There are people who inspire me for different reasons. I'm sure you can relate to having a hero(s), or someone you have met, read about, or heard of that inspires you to inquire. The great thing about being library-minded is that inquiring and finding come natural to me. Yet, sometimes there are instances that reveal themselves where I am found, and the situation, person, or universal message finds me.
This is the case with a colleague of mine, Renee Neely. Last week, I had the privilege to see archival research in action, where she presented a working project “How Archives Shape our Collective Memory as seen in the 1936-1938 Federal Writers' Project Collection of Slave Narratives,” at a local New England center, the Center for the Study of Slavery & Justice at Brown University. Attending this event was not only informative, gripping, and confronting, but like all spaces that provoke reflection, invoking inquiry.
The obvious takeaway was knowing that this area of study is, in a generalized statement, layered. I was happy to see Renee, an archivist, amongst a room of historians and American studies folk; and me, the only librarian. Including myself into the equation, we were the exact image, poster-child, of what the library, archive roles have in relation to humanities researchers. Renee represented more than a person who specializes in preservation, and archival considerations. The message was greater than "archives." The historians mesmerized by the resources, Renee inspired by the nuances. Drawing on the experience, her presentation was indicative of what has not been said prevalently. Her perspective, challenged and respectfully, critiqued the products and process of our objects of access.
I, also am in the midst of an oral history independent study. I particularly, found her reflections and points of debate on point with what some of the main oral history scholars have worked into the popular reads. Alessandro Portelli, comes to mind. Thinking about what is learned from the act of the interview and the subtle lessons that happen from the project itself. Renee revealed these to us in her presentation and rightfully, tuned in on the major eye-opener: not all projects are developed with the future in mind. Archivists are the keystone species which think about this issue. Not all librarians understand this principle. I have learned many archival deposits of wisdom walking a line between archival and librarian thought. For me, archivists inspire and invoke inquiry.
This is the case with a colleague of mine, Renee Neely. Last week, I had the privilege to see archival research in action, where she presented a working project “How Archives Shape our Collective Memory as seen in the 1936-1938 Federal Writers' Project Collection of Slave Narratives,” at a local New England center, the Center for the Study of Slavery & Justice at Brown University. Attending this event was not only informative, gripping, and confronting, but like all spaces that provoke reflection, invoking inquiry.
The obvious takeaway was knowing that this area of study is, in a generalized statement, layered. I was happy to see Renee, an archivist, amongst a room of historians and American studies folk; and me, the only librarian. Including myself into the equation, we were the exact image, poster-child, of what the library, archive roles have in relation to humanities researchers. Renee represented more than a person who specializes in preservation, and archival considerations. The message was greater than "archives." The historians mesmerized by the resources, Renee inspired by the nuances. Drawing on the experience, her presentation was indicative of what has not been said prevalently. Her perspective, challenged and respectfully, critiqued the products and process of our objects of access.
I, also am in the midst of an oral history independent study. I particularly, found her reflections and points of debate on point with what some of the main oral history scholars have worked into the popular reads. Alessandro Portelli, comes to mind. Thinking about what is learned from the act of the interview and the subtle lessons that happen from the project itself. Renee revealed these to us in her presentation and rightfully, tuned in on the major eye-opener: not all projects are developed with the future in mind. Archivists are the keystone species which think about this issue. Not all librarians understand this principle. I have learned many archival deposits of wisdom walking a line between archival and librarian thought. For me, archivists inspire and invoke inquiry.
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