CS: Archives Pt. 2

The aim of this two-part workshop is to explore the theory and practice of archival research with a focus on the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary work of GCSC/GGK doctoral candidates.

The first part features an introduction to the basic practices involved in archival research, providing practical insight on organising research and searching for and using archival sources. This will be accompanied by theoretical and conceptual discussion of the place of archives in interdisciplinary scholarship. The workshop will explore not only methods for approaching traditional, document-based archives, but also digital collections.

The multifaceted archival work of the Herder Institute in Marburg – involving traditional documentary archives, photo archives and maps – will provide practical insight into the work of archives, archivists and researchers. The first session also introduces the Herder Institute’s collections in preparation for the half-day excursion that constitutes the second part of this workshop.

This workshop is aimed at doctoral candidates based in all faculties (FB 03, 04, 05) represented at GCSC who have an interest in conducting archival research or in producing their own archives, through interviews or observation-based methods. While the Herder Institute is primarily focused on research on Central and Eastern European history, rather than determine the content of the workshop, this space and discipline will serve as a case study for exploring the methods, theories and concepts associated with archival research.

The workshop will explore the following questions:

• How do I prepare, organise and conduct archival research?
• How do I negotiate the institutional gatekeeping of physical archives and greater openness of digital archives?
• What is the significance of archives conceived as constructed stores of data and knowledge on culture?

Participants are asked to submit a few lines by email two weeks before the workshop outlining why archival investigations are useful to their research, which sources they intend to use (and/or produce), and what problems they have envisaged or encountered so far.

A reading list is provided below, with participants asked to spend some time exploring the links information available online about the Herder Institute’s collections and digital applications of its archival materials.

Reading List and Online Exploration:

Assmann, Aleida, ‘Canon and Archive’, extract in A Companion to Cultural Memory Studies, Astrid Erll and Ansgar Nünning (eds), (Berlin/ New York: de Gruyter, 2010), pp. 97-107. [A German version will also be provided].

Farge, Arlette, The Allure of the Archives, trans. Thomas Scott-Railton, (Yale UP: 2013 [1989]). Selected sections, esp. 1-22, 53-113 (the pages are small, the print is large). [German: Der Geschmack des Archivs, (Göttingen: Wallstein, 2011)].

Herder Institute: Participants should explore this German-language online catalogue of the Herder Institute’s Document Collection (DSHI) <http://www.herder-institut.de/dshi/Bestaendeuebersicht/> and also the Image Catalogue at <http://www.herder-institut.de/bildkatalog/>

• How practical, clear and informative are these catalogues? Please report back with any interesting findings and observations for discussion in both parts of the workshop

Participants should investigate the selection of archival resources made available online by the Herder Institute here <http://www.herder-institut.de/bestaende-digitale-angebote/e-publikationen/dokumente-und-materialien.html>, looking in particular at the selection of thematic modules <http://www.herder-institut.de/bestaende-digitale-angebote/e-publikationen/dokumente-und-materialien/themenmodule.html> and judging the effectiveness of the search feature. <http://www.herder-institut.de/bestaende-digitale-angebote/e-publikationen/dokumente-und-materialien/suche.html>

• Again, how effective is this website and catalogue for finding information? What are the epistemological issues associated with the presentation of this selections of materials?

Participants are, finally, asked to explore the Herder’s Online presentation of its Silesian Atlas project, outlined here <http://www.herder-institut.de/forschung-projekte/laufende-projekte/historisch-topographischer-atlas-schlesischer-staedte.html>, with the link to the actual work here: <http://www.herder-institut.de/staedteatlas_schlesien/atlas.html>

• Is this an effective use of sources for public presentation? What could the value of this project be for future researchers?

Practical information

Participants will leave by train from Giessen Hbf to Marburg Hbf taking the 09:05 HLB train (meeting at train station at 08:55), arriving at 09:20. Please use your semester ticket. The 30-minute walk to the Herder Institute will involve steep climbing. If you are unable to manage this walk, please inform me in advance, so that a taxi can be budgeted for. The Herder Institute has no substantial catering facilities, so please bring drinks and food.

If you think that it will be useful for your research to sign up to the Herder Institute library, receiving a readers’ card and the opportunity to order interlibrary loans direct to Giessen for free, then bring an identity document, with proof of address.