Archiving and Reusing Archiving and Reusing Qualitative DataQualitative Data
Theory, Methods and Ethics across Disciplines
Seminar 4Seminar 4Epistemology of the ArchivesEpistemology of the Archives
Heritage Politics & the epistemology of the Heritage Politics & the epistemology of the political archivepolitical archive
Pelham House Hotel, LewesTuesday 11th November 2008
NCRM Network for Methodological NCRM Network for Methodological Innovation 2008Innovation 2008
NATIONAL DEAF ARCHIVESNATIONAL DEAF ARCHIVESFacing challenges from all cornersFacing challenges from all corners
John A Hay MBE, CF, FRSAJohn A Hay MBE, CF, FRSASenior Lecturer, Deaf Studies & BSL/English
Interpreting, University of WolverhamptonChair, British Deaf History Society
Past President, Deaf History International
National Deaf ArchivesNational Deaf Archives
Why we need Deaf Archives?
Who benefits from them?
What makes them distinct from others?
National Deaf ArchivesNational Deaf Archives
No deaf person should visit the French No deaf person should visit the French
capital without seeing the “Musee Universal capital without seeing the “Musee Universal des Sourds-Muets” at the Institution National des Sourds-Muets” at the Institution National des Sourds-Muets de Paris, 254 Rue Saint des Sourds-Muets de Paris, 254 Rue Saint Jacques. Indeed, to all, deeply interested in Jacques. Indeed, to all, deeply interested in the deaf, the Museum is well worth a special the deaf, the Museum is well worth a special visit to Paris to see. There is no institution visit to Paris to see. There is no institution like it in Britain: there is nothing like it in go-like it in Britain: there is nothing like it in go-ahead USA; it is, as yet, unique.ahead USA; it is, as yet, unique.
The British Deaf Monthly Vol. VI (p.265), 1897The British Deaf Monthly Vol. VI (p.265), 1897
Models of DeafnessModels 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 ModelDeaf Archives: the Medical Model
Paddy Ladd’Paddy Ladd’s metaphorical museumTotems of deafnessTotems of deafness
Ear trumpets from the 17Ear trumpets from the 17thth century, hearing century, hearing aids from the 20aids from the 20thth century, models of the ear century, models of the ear and diagrams of its tiniest parts. Drawings of and diagrams of its tiniest parts. Drawings of children being operated on by the 18children being operated on by the 18thth century dignitaries who called themselves century dignitaries who called themselves doctors, photographs of 19doctors, photographs of 19thth century century children, their mouths forced open with silver children, their mouths forced open with silver tools in order to bring forth sounds, and of tools in order to bring forth sounds, and of children in the 20children in the 20thth century weighed under by century weighed under by headphones half the size of their heads.headphones half the size of their heads.
Totems of deafnessTotems of deafness
Paddy Ladd continues:- Paddy Ladd continues:-
On the walls are paintings in gilded frames of On the walls are paintings in gilded frames of doctors and benefactors in impressive robes doctors and benefactors in impressive robes modelling the honours laid on them by a grateful modelling the honours laid on them by a grateful society …society …
Annie Delin Annie Delin
Buried in the Footnotes Buried in the Footnotes
Richard Sandell, ed. Museums, Society, Inequality, ed. Museums, Society, Inequality (London, Routledge, 2002)(London, Routledge, 2002)
Deaf Archives: the S-C ModelDeaf Archives: the S-C Model
The other museum would have
““DEAF CULTURE”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 LaddUnderstanding Deaf Culture: In Search for Deafhood
(Clevedon, Multilingual Matters, 2003)
Churchill FellowshipChurchill Fellowship
Study tour on Study tour on Deaf Museums and Archival Centres Deaf Museums and Archival Centres
- o O o -- o O o -CategoryCategory
Conservation of Archives, Manuscripts and Conservation of Archives, Manuscripts and BooksBooks
- o O o -- o O o -33rdrd September 2006 – 5 September 2006 – 5thth November 2006 November 2006
WCMT Study TourWCMT Study TourCountries Visited:Countries Visited:
Belgium, The Netherlands,
Germany, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Norway, Russia, the USA & Canada
Churchill Fellowship Study TourChurchill Fellowship Study Tour
Aims of the study tour
To inspect what objects are displayed and To inspect what objects are displayed and storedstoredTo assess ergonomics of museums and archival To assess ergonomics of museums and archival centrescentresTo investigate management & maintenance of To investigate management & maintenance of the centresthe centresTo explore funding sourcesTo explore funding sources
Scenes of centres Scenes of centres #1#1
Images taken by John A Hay
Scenes of centres Scenes of centres #2#2
Images taken by John A Hay
Reflections of WCMT Study TourReflections of WCMT Study Tour
Recognition of a positive Deaf IdentityRecognition of a positive Deaf Identity
Improved Public Awareness of Deaf CultureImproved Public Awareness of Deaf Culture
Increased knowledge of the past deaf Increased knowledge of the past deaf communities for students of Deaf Studies, Sign communities for students of Deaf Studies, Sign Languages and Interpreting Languages and Interpreting
Further information provided on deaf achievers Further information provided on deaf achievers and their deedsand their deeds
A noticeable shift from the medical model to the A noticeable shift from the medical model to the socio-cultural model of deafnesssocio-cultural model of deafness
BDHS National Deaf ArchivesBDHS 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 ArchivesBDHS National Deaf Archives
Storage space at Doncaster Metropolitan Storage space at Doncaster Metropolitan Archives are now full.Archives are now full.
Collections currently held at six different venues Collections currently held at six different venues (within inappropriate environments!)(within inappropriate environments!)
Possible relocation to the salt mines in CheshirePossible relocation to the salt mines in Cheshire
In the process of applying for the Heritage In the process of applying for the Heritage Lottery Fund grants to set upLottery Fund grants to set up
BDHS National Deaf ArchivesBDHS National Deaf Archives
BDHS ChallengesBDHS Challenges
Convincing the public that deafness should not Convincing the public that deafness should not be banded together with disabilitybe banded together with disability
The need to educate curators to release deaf-The need to educate curators to release deaf-related materials to a central pointrelated materials to a central point
To consider access issues for deaf users to the To consider access issues for deaf users to the archivesarchives
Archiving and Reusing Archiving and Reusing Qualitative DataQualitative Data
Heritage Politics & the epistemology of Heritage Politics & the epistemology of the political archivethe political archive
National Deaf Archives
Thank you!