Disputed Archival Heritage

A roundtable discussion to mark the publication of Disputed Archival Heritage

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

2pm Eastern Time

Discussants:

• John Aarons, former Government Archivist of Jamaica, co-author of “Diasporic, Displaced, Alienated or Shared: Caribbean Literary Archives”

• J.J. Ghaddar, Assistant Professor, Dalhousie University, author of “Provenance in Place: Crafting the Vienna Convention for Global Decolonization and Archival Repatriation”

• Stanley Griffin, Senior Lecturer, University of the West Indies, author of “Value Displaced, Value Re/Claimed: Musings on Reparations, Shared Heritage and Caribbean Archival Records”

• Moderator: James Lowry, Associate Professor, City University of New York

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUuceuhpzwvGdYhR2GiosAyU7L2PAT0BvHj

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Disputed Archival Heritage brings important new perspectives into the discourse on displaced archives. In contrast to shared or joint heritage framings, the book considers the implications of force, violence and loss in the displacement of archival heritage.

With chapters from established and emerging scholars in archival studies, Disputed Archival Heritage extends and enriches the conversation that started with the earlier volume, Displaced Archives. Advancing novel theories and methods for understanding disputes and claims over archives, the volume includes chapters that focus on Indigenous records in settler colonial states; literary and community archives; sub-national and private sector displacements; successes in repatriating formerly displaced archives; comparisons with cultural objects seized by colonial powers and the relationship between repatriation and reparations. Analysing key concepts such as joint heritage and provenance, the contributors unsettle Western understandings of records, place and ownership.

Disputed Archival Heritage speaks to the growing interest in shared archival heritage, repatriation of cultural artefacts and cultural diasporas. As such, it will be a useful resource for academics, students and practitioners working in the field of archives, records and information management, as well as cultural property and heritage management, peace and conflict studies and international law.