Author: Cheryl

CFP: Oral History Network of Ireland Annual Conference 2023

The Oral History Network of Ireland (OHNI) is pleased to announce its 2023 conference on the theme of ‘Oral History: Power and Resistance’. At every stage of the process, oral history projects may be impacted by and engage with issues of power and resistance. Oral histories offer unique insights into the operations of power and resistance in our societies in the past and present. This is not confined to issues of political power and resistance but can include everything from power dynamics within personal relationships, to understanding minority-majority group experiences. Who exercises power, how it is used and how it can be leveraged are key questions for oral historians. Similarly, what is resistance, what forms it takes and how it may or may not effect social change are questions that have been explored with the assistance of oral histories. Power and resistance are also considerations at every level in the creation of an oral history – whose stories are told, how they’re told, the power (or lack thereof) exercised by interviewees and interviewers, and the purpose of oral history itself.

The conference will take place at Dooley’s Hotel, Waterford on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th June 2023.

We are delighted to welcome Graham Smith, Professor of Oral History at Newcastle University, as the keynote speaker. His research interests include public history and environmental oral history, with a particular focus on how people remember in groups, as well as the history of family and the history of medicine. He helped to establish the Oral History Unit and Collective at Newcastle in 2017. A long-time trade union activist, Graham is the joint editor of the Historians for History blog and the editor of the four-volume collection Oral History, published by Routledge in 2017 as part of their Critical Concepts in Historical Studies series.

Call for Papers

Conference contributions are welcome in a range of formats:

  • Standard conference papers (20 minutes)
  • 10-minute presentations for our ‘Moments’ panels, focusing on outstanding or memorable individuals, experiences, and/or incidents that influenced or changed the way the presenter practices oral history. Contributions showcasing new projects on the conference theme at an early stage of development are also welcome here.
  • Posters and visual presentations

We welcome proposals on any topic related to oral history, particularly those that take an imaginative approach to the conference theme of ‘Power and Resistance’. Potential topics could include (but are not limited to):

  • Power dynamics in the interview
  • Oral history and marginalised voices
  • Elite oral histories
  • Uncovering the operation of power in organisations and institutions
  • Abuses of power
  • Resistance and adaptation
  • Power, resistance and trauma
  • History from above and below
  • Power, resistance and the archive
  • Oral history and empowerment

To propose a paper, please submit an abstract (of not more than 250 words) along with your name, the name of your group, organisation or institution, and your email address to info@oralhistorynetworkireland.ie before Friday 28th April 2023. All proposals must demonstrate a clear engagement with oral history and/or personal testimony and we actively encourage the use of audio or video clips. The conference committee’s decision on successful abstracts will be communicated to potential presenters in May 2023. Information regarding registration for the conference will be posted in the coming weeks.

For further information, please see our website (https://oralhistorynetworkireland.ie/2023-conference) or the PDF of the call for papers (https://oralhistorynetworkireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/CFP2023.pdf). Questions may be directed to info@oralhistorynetworkireland.ie.  

New Issue: Archives and Records

Archives and Records, 44 (2023)
Special Issue: New Professional and Student Research

Articles

Establishing special collections literacy for undergraduate students: an investigation into benefits and barriers of access
Joanna Baines

The ghosts of old readers: social media, representation and gender in the information sector
Gabrielle Bex

Preserving Ancient Egyptian cultural heritage: an examination of the role of egyptological archives
Alix Robinson

Grave concerns: the state of public cemetery records management in South Africa
Marie-Louise Rouget

Engagement with decolonizing archival practices in the UK archives sector: a survey of archives workers’ attitudes
Flore Janssen

‘It’s good for them to feel stretched’: collaborative volunteer projects at the Staffordshire Record Office
Helen Houghton-Foster

Re-animation and interrogation: Irish visual and performing artists’ encounters with the archive
Jennifer Branigan

Book Reviews

Records of the Jesus Guild in St Paul’s Cathedral, c.1450-1550: an edition of Oxford, Bodleian MS Tanner 221, and associated material
edited by Elizabeth A. New, Woodbridge, The Boydell Press for the London Record Society, 2022, xvi + 311 pp., £60 (hardback), ISBN 978-0-90095-262-3 (London Record Society Publications, Volume LVI)
Anthony Smith

Sustainable Enterprise Strategies for Optimizing Digital Stewardship: A Guide for Libraries, Archives, and Museums
by Angela Fritz, Lanham, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2021, xv, 95 pp, £30 (paperback) ISBN 978-1-5381-4286-8
Rachel MacGregor

