tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46550325452979707912024-03-05T05:31:53.739-05:00Historical Reminiscents.“Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted, but to weigh and consider . . . Histories make men wise.”-Francis Bacon.Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.comBlogger459125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-7650126884231299312015-02-17T11:16:00.004-05:002015-02-17T11:16:58.988-05:00Moving On: New SiteI've been blogging at this web address since 2008 when I had to set up a blog for a digital history class as part of my MA in Public History. This past weekend I finally got around to registering my own domain and setting up a more permanent site. You can check it out at <a href="http://kristamccracken.ca/" target="_blank">kristamccracken.ca </a><br />
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Given how easy it was to migrate content from blogger, register the domain, and install WordPress on the site I'm not sure why I waited so long to move things over. <br />
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If you follow this blog by RSS feed please update your feed to the new address. All new blog posts will be at the new site. Onwards and Upwards. Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-80429369446456219162015-01-24T22:32:00.000-05:002015-01-24T22:32:35.078-05:00Collaborative History and Virtual Peer NetworksI recently wrote a short <a href="http://krista-mccracken.blogspot.ca/2015/01/historical-trauma-and-self-care.html" target="_blank">post</a> on historical trauma and self-care. Shortly after writing that post I read <a href="http://corner.acu.edu.au/research_supervision/framework/browse.php?srperid=8" target="_blank">Shurlee Swain</a>'s <i>Public Historian</i> article "<a href="http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.1525/tph.2014.36.4.38?uid=3737720&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&sid=21105150762631" target="_blank">Stakeholders as Subjects: The Role of Historians in the Development of Australia's Find & Connect Web Resource</a>." Swain's article reflected on the challenges of creating the <a href="http://www.findandconnect.gov.au/" target="_blank">Find & Connect</a> digital resource that was created as a result of the 2009 government apology to Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants. <br />
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The Find & Connect site brings together historical resources and documentation relating to institutional care in Australia. It contains histories of each institution written by public historians that have used a collaborative approach to history; combing information found in official records with oral history accounts of institutional care. Swain's article highlights the challenges of collaborative history and of historians working as mediators to present the past.<br />
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I found a number of similarities in Swain's discussion of the Find & Connect project to on going work relating to residential schools that attempts to provide a fuller picture of the past, which incorporated administrative/government records with survivor voices. Swain's also outlined the implications for historians working with this type of project. She argued that "There is a need...as a historian, to 'get it right'. 'Getting it right' is not about finding the truth because the truth is a different story for everyone...It is about finding the "right voice to present history from multiple viewpoints." Finding balance when writing about historian trauma is extremely difficult.<br />
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Working on topics related to historical trauma can also be emotionally taxing and historians need to address the personal toll of vicarious trauma. Swain maintains that the impact of working on a historically traumatic topic is cumulative and that historians need to admit the personal realities of working on difficult topics. In the case of the Find & Connect project a virtual peer network was created to allow researchers to support each other, share experiences, and discuss coping mechanisms.<br />
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Researchers tend to work in isolation and creating a support network can be instrumental in creating strong coping mechanisms. Swain's article was the first time I've seen a public history project openly address the needs for emotional supports. Her work also made me wonder about the lack of resources available for most historians researching residential schools and what can be done to emotionally support people who are engaging in important work independently. Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-91778269009321521672015-01-15T11:02:00.000-05:002015-01-15T11:02:07.204-05:00Redress and Reconciliation: The Legacy of Residential SchoolsYesterday I attended a panel at Algoma University focused on residential school and reconciliation. The panel, “Redress & Reconciliation in the face of Post-Apology Revelations”, was standing room only and featured four residential school survivors, two inter-generational survivors, and historian <a href="http://www.ianmosby.ca/" target="_blank">Ian Mosby</a>. <br />
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The panel participants were invited to speak about their thoughts on Harper's apology to residential school survivors, reconciliation, and relations following the apology. The first two survivors to speak, Mary Hill and Fran Fletcher Luther, both emphasized that they thought Harper didn't truly believe the words of the apology, that the words he spoke didn't come from the heart, and that he didn't write the apology. Mary Hill also said she felt disappointed that the apology didn't acknowledge those survivors who have already passed on. <br />
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The two inter-generational survivors spoke of the long term impacts of residential schools on communities and the need to acknowledge the on-going damage. They pointed to the ongoing legislation that is marginalizing indigenous people and then need for a true apology to be followed up with actions. Mitch Case highlighted the need for truth. He argued that reconciliation cannot begin until the truth is out there and accepted. <br />
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The inter-generational impacts of the residential school system have been devastating and is something that needs to be acknowledged and discussed more. The inclusion of two inter-generational survivors on the panel helped highlight the need for more open discussions and brought attention to current legislation that is marginalizing indigenous communities.<br />
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One of the most moving parts of the panel was listening to <a href="http://www.nrsss.ca/Mike%20Bio.htm" target="_blank">Mike Cachagee</a> speak about his experience at residential school, his work with the government leading up the residential school settlement agreement, and the residential schools survivor movement. Mike spoke about starving at residential school and the physical and emotional pain caused by starvation. <br />
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Mike also told an anecdote in which he was questioned about why he was publicly speaking against the residential school settlement agreement. He asked government officials if they had children and if so what price could they put on their love for their child. Predictably, the individuals said you couldn't put a price on love. Mike response was 'But you have. You paid me $3,000 a year for my attendance at residential school. $3,000 a year for being deprived of my parents love, for being taken away from my family.' <br />
