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Archiving and Reusing Qualitative Data. Theory, Methods and Ethics across Disciplines Seminar 4 Epistemology of the Archives Heritage Politics & the epistemology of the political archive Pelham House Hotel, Lewes Monday 11 th November 2008.
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Archiving and Reusing Qualitative Data Theory, Methods and Ethics across Disciplines Seminar 4 Epistemology of the Archives Heritage Politics & the epistemology of the political archive Pelham House Hotel, Lewes Monday 11th November 2008
NCRM Network for Methodological Innovation 2008 NATIONAL DEAF ARCHIVES Facing challenges from all corners John A Hay MBE, CF, FRSA Senior Lecturer, Deaf Studies & BSL/English Interpreting, University of Wolverhampton Chair, British Deaf History Society Past President, Deaf History International
National Deaf Archives Why we need Deaf Archives? Who benefits from them? What makes them distinct from others?
National Deaf Archives No deaf person should visit the French capital without seeing the “Musee Universal des Sourds-Muets” at the Institution National des Sourds-Muets de Paris, 254 Rue Saint Jacques. Indeed, to all, deeply interested in the deaf, the Museum is well worth a special visit to Paris to see. There is no institution like it in Britain: there is nothing like it in go-ahead USA; it is, as yet, unique. The British Deaf Monthly Vol. VI (p.265), 1897
Models of Deafness Medical Model of Disability Social Model of Disability - o O o - Medical Model of Deafness Socio-cultural Model of Deafness
Deaf Archives: the Medical Model Paddy Ladd’s metaphorical museum Totems of deafness Ear trumpets from the 17th century, hearing aids from the 20th century, models of the ear and diagrams of its tiniest parts. Drawings of children being operated on by the 18th century dignitaries who called themselves doctors, photographs of 19th century children, their mouths forced open with silver tools in order to bring forth sounds, and of children in the 20th century weighed under by headphones half the size of their heads.
Totems of deafness Paddy Ladd continues:- On the walls are paintings in gilded frames of doctors and benefactors in impressive robes modelling the honours laid on them by a grateful society … Annie Delin Buried in the Footnotes Richard Sandell, ed. Museums, Society, Inequality (London, Routledge, 2002)
Deaf Archives: the S-C Model The other museum would have “DEAF CULTURE” as a title over the door. Hanging in this museum would be pictures illustrating communities all across the world who were experiencing joy in their collective existence, who had pride in their sign languages and took pleasure in the sight of children reproducing their thoughts and feelings on their hands Paddy Ladd Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search for Deafhood (Clevedon, Multilingual Matters, 2003)
Churchill Fellowship Study tour on Deaf Museums and Archival Centres - o O o - Category Conservation of Archives, Manuscripts and Books - o O o - 3rd September 2006 – 5th November 2006
WCMT Study TourCountries Visited: Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Norway, Russia, the USA & Canada
Churchill Fellowship Study Tour Aims of the study tour • To inspect what objects are displayed and stored • To assess ergonomics of museums and archival centres • To investigate management & maintenance of the centres • To explore funding sources
Reflections of WCMT Study Tour • Recognition of a positive Deaf Identity • Improved Public Awareness of Deaf Culture • Increased knowledge of the past deaf communities for students of Deaf Studies, Sign Languages and Interpreting • Further information provided on deaf achievers and their deeds • A noticeable shift from the medical model to the socio-cultural model of deafness
BDHS National Deaf Archives • First donation to the BDHS “for its archive collection” made in 1996. • Collection of loose copies of deaf-related magazines – a donation of £3000 for bounding of volumes. • Grant of £4800 from The Pilgrim Trust to catalogue and index the BDHS collections, including library materials.
BDHS National Deaf Archives • Storage space at Doncaster Metropolitan Archives are now full. • Collections currently held at six different venues (within inappropriate environments!) • Possible relocation to the salt mines in Cheshire • In the process of applying for the Heritage Lottery Fund grants to set up BDHS National Deaf Archives
BDHS Challenges • Convincing the public that deafness should not be banded together with disability • The need to educate curators to release deaf-related materials to a central point • To consider access issues for deaf users to the archives
Archiving and Reusing Qualitative Data National Deaf Archives Thank you!