Trinity College Library Dublin: a descriptive catalogue of manuscripts containing Middle English and some Old English
by John Scattergood, Niamh Pattwell and Emma Williams, Four Courts Press, 2021, xxxvii + 367 pp., €55 (hardback),ISBN 978-1-84682-852-2
Jade Godsall

Manuscripts in the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Cultures and connections
edited by Claire Breay and Joanna Story, with Eleanor Jackson, Dublin, Four Courts Press, 2021, xviii + 242 pp., €65 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-84682-866-9
Richard Wragg

Economic considerations for libraries, archives and museums
edited by Lorraine A. Stuart, Thomas F. R. Clareson and Joyce Ray, Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY, Routledge, 2022, 238 pp., £29.59 (eBook), ISBN 978-1-003-03710-1
Louise Ray

New/Recent Publications

Articles

Sunil Tyagi, “Preservation and conservation of indigenous manuscripts,” IFLA Journal, 49 no. 1 (2023): 143–156.

Ana Roeschley, “Symbiosis or friction: Understanding participant motivations for information sharing and institutional goals in participatory archive initiatives,” Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 2023.

Naiman, J.P., Williams, P.K.G. & Goodman, A. “The digitization of historical astrophysical literature with highly localized figures and figure captions.” International Journal of Digital Libraries (2023).

dos Santos, E.A., Peroni, S. & Mucheroni, M.L. “Referencing behaviours across disciplines: publication types and common metadata for defining bibliographic references.” 

Naiman, J.P., Williams, P.K.G. & Goodman, A. “The digitization of historical astrophysical literature with highly localized figures and figure captions.” International Journal of Digital Libraries (2023).

Books

Virginie Rey. Mediating Museums: Exhibiting Material Culture in Tunisia (1881–2016). Studies in the History and Society of the Maghrib Series. Leiden: Brill, 2019

CFP: Hip Hop Archives

At the age 50, Hip Hop is finally understood as an essential facet of world-wide culture, with wide-ranging influence on our shared world. The continued lack of hip hop documents in traditional archives indicates both a lack of interest in, or understanding of that impact, as well as the inherent ephemerality of the five pillars of hip hop, leaving interested archivists without a path for documentation.

Taking Mark V. Campbell’s assertion that archival presentations of hip hop “signal the continued importance of the culture’s fifth element: knowledge” which “indicate[s] an ‘archival state of mind’ with increased attentiveness to the preservation of hip-hop culture through lived, embodied and affective practices” pathways to documentation do exist, and can be replicated in traditional archival settings.

This special issue of the Journal of Archival Organization will focus on the efforts of creators, collectors, activists, scholars, archivists, and polymaths that can guide and inspire the collecting, study and celebration of hip hop in all of its forms. We welcome original research articles, review articles, and critical essays that examine the intersection of hip-hop and archives.

Free event: Navigating the IRB Process with the Society of American Archivists Committee on Research Data and Assessment

Navigating the IRB Process with the Society of American Archivists Committee on Research Data and Assessment

  • What: This is a 1-hour panel discussion about the process of getting approval from an institutional review board (IRB) for research on the archival field and related topics.
  • When: Monday, April 17, 2023, 2:00 pm-3:00 pm CDT. A recording of the event will be made available online for those unable to attend.
  • Registration (limited to 500 attendees): https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwrcuqsrjMvGtbnunBAqQqZNVFdVv9sbhrX

The Society of American Archivists Committee on Research, Data and Assessment (CORDA)  is excited to present a free, one-hour panel discussion on navigating the IRB process for research on the archives and library professions. The process of seeking approval from an IRB is often perceived as a barrier to undertaking research that may contribute valuable knowledge to our field. With this discussion, we hope to answer the following questions:

  • What is an institutional review board and why do they exist?
  • Which types of research require approval from an IRB?
  • How does the IRB process look at different types of institutions?
  • What are some common mistakes people make when submitting their research to an IRB?

While the above questions are meant to guide the conversation, our goal is for this to primarily be an opportunity for attendees to get their questions answered by other professionals who have been through the process, as well as people responsible for reviewing research proposals. 

We are grateful to the panelists who agreed to participate in this event:

  • Susan Askren, Research Compliance Office, Smithsonian Institution
  • Adam Bailey, Senior IRB Manager, Social & Behavioral (Non-Medical) IRB, Stanford University Research Compliance Office
  • Amanda Hawk, Public Services Manager for Distinctive Collections, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Margaret Hoogland, Margaret A. Hoogland, Clinical Medical Librarian, University of Toledo

As part of its mission, CORDA seeks to make the research process accessible to archival professionals, academic researchers, SAA group members, and others. We hope you will join us for this event!