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I've heard Mike tell this experience to other groups. But every time this example is gut wrenching. The compensation of the residential school settlement agreement did not fix things and can in no way make up for what happened in residential schools. Mike's pointed words highlight an underlying dissatisfaction many have with the apology, the settlement agreement, and current discussions of reconciliation. <br />
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The panel closed with the resilient words "They can't take our spirit. They couldn't take our souls." I have worked closely with the survivors who were on this panel for the past five years. I have heard them speak about their residential school experiences countless times. But each time they speak I learn something new and I am reminded of the importance of truth telling and the need for us to listen to each other. Reconciliation takes two sides. Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-69121001235800348512015-01-13T10:26:00.000-05:002015-01-13T10:27:06.050-05:00Digital Community Archives: South Asian American Digital ArchiveThe recent issue of <i><a href="http://ucpressjournals.com/journal.php?j=tph" target="_blank">The Public Historian</a> </i>featured an article, "Seeing Yourself in History: Community Archives and the Fight Against Symbolic Annihilation", by <a href="http://www.michellecaswell.org/" target="_blank">Michelle Caswell.</a> The article looks at the development of the <a href="https://www.saadigitalarchive.org/" target="_blank">South Asian American Digital Archive</a> (SAADA) and the role the archive has played in preserving the marginalized history of the South Asian American community.<br />
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South Asian American history was not being collected by repositories and the history was being left undocumented. The SAADA was established as a grassroots effort to change the profound archival silence around the South Asian community. The SAADA is an excellent example of a community rallying together to preserve its own history and using digitization to increase awareness and access to material.<br />
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Caswell argues that "community-based archives serve as an alternative venue for communities to make collective decisions about what is of enduring value to them and to control the means through which stories about their past are constructed." Community archives have the potential to empower communities, reunite communities with their past, and create a shared history. Like many grassroots archives the SAADA was created in a response to the omission of the 'official' historical record. The South Asian community did not see themselves in popular history or in more formal repositories -- sparking the creation of their own community archive.<br />
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SAADA is also engaging in the documentation of community knowledge. The project facilitates shared authority and participatory archival description, allowing community members to describe the content held by the archive. This practice acknowledges the importance of community knowledge and works toward integrating that knowledge into the archival record. This integration highlights the truly community governed nature of this archive and serves as an excellent example of a marginalized people creating their own archival voice and preserving their history in a way that they sit fit. <br />
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Caswell's article on the SAADA is an example of a community archive that has much success. The first six years of operation saw 1800 digitized records being created and the collection being used by educators, community members, and researchers. The digital only model of the archive is interesting. The SAADA has on public space and it's collections are purely digital. The original items remain with larger repositories or the community members who own them. The access created by the emphasis on digitization is great. But I wonder about the long term preservation of the community based materials and helping community members preserve those original documents. Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-74210319547672134682015-01-12T09:58:00.000-05:002015-01-12T09:58:04.820-05:00Patchwork of Care: Midwifery in CanadaMy most recent post, "<a href="http://activehistory.ca/2015/01/a-patchwork-of-care-midwifery-in-canada/" target="_blank">Patchwork of Care: Midwifery in Canada</a>" can be seen over at the <a href="http://activehistory.ca/" target="_blank">Active History</a> site. The post looks at the history and regulation of midwives in Canada and the current differences in access to midwife care across the country. Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-77528206509643928392014-12-26T16:03:00.000-05:002015-01-02T16:03:32.353-05:00Historical Trauma and Self Care<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">During the month of December I am participating in </span><a href="http://www.projectreverb.com/" style="color: #7687ed; line-height: 18.4799995422363px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0022ed;">#reverb14</span></a><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"> as
a means of getting my writing habits back on track. I will be altering
the prompts as needed to fit within the scope of this blog. Prompt: Energy. What gave you energy this year? What took away your energy?</span></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Recently on twitter a few historians were discussing the personal impacts of working on projects involving historical trauma. Working on emotionally charged historical topics can be emotionally draining. In the past four years while being actively engaged with residential school archives and survivors I have seen and experienced the toll of working with archives relating to historical trauma. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Archival material relating to residential schools can be triggering and cause emotional distress. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">The
Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre archives is overseen by the
Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association (CSAA) and this group of
survivors is actively involved in the management of the archives. The
CSAA also serve as health support for the staff, researchers, survivors,
and community members who use the archives. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span>Having this type of health support available to visitors has been invaluable. I've seen people from all walks of life be emotionally touched by residential schools. Having built in mental health supports is essential in creating safe spaces to discuss historical trauma. It is also important to teach front line archival staff how they can support visitors who may be triggered by material they are viewing. Creating a supportive environment for viewing material relating to historical trauma needs include training staff to spot emotional distress and how to provide assistance when needed.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"> </span></span><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"> </span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">I've been lucky to be part of a workplace and community that is supportive of self-care. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">The
emotional impact of working on topics related to historical trauma is something
that isn't often discussed amongst historians, archivists, and other heritage
professionals. But t</span></span></span>alking about the toll of working with emotionally draining material is crucial. Personally, I've found taking a step back from the material, focusing on the importance of truth telling and the positive impact of connecting communities with their past helpful. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><br /></span></span></span>Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-24629508606849414402014-12-23T09:50:00.001-05:002014-12-23T09:50:53.237-05:00Closure of Smith Museum of Stained Glass<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">During the month of December I am participating in </span><a href="http://www.projectreverb.com/" style="color: #7687ed; line-height: 18.4799995422363px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0022ed;">#reverb14</span></a><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"> as a means of getting my writing habits back on track. I will be altering the prompts as needed to fit within the scope of this blog. </span></span><span style="color: #444444; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Revised Prompt: What heritage sites have you discovered this year that you love? Tell us all about them, and why you love them. </span></i></span><br />
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One of my favourite trips this year was to Chicago and included a number of heritage sites. The built heritage in Chicago is beautiful and I enjoyed learning about how the city developed and the mixture of architecture styles that developed as a result of continuous development after devastating fires in the city.<br />
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One of the smallest heritage sites I visited this year was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_Museum_of_Stained_Glass_Windows" target="_blank">Smith Museum of Strained Glass Windows in Chicago</a>. This unique site featured over 150 stained glass windows many of which were originally housed in buildings in Chicago. I found the contrast of the beautiful old stained glass with the modern, tourist location on Navy Pier particularly striking.<br />
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When looking up the link for this post I discovered that in October 2014, two months after my visit, the Smith Museum <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-navy-pier-stained-glass-museum-20140925-story.html" target="_blank">closed</a> and the stained glass was all boxed up and removed from Navy Pier. The Pier is undergoing renovations and 'needed' the museum space for planned new attractions. At this point the collection of stained glass does not have a home. There are tentative plans to have some of the works exhibited in public spaces, but no signs of a dedicated space for the entire collection. The Smith Museum was unique in its location and was the largest exhibition of stained glass in North America, its closure is a huge loss to the heritage and stained glass art community.Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-49374599809835013452014-12-19T09:18:00.000-05:002014-12-23T09:18:46.635-05:00Ongoing Challenges: Paper Writing and Committee Work<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">During the month of December I am participating in </span><a href="http://www.projectreverb.com/" style="color: #7687ed; line-height: 18.4799995422363px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0022ed;">#reverb14</span></a><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"> as a means of getting my writing habits back on track. I will be altering the prompts as needed to fit within the scope of this blog. Prompt: </span></span><span style="color: #444444; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Challenges. What did you wrestle with in 2014? What did you learn? What challenges do you foresee in 2015?</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">This past year I wrestled with how to turn down great projects that I simply didn't have time to do justice to. In 2015 I foresee a few new challenges including:</span></span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #444444; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Finalizing a paper on sports images and residential school archives. This was one of the few projects I took on part way through 2014, as it draws directly on a lot of the work I've done with the <a href="http://archives.algomau.ca/main/node/20132" target="_blank">Rev Father William Maurice fonds</a> in the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre. </span><span style="color: #444444; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">I'm continuing to be part of a couple of public history committees and part of a conference organizing committee. There will be lots of planning and implementation work in the next year relating to those commitments.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">I will be returning to work in June 2015 after taking seven months off as maternity leave. This will be another huge life/work adjustment. </span></span></li>
</ul>
Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-63713990749547459232014-12-18T09:09:00.000-05:002014-12-23T09:10:28.597-05:00Archival Community<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">During the month of December I am participating in </span><a href="http://www.projectreverb.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #7687ed; line-height: 18.4799995422363px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0022ed;">#reverb14</span></a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"> as a means of getting my writing habits back on track. I will be altering the prompts as needed to fit within the scope of this blog. Prompt: </span><span style="color: #444444; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Ah ha moment: Did you have an “ah ha” moment this year? Was it a big one? Or just a small enlightenment?</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">I changed roles in late 2013 to move from an archives technician position to a researcher/curator role. I have enjoyed the new challenges that the researcher/curator job brought and the new relationships I was able to build with local and national art communities. However, this year I realized that though I enjoy project </span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">management</span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> and working on community inspired art projects I was missing the time I had previously spent immersed in archives. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">This ah ha moment inspired me to reconnect with the archival world. Presenting at this year's </span></span><a href="http://aao-archivists.ca/" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" target="_blank">Archives Association of Ontario</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> conference, participating in </span></span><a href="http://www2.archivists.org/groups/students-and-new-archives-professionals-snap-roundtable" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" target="_blank">SNAP Roundtable</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> twitter chats, and reconnecting with archival literature helped return me to the archival sphere. Living in a very small city that does not have a wealth of heritage professionals has made me more aware of the need to build supportive professional networks and communities. Many of the people I consider </span></span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">colleagues</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> and who I turn to for advice live miles away and work in a range of different public history and archival settings. </span></span></span>Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-35795323578883379872014-12-17T11:45:00.001-05:002014-12-17T11:45:41.957-05:00Transformation<em>During the month of December I am participating in </em><a href="http://www.projectreverb.com/"><span style="color: #0022ed;"><em>#reverb14</em></span></a><em> as a means of getting my writing habits back on track. I will be altering the prompts as needed to fit within the scope of this blog. Today's prompt: One word. What one word could describe your 2014?</em><br />
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Transformative. I learned a lot this past year and made a number of significant life changes. This year has been the year of new experiences, new skills, and learning moments. Some of the most transformative moments include:<br />
<ul>
<li>Participating in Walking With Our Sisters Sault Ste Marie</li>
<li>Beginning to learn to play the hammered dulcimer and learning more about traditional music</li>
<li>Reevaluating my historical tour skills and taking new approaches to teaching others about residential schools</li>
<li>Acting as a thesis supervisor </li>
<li>Becoming a parent</li>
</ul>
A year of change both professionally and personally.Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-92091914460314482802014-12-16T08:58:00.000-05:002014-12-23T08:58:58.348-05:00Reverb: Photo worth 1,000 words<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>During the month of December I am participating in <a href="http://www.projectreverb.com/">#reverb14</a> as a means of getting my writing habits back on track. I will be altering the prompts as needed to fit within the scope of this blog. Prompt: <span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">1000 Words: There’s the old saying that a photo is worth 1,000 words. Give us a photo with that impact that sums up some significant event of your 2014, or give us 1,000 words about a pivotal moment in 2014.</span></i></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPevuROaM5NAQH_Nonh82tG5Vy_S4iD8Z0dIwh-Ihc4CacVeApCpUW_GAXUXKemELpWbgvAKZw4Hn3OvxqTNYJZUm7lS_jJeZ7l2a_QiKvAYoQ-JX0bNP3rnWkMFoPtlxC4nl3KykRwUU/s1600/Emma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPevuROaM5NAQH_Nonh82tG5Vy_S4iD8Z0dIwh-Ihc4CacVeApCpUW_GAXUXKemELpWbgvAKZw4Hn3OvxqTNYJZUm7lS_jJeZ7l2a_QiKvAYoQ-JX0bNP3rnWkMFoPtlxC4nl3KykRwUU/s1600/Emma.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">November 14, 2014 birth of Emma. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #444444; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></span>Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-34457902534335136372014-12-13T16:03:00.000-05:002014-12-13T16:06:27.013-05:00Writing Matters<i>During the month of December I am participating in <a href="http://www.projectreverb.com/"><span style="color: #0022ed;">#reverb14</span></a>
as a means of getting my writing habits back on track. I will be
altering the prompts as needed to fit within the scope of this blog.
Today's prompt: On writing: Chances are, if you’re participating in #reverb it’s because
you like writing. Or at least want to like writing. Writing is like a
muscle. Use it or lose it. What do you do every day to hone your
craft? Or, what would you like to do each day to contribute to your
writing?</i><br />
<br />
This prompt speaks to why I am participating in #reveb14 this year. I wanted to encourage myself to get back to writing on a regular basis. When I'm practicing good writing habits I try to write a little bit every day -- even if it's just a couple hundred words in a blog post that never sees the light of day. Quality matters, but so does getting words down on the page. Really bad first drafts are okay. They can foster insight and you need to start somewhere. <br />
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I've also found that I tend to be most productive when I'm able to write in the morning. My creative and analytical juices tend to work much better in the earlier part of the day. When working on longer pieces I like to be able to take time away from the writing and come back to it a day or two later. <br />
<br />
In the past few months I've also taken to writing more using pen and paper. This old school writing has been mostly personal or creative projects. The ease of being able to open a simple notebook and start writing has been great. I find I often fall victim to being distracted by the internet or email when I sit down at my computer to write. Removing distractions and setting time goals for writing has been helpful. Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-20400772074892830152014-12-11T11:31:00.001-05:002014-12-13T16:05:43.398-05:00Order Through Processing<i>During the month of December I am participating in <a href="http://www.projectreverb.com/"><span style="color: #0022ed;">#reverb14</span></a>
as a means of getting my writing habits back on track. I will be
altering the prompts as needed to fit within the scope of this blog.
Today's prompt: Small Pleasures: What small pleasures did you discover this year? </i><br />
<br />
Part way through this year I reconnected with some of the archival work I love. My role as a Researcher/Curator meant that I was spending less time focused on archival practice. Reconnecting and spending a few days accessioning and physically processing a collection reminded me how much I enjoy archival work.<br />
<br />
I love the sense of accomplishment that comes with seeing order brought to a jumble of papers. I find physical processing oddly relaxing, perhaps it's the organizational side of me rejoicing at the rules of processing and description. Knowing that the work I do makes material accessible and discoverable online is a huge motivator. It's rewarding to see archives actively being used and researchers engaging with the material that was previously an unorganized box of papers. Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-73251450442664432622014-12-09T11:48:00.000-05:002014-12-09T11:48:48.120-05:00Volunteering and Service Projects<i>During the month of December I am participating in </i><a href="http://www.projectreverb.com/"><i><span style="color: #0022ed;">#reverb14</span></i></a><i>
as a means of getting my writing habits back on track. I will be
altering the prompts as needed to fit within the scope of this blog.
Today's prompt: The Plank: It has been said that you must learn to take care of yourself
before you can be effective at taking care of others. How did you take
care of yourself in 2014? How will you take care of yourself in 2015?</i><br />
<br />
One of the most rewarding personal things I've done this year is to continue being engaged in projects that matter to me. Taking on extra projects outside of work might seem counter intuitive to self care. But working on history projects that are intellectually challenging and interesting is something I greatly enjoy. I find engagement in this type of project rewarding and something that helps lift my mood. <br />
<br />
Projects I've continued to be a part of this year:<br />
<ul>
<li>Volunteering with the <a href="http://mhso.ca/wp/" target="_blank">Multicultural History Society of Ontario</a>'s digital archive project. This project has focused on making oral history interviews conducted by the MHSO accessible online. It's been great to be able to volunteer with this meaningful project from a distance and be able to help out with interview transcription, research/writing of biographies, and indexing of interviews.</li>
<li>Serving on the membership committee of the <a href="http://ncph.org/cms/" target="_blank">National Council of Public History</a>. NCPH is a great organization that I've enjoyed contributing to. Serving on the membership committee has allowed me to become more engaged in the organization and connect with a number of public historians from both Canada and the United States. </li>
<li><a href="http://activehistory.ca/" target="_blank">Active History Website</a>. I've continued to be a co-editor at Active History. I've been involved with this project for a number of years now and it is something I have continued to enjoy participating in. The site promotes the dissemination of historical knowledge and often focuses on the intersection of history and everyday events.</li>
</ul>
Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-8839032025230045342014-12-08T11:54:00.003-05:002014-12-08T11:54:43.357-05:00Everyday Heroes<i>During the month of December I am participating in </i><a href="http://www.projectreverb.com/"><i><span style="color: #0022ed;">#reverb14</span></i></a><i>
as a means of getting my writing habits back on track. I will be
altering the prompts as needed to fit within the scope of this blog.
Today's prompt: Hero: Who was your hero this year? Tell us why. What makes a hero in your eyes?</i><br />
<br />
The residential school survivors I have had the opportunity to work with over the past few years are a constant source of inspiration. Many of these individuals are in their 60s, 70s, or 80s yet they continue to be advocates for awareness around the legacy of residential schools.<br />
<br />
They were founding members of the <a href="http://childrenofshingwauk.ca/" target="_blank">Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association</a> and have promoted education and healing around residential schools since the mid 1970s. Many of these elders routinely speak about their residential school experience to indigenous and non indigenous audiences. For students of all ages this can be a powerful learning experience and is often the thing that makes them realize the lasting impact of residential schools.<br />
<br />
These kind and generous people are heroes in my mind. They have worked tirelessly for years to raise awareness about residential schools and many have worked to promote healing within their own communities. I only hope I have nearly as much energy when I'm their age. Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-6829565361211676382014-12-07T11:04:00.000-05:002014-12-07T11:04:28.675-05:00Community and Student Supervision <em>During the month of December I am participating in </em><a href="http://www.projectreverb.com/"><em><span style="color: #0022ed;">#reverb14</span></em></a><em>
as a means of getting my writing habits back on track. I will be
altering the prompts as needed to fit within the scope of this blog.
Today's prompt: Victory Laps: What was your biggest accomplishment this year? </em><br />
<br />
I was fortunate to be part of many great projects this year. Being part of the effort to bring <a href="http://walkingwithoursisters.ca/" target="_blank">Walking With Our Sisters </a>(WWOS) to Sault Ste Marie was a humbling and amazing experience. WWOS is a commemorative art installation honoring missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada and the United States. The project is community and ceremony driven. It was inspiring to see so many people in Sault Ste Marie work together on the project and so many people visit the installation. I learned a lot during this project and had the privilege of working with a great group of community volunteers.<br />
<br />
This past year I also had the opportunity to supervise a fourth year undergraduate history thesis. The student's thesis focused on the early years of the Shingwauk Residential School. Acting as a supervisor was an extremely rewarding experience. The sense of community amongst the supervisors and thesis students was inspiring and allowed for many a good historical debate. <br />
<br />
Being able to see a student work their way through an idea, background research, archival research, and the writing of a thesis was a unique experience that I am glad I had the opportunity to be part of. Having the chance to talk about writing strategies, research methods, and archival research with people who are just as enthusiastic about history is always a great thing. Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-24419256724218327732014-12-05T11:11:00.002-05:002014-12-07T11:06:29.161-05:00Peer Review: Letting Go Of Doubt<i>During the month of December I am participating in </i><a href="http://www.projectreverb.com/"><i><span style="color: #0022ed;">#reverb14</span></i></a><i>
as a means of getting my writing habits back on track. I will be
altering the prompts as needed to fit within the scope of this blog.
Today's prompt: Letting go: Next year I'm letting go of...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
A couple of longstanding project I've been working on have wrapped up this year. I finished an article on community archives that uses the <a href="http://shingwauk.org/" target="_blank">Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre</a> archives as a case study. It took me a long time to address the peer review comments on this article. Procrastination combined with fear of the revisions not being adequate made it easy to avoid working on this project.<br />
<br />
I found a session <a href="http://jovanevery.ca/" target="_blank">Jo VanEvery</a> offered on dealing with criticism particularly helpful in getting myself motivated to address the peer review comments. It helps to have an outsider remind you that you are capable of doing good work and that you should take reviewer comments with a grain of salt while still responding to them in a meaningful way.<br />
<br />
This past year taught me a lot about letting go of self doubt and the importance of believing in your work. <a href="http://geekfeminism.wikia.com/wiki/Impostor_syndrome" target="_blank">Imposter syndrome</a> is fairly common amongst academics and tends to be even more prevalent amongst women. Building supportive communities which provide criticism in a nurturing way can be extremely valuable. Finding good role models and supportive peers can be invaluable and provide much needed sounding boards in times of self-doubt. Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-61853481495292135022014-12-04T11:16:00.000-05:002014-12-07T11:06:55.273-05:00The Year of Prioritization<i>During the month of December I am participating in </i><a href="http://www.projectreverb.com/"><i><span style="color: #0022ed;">#reverb14</span></i></a><i> as a means of getting my writing habits back on track. I will be altering the prompts as needed to fit within the scope of this blog. Today's prompt: Coulda woulda shoulda. What didn't you do this year because you were too scared, afraid, unsure? Are you going to o it next year? Or maybe you don't want to anymore.</i><br />
<i></i><br />
I passed on a number of projects this year that I felt I couldn't commit enough time to. I stand by my decision to prioritize projects and work toward a balanced life. That being said it was hard to pass up offers to contribute to a couple book projects and conference panels that focused on community archives, Indigenous heritage, and archival outreach. <br />
<br />
There is always next year, especially in the case of the National Council on Public History annual conference and various Canadian archival conferences. My status as a new parent has made me acutely aware of the lack of supports built into conferences for parents. I believe the Society of American Archivists has offered minimal childcare arrangements at past conferences but very few academic conferences offer this service. Practically I put conference presenting on hold while I adjust to life as a mother. <br />
<br />
This past year has been filled with prioritization. I can't do everything and I shouldn't feel the need to try to do everything. I keep reminding myself that saying no is okay.Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-71550451033102460752014-12-02T10:43:00.000-05:002014-12-02T10:43:06.572-05:00From Pulp and Paper to Community Hub<em>During the month of December I am participating in </em><a href="http://www.projectreverb.com/"><em>#reverb14</em></a><em> as a means of getting my writing habits back on track. I will be altering the prompts as needed to fit within the scope of this blog. Today's prompt is: When did you feel beautiful this year? Why? Altered prompt: Discuss a beautiful heritage project or site from the past year.</em><br />
<em></em><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-Y1NJ9Zc6Nove5c7vVVADK3JYJwOhgQrl1337-zalGOHdOcj8dfWJUU3InP5AY7fl9oGgik3BYgzhxdgomFHoSuQn2_QzM9kS9vJ7KBgwlUnlSvwvedEWvM6UF7ZHajgG8KszlQARos/s1600/pm9.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-Y1NJ9Zc6Nove5c7vVVADK3JYJwOhgQrl1337-zalGOHdOcj8dfWJUU3InP5AY7fl9oGgik3BYgzhxdgomFHoSuQn2_QzM9kS9vJ7KBgwlUnlSvwvedEWvM6UF7ZHajgG8KszlQARos/s1600/pm9.gif" height="172" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Marys Pulp and Paper Complex</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One of the most inspiring revitalization projects in my community this past year has been the transformation of the St. Mary's Paper Mill site. Initially known as the Sault Ste. Marie Pulp and Paper Company, which was built by Francis H. Clergue in 1895, the site remained operational until St. Mary's Paper went bankrupt in 2011. A shot history of the pulp and paper industry in Sault Ste Marie can be found <a href="http://www.cityssm.on.ca/library/Ind_Pulp.html" target="_blank">here.</a><br />
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Riversedge Developments purchased the site in 2012 and since that time the site has undergone significant <a href="http://www.millsquare.ca/index.html">revitalization</a>. Much of the unique architecture found on the site has been preserved and there are plans for the site to be developed as a cultural and tourism hub. <br />
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The first phase of the project has seen the opening of the Mill Market in the former Board Mill Building, the former machine shop being developed as a concert venue, and the Algoma Conservatory of Music moving into the old administration building. <br />
<br />
The site is being used for both public and private events and is slowly integrating itself into community life. It is great to see the revitalization of this industrial site and the preservation of such an important piece of heritage. Overall this is a great example of adaptive reuse of an industrial heritage site.Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-23084610742805800852014-12-01T14:04:00.001-05:002014-12-01T14:04:29.114-05:00Reverb14: Art Installations and ArchivesIn 2010 I participated in #reverb10. This year I plan on participating in <a href="http://www.projectreverb.com/">#reverb14</a> as a way to get my writing habits back on track. The first prompt is <em>Where did you start 2014? Give us some background on this year. </em><br />
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My year started with a lot of thinking about digital preservation, digitization, and community archives. The beginning of 2014 was also marked by me working to organize the <em>Why The Caged Bird Sings: Here I Am </em>exhibition by Cheryl L'Hirondelle. <br />
<br />
This past year was filled with great experiences working with Indigenous artists, thinkers, and researcher focused on residential schools. My organizational and planning skills were put to the test as I managed multiple projects and helped bring a handful of art installations to fruition. I had very limited experience with art installations prior to this year, so there was a definite hands on learning curve.<br />
<br />
I also reconnected with archival work that had been put on the back burner. Introducing work study students to archival work reminded me of the importance of ongoing learning and the love I have for archival practice.Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-63822431679490586242014-11-09T11:04:00.000-05:002014-11-09T11:04:12.942-05:00Community Space: Craft Show at the Bushplane Heritage Centre<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqnve7SCfB8X7xKHUmaPbonFprWMxyhKVMbJpfZkXJTio2NUh1r5DmfI9SBjxnSunSAjpt9bE3GZdMn9sqYDcRtjsmNtJtMb1OX36j8amDh_YXP5dx-M7QWpG5WgY8oIQ9Y_uc3CpNvw/s1600/IMAG0397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqnve7SCfB8X7xKHUmaPbonFprWMxyhKVMbJpfZkXJTio2NUh1r5DmfI9SBjxnSunSAjpt9bE3GZdMn9sqYDcRtjsmNtJtMb1OX36j8amDh_YXP5dx-M7QWpG5WgY8oIQ9Y_uc3CpNvw/s1600/IMAG0397.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a></div>
Yesterday the <a href="http://www.bushplane.com/">Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre</a> hosted the second annual holiday gift and craft <a href="http://www.bushplane.com/index.php?id=news-events&post=2nd-annual-holiday-gift-craft-show">show</a>.
Held inside the museum the show featured over 100 local craft and
artisan vendors. This was my first time attending the show, it was a
great way to spend a couple of hours on a rainy Saturday.<br />
<br />
The
event brought hundreds of vendors and local residents into a heritage
site. Walking through the craft show I was struck by the contrast of
the permanent displays (eg. large airplanes everywhere) with tables
setup for the vendors. It was interesting to see the space being so
well utilized for a public event and great to see a local heritage site
supporting local artists. The event's location also made the craft show a
bit more child friendly - I saw a number of children eagerly climbing
into and enjoying many of the bushplanes on display as their parents
took in the crafts. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumqfSdcpxnmNt12NX4mxXroq1Dn4i5OsfG3LquMQleoqZEHX4-np66AJuQvFamtHKuloUcXHC9AvrN2UTBakao-L6rtTee7vFxG9aPqjjq972XwojT8QsFZNN5bO18EJB5x-Qza8-TH4/s1600/IMAG0398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumqfSdcpxnmNt12NX4mxXroq1Dn4i5OsfG3LquMQleoqZEHX4-np66AJuQvFamtHKuloUcXHC9AvrN2UTBakao-L6rtTee7vFxG9aPqjjq972XwojT8QsFZNN5bO18EJB5x-Qza8-TH4/s1600/IMAG0398.jpg" height="177" width="200" /></a></div>
Additionally, admission to the craft show was by donation and all donations went toward the Bushplane operating costs.
I've now been to a couple of larger non-heritage related events at the
Bushplane. The space is often used for concerts, weddings, community
fundraising activities, and other activities. The space is essentially a
large airplane hanger with a large open floor space making it a large
venue with lots of capacity and potential for community events. <br />
<br />
The
revenue model of using heritage spaces as event spaces definitely isn't
unique to the Bushplane. But it is one of the more prominent and
successful examples in my community. Hosting community events at
heritage and cultural sites have the potential to bring in extra
revenue, expose the general public to the site, and raise the community
profile of a site. <br />
<br />
The holiday season brings a wealth of opportunities for heritage
sites -- Christmas parties, craft shows, and special holiday
programming using the site. What innovate community uses of heritage
sites have you seen recently? Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-31511673724274536732014-11-06T19:28:00.000-05:002014-11-06T19:28:41.700-05:00Archives Meet Public HistoryEarlier this week the <a href="http://www2.archivists.org/groups/students-and-new-archives-professionals-snap-roundtable">Students and New Archives Professional</a> (SNAP) Roundtable of the <a href="http://www2.archivists.org/">Society of American Archivists</a> hosted a joint twitter chat with the New Professional and Graduate Student Committee of the <a href="http://ncph.org/cms/">National Council on Public History</a>. The chat focused on the intersection of public history and archives and generated a lot of interesting ideas for collaboration.<br />
<br />
The first portion of the chat focused on introducing participants, discussing what interested them in archives and public history, and what they learned about archives in their public history program (or vice versa). The vast majority of responses seemed to indicate that many archival programs didn't talk about public history and that most public history programs might include a class or two focused on archives. A number of participants also mentioned gaining exposure to other fields through internships and work study opportunities. <br />
<br />
The second section of the chat invited participants to share how they have interacted with public historians or archivists as part of their work. A number of people (<a href="https://twitter.com/Sam_Winn">@Sam_Winn</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/PubHistPhD">@PubHistPhD</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/jessmknapp">@jessmknapp</a>) mentioned that reference, outreach, and engagement work often allows them to interact with people from a variety of fields. <br />
<br />
This was followed by a discussion of why archives, public historians, and museums don't work together more frequently on advocacy issues. <a href="https://twitter.com/HollyCroft">Holly Croft</a> suggested that this disconnect might be rooted in the fact that archives only recently began to advocate for themselves. Croft's comment garnered a lot of discussion and highlighted the issue of similar fields committing for the same funding sources and lack of engagement between professional groups. <br />
<br />
The chat closed with practical suggestions of how these two related fields can work together. A number of participants suggested holding more tweet chats or similar discussions which invite people from different backgrounds to engage. Using digital and local history projects as points of collaboration was also suggested, as was the idea of holding joint professional meetings.<br />
<br />
As someone who holds an MA in Public History and works in an archive I found the chat very interesting. While I've worked in an archives focused role for the past four years many of the outreach and engagement practices I've undertaken are rooted in public history and the idea of a living archive. There is tremendous potential for collaboration between fields to bring history to the forefront. Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-53532830115599837992014-10-21T12:06:00.000-04:002014-10-21T12:06:20.338-04:00Interactive Libraries: the New Halifax Central Library<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTUmN5Wb2XGLfkz_rF8yuRR2n5f7HYFy7dlFeuAADZFplD9N6KTqz26_GuA52e_D3AICmngy7bibTMQhGJYydNzGCNR2o9J_bZRgJpk9_u2cTKhmmSlR5OsisVxOp7ll2G0NLq4MzVdQ/s1600/Halifax_central_library_Oct2014_side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTUmN5Wb2XGLfkz_rF8yuRR2n5f7HYFy7dlFeuAADZFplD9N6KTqz26_GuA52e_D3AICmngy7bibTMQhGJYydNzGCNR2o9J_bZRgJpk9_u2cTKhmmSlR5OsisVxOp7ll2G0NLq4MzVdQ/s1600/Halifax_central_library_Oct2014_side.jpg" height="241" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from Wikimedia Commons, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Central_Library#mediaviewer/File:Halifax_central_library_Oct2014_side.jpg">Citobun</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/">The Current</a> on CBC has been running a series recently focused on all elements of design. <i><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/bydesign/">By Design</a></i> looks at traditional design as well as new technologies, education practices, and other human constructed ideas that shape our world. This week <i>By Design</i> featured a segment on <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/episode/2014/10/20/designing-libraries-in-the-21st-century-new-headline-just-a-holder/">designing libraries</a> in a digital era. <br />
