how, by letting go of a primary documentation aspect of donating items to a collecting archive, we are providing the individuals involved a positive experience of working with a government agency with mutually beneficial outcomes. By building trusting relationships, participants are given a positive experience of interacting with a government organisation in the ACT, promoting trust of government more broadly. This has the effect of enhancing community wellbeing, while also allowing the ACT Heritage Library to develop its collections and document the contemporary refugee experience.