Call for Participation: Digitization + AI for Archives and Documentary Heritage Materials – Survey

You are invited to participate in an English-language survey aiming to measure the current scope of digitization projects and programs across institutions. Thank you for taking the time to consider participating in the survey.

We are a team of researchers from archival, librarianship, and information management backgrounds investigating the intersection of digitization and artificial intelligence (AI). This research is part of the study Model for AI-assisted Digitization of Archives and Documentary Heritage Materials, part of the multi-national, interdisciplinary project InterPARES Trust AI (2021–2026).  ITrustAI aims to design, develop, and leverage AI to support the ongoing availability and accessibility of trustworthy public records. 

Our target audience for this survey are professionals in any role or position (including consultants) working in institutions with archival and documentary heritage holdings or collections. No prior experience with artificial intelligence or digitization is needed to participate in the survey. 

Our main goals are:

1) To understand the current state of digitization within organizations;

2) To understand whether or not organizations are using artificial intelligence in digitization projects, and if so, in what ways;

3) To understand the drivers and barriers, challenges and opportunities for organizations in relation to both digitization and AI.

This questionnaire consists of 50 questions and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Your responses can be saved if you cannot complete the survey in one sitting. All responses will be de-identified and analyzed in aggregate form.

Through the study, we aim to encourage sustainable digitization projects for access and long term preservation of archives and documentary heritage materials; investigate the impact of digitization efforts on the broader archival and documentary heritage landscape; and learn from organizations that are using AIin their digitization-related activities. Anonymized survey results and other findings from the study will be shared. Your responses are very appreciated.

To participate, please submit your answers by May 1st, 2023. For questions or comments, please contact: e.sengsavang@unesco.org.

Link to the survey: Survey on Digitization and AI

Thank you for your time and participation!

Sincerely,

Model for AI-Assisted Digitization study team:

Eng Sengsavang, UNESCO Archives (study lead)

Hrvoje Stancic, University of Zagreb

Marta Riess, International Atomic Energy Agency

Adam Jansen, Hawaii State Archives

Shadreck Bayane, University of South Africa

Marina de Souza, University of British Columbia (GAA)

Kailey Fukushima, University of British Columbia (GAA)

Zeljko Trubusic, University of Zagreb (GAA)

Call for Proposals: RAO Marketplace of IDEAs and Webinar Series

The Reference, Access, and Outreach Section (RAO) of the Society of American Archivists (SAA) seeks proposals for the 2023 Spring/Summer IDEAS Webinar Series (April-July) and Annual Meeting Marketplace of IDEAs on Friday, July 14, 2023 @ 4pm EDT/3pm CDT/2pm MDT/1pm PDT.

Topics focused on the RAO sub-committee areas of Teaching with Primary Sources, Exhibits and Events, and Public Services Assessment are encouraged. Proposals addressing topics or themes related to the following will be prioritized: 

  • evolving the archival profession, public services, new ideas, fresh perspectives
  • orienting reference, access, and outreach efforts in a more Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, and Accessible way
  • collaborations/co-sponsorships with other Sections

Submission Due Dates:
    For Webinar proposals, please submit at least 4-5 weeks in advance of your preferred date(s), but no later than Friday, June 2, 2023
    For Marketplace of IDEAS proposals, please submit by Friday, June 2, 2023

Submission Form: forms.gle/kWnehC2ymVnvfLq46

Please send any questions to current RAO Chair, Jay-Marie Bravent,  jmbravent@uky.edu or any member of the Steering Committee. 

JCAS Call for Book Reviewers

The Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies (JCAS) is looking for book reviewers for the following titles. Please note that some are digital only and you must have a way to access e-books. If you’re interested, please email us at email.jcas@gmail.com by April 3. In your email, please include 1) a brief description of your professional interests 2) which title you’d like to review and why 3) your preferred mailing address for review copies. Please also include [Book Reviews] in the subject line. You can find the reviewer guidelines at our website: elischolar.library.yale.edu/jcas/bookreview.html

  • Fundraising for Impact in Libraries, Archives, and Museums: Making the Case to Government, Foundation, Corporate, and Individual Funders by Kathryn K. Matthew (e-book only)
  • Museum Archives: Issues, Practice, Advocacy edited by Rachel Chatalbash, Susan Hernandez, and Megan Schwenke
  • Disputed Archival Heritage edited by James Lowry (e-book only)
  • Residencies Revisited: Reflections on Library Residency Programs from the Past and Present edited by Preethi Gorecki and Arielle Petrovich
  • Bitstreams: The Future of Digital Library Heritage by Matthew G. Kirschenbaum