<br />
The feature focused on the design of the new <a href="http://www.halifaxcentrallibrary.ca/">Halifax Central Library</a>. Set to open in the fall of 2014 the library is the first of scale to be built in Canada in many years. The library features gaming stations, meetings rooms, community spaces, cafes, and takes the approach of libraries as gathering spaces and communal spaces of knowledge.<br />
<br />
The discussion questioned the future of libraries and placed libraries as much more than a place for books, but as an actively engaged center of a community. This sense of community engagement was integrated into the design process for the Halifax Library. Five public consultations were held which invited Halifax residents to provide input on the design and components of the library. Many of these sessions were interactive. For example in 2008 library patrons were asked to write down what they wanted in a new library on a '<a href="http://halifaxcentrallibrary.ca/building-design/public-consultations/public-meetings-2008/">graffiti wall</a>.'<br />
<br />
<a href="http://halifaxcentrallibrary.ca/building-design/public-consultations/public-engagement.html">Interactive events</a> including knit-ins, talking fences, and community art projects are other examples of the Halifax Library already beginning to engage the community through non-traditional means. The library is position itself as a welcoming multipurpose environment that encourage conversation. <br />
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It is great to see such a large scale library project being funded and supported by a community. As the library opens it will be interesting to hear feedback from the community and see how this new community oriented space is being used. <br />
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For those interested in checking out the design of the new Halifax Central Library a virtual tour is available: <br />
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Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-55531163962147777282014-10-15T09:19:00.002-04:002014-10-15T09:19:40.711-04:00Public History and Environmental Engagement: Scotland's Coastal Heritage<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnGjj-Lifk2YxiPaiMRiZivctaEor9fEOb8l8igIWegXQOgCVDML6qtf1iI2IJvyRmE6pFaAHvAb-i2egxMMrjCVoXtB0aJsXOxwofehmJpIit4FHrqY52dMnzK4pFNMve2od4m_AWT0/s1600/tph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnGjj-Lifk2YxiPaiMRiZivctaEor9fEOb8l8igIWegXQOgCVDML6qtf1iI2IJvyRmE6pFaAHvAb-i2egxMMrjCVoXtB0aJsXOxwofehmJpIit4FHrqY52dMnzK4pFNMve2od4m_AWT0/s1600/tph.jpg" /></a><span id="goog_1853754855"></span><span id="goog_1853754856"></span>The recent special issue of <a href="http://ucpressjournals.com/journal.php?j=tph"><i>The Public Historian</i></a> focused on public history and environmental sustainability. This issue builds on the sustainable public history theme that was the focus of the 2014 <a href="http://ncph.org/cms/">National Council on Public History</a> conference and the digital collection <a href="http://publichistorycommons.org/social/public-history-in-a-changing-climate-march-2014/"><i>Public History in a Changing Climate</i> </a>which appeared on the <a href="http://publichistorycommons.org/">Public History Commons</a>. The special journal issue contains a number of interesting articles on the desire to engage the public with environmental history and a changing environmental landscape. <br />
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The article "A View from Scotland's Coast" by <a href="http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/history/staff/tomdawson.html">Tom Dawson</a> which looks at coastal erosion and the impact of erosion of heritage sites provides a glimpse into the potential of engaging the public in issues of heritage, climate change, and natural heritage. <br />
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Dawson's writing focuses on the work of the <a href="http://www.scapetrust.org/">Scottish Coastal Archaeology and the Problem of Erosion Trust</a> (SCAPE Trust) and highlights examples of coastal erosion's impact of heritage sites in Scotland. For example, in Bora, a small coastal town in Northern Scotland, industrial buildings from the sixteenth century were uncovered on the coast. Beginning in 2004 SCAPE worked with the local community and organizations to excavate buildings and begin to document the site. However in 2012 a winter storm destroyed the sixteenth-century salt pans that had been uncovered. All that remained were piles of ruble on a beach below.<br />
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This and other examples of heritage sites endangered by coastal erosion reminded me a lot of my trip to Ireland. While touring the Dingle Peninsula there were a number of site that had been partially destroyed be erosion or were at risk because of the changing shoreline. I remember thinking at the time about what could be done to save such sites, particularly in a country that is filled with similar heritage structures.<br />
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Dawson argues that "being able to demonstrate the value of an asset is key to getting the item preserved, or at least recorded before it is destroyed." Heritage sites need to advocate for the value of their existence and preservation, especially if an economic advantage to preserving the site isn't immediately apparent. <br />
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SCAPE believes that involving communities and local populations in archaeological and preservation projects is key, "working directly with heritage gives people a greater understanding of its importance, and this appreciation spreads through the community and beyond" Additionally local residents often hold valuable knowledge which has been passed down through generations about local heritage sites, landscape changes, and past events. <br />
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SCAPE's development of the Scotland's Coastal Heritage at Risk Project (SCHARP) highlights a collaborative effort to engage communities in preservation. The project relies on the public to update and correct information collected via coastal surveys and report any changes to the sites. The <a href="http://scharp.co.uk/">SCHARP project