Call for Abstracts: Humboldt Journal of Social Relations

Academic Libraries Creating Global Community:
Operating Outside of Traditional Roles and Spaces

To support our students and faculty as global citizens, academic libraries are increasingly engaging with broader community efforts to affect positive change. We want to hear about your approaches to addressing inequality, censorship, climate change, misinformation, low civic engagement, and other stressors that impact our students and the world. Examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Responses to censorship, anti-intellectualism, or misinformation
  • Collection development in coordination with public or school libraries
  • Community-inclusive service or events
  • Collaborations with non-profits or local businesses
  • Involvement in community sustainability or literacy projects 
  • Social justice collaborations 
  • Indigenous science collaborations
  • Efforts to foster civic engagement
  • Community development in special collections and archives
  • Expanding access to graduates and/or community members

The Humboldt Journal of Social Relations is a historic peer-reviewed, open-access, interdisciplinary journal dedicated to academic discussions of the major issues of our age. We are honored that the editorial board has chosen academic libraries as the topic of their 46th volume and we hope this volume will share our library efforts to outside audiences. We are accepting case studies, research articles, book reviews, and opinion pieces. Only case studies and research articles will be processed through peer review.

Send an abstract* of your proposed article to press@humboldt.edu. The abstract deadline is April 7, 2023. Abstracts should include::

  • Article title
  • Abstract 200-400 words
  • Author information:
    • Name
    • Title
    • Affiliation (ex. University name)
    • Email

If your abstract is accepted, the article deadline will be September 1, 2023. Word count for final article submissions are:

  • Case studies and research articles: 3,000-6,000 words
  • Book reviews: 500-2,000
  • Opinion pieces: 1000-3,000 words

ASA or APA citation styles are recommended.

*The abstracts are for our editorial team review only.

Call For Papers: Federal Writers’ Project

Call for papers – Proposed volume

Working through the Federal Writers’ Project: Labor, Place, Archive, and Representation

deadline for submissions: May 31, 2023

This proposed volume of interdisciplinary essays reexamines the New Deal era’s Federal Writers’ Project (FWP) as a labor project. We are working with a publisher to feature this book, Working through the Federal Writers’ Project: Labor, Place, Archive, and Representation, as part of a potential series on the FWP,  on the burgeoning field of FWP studies, and on how FWP studies fits in the larger framework of labor studies. Labor, in this sense, is not a narrow category. It encompasses trade unions, working conditions, labor power, political economy, and the everyday reality of working lives. Identification with labor enabled FWP writers to take a perspective on figures in a landscape that otherwise went unnoticed–men and women, some of them the formerly enslaved, working across industrial, agricultural, and domestic sectors. Instead of treating those figures as objects, many FWP writers promoted them as subjects, makers of democracy in a world threatened then, as now, by the rise of fascism. Many writers in the FWP exchanged revolutionary ideas about anti-racist and pro-labor struggles, creating a body of literature that depicts the diversity of American life while revealing the faultlines of U.S. racism and class division.

We invite examinations of the FWP archives and life histories housed at the Library of Congress as well as the American Guide Series and literary works by federal writers that consider these primary texts through the lens of labor. How did the FWP capture the voices of working people, both men and women? In what ways did the FWP provide emerging writers, including Black, female, and working-class writers, an opportunity to publish? In what ways did the FWP tacitly elicit stories of work that celebrated narratives of endurance and agency? How did the FWP and its writers navigate and/or embrace anti-racist and pro-labor struggles in the project? 

Finally, reexamining the FWP as a labor project suggests a parallel between the 1930s and our own moment, in which capitalists squeeze value from the precariously underemployed and overworked. The realities of unpaid/unrecognized labor, including dependent-care/family care and domestic work (either for hire or not), invites a consideration of future representations of work and worker’s lives, particularly given the renewed struggle for unionization and emerging multiracial class solidarity today. 

The editors invite proposals (200-400 word abstracts) for chapters in the range of 5000-7000 words from scholars of American studies, working-class studies, U.S. labor history, ethnic studies, composition studies, and any others that intersect with the study of the FWP. 

For a fuller description of the CFP, please see

https://call-for-papers.sas.upenn.edu/cfp/2023/02/06/working-through-the-federal-writers’-project-labor-place-archive-and-representation

Deadlines

  • for chapter proposals: May 31, 2023
  • for full chapter submission: September 15, 2023

Send queries and proposals to the co-editors Maureen Curtin and Michele Fazio at fwplabor@gmail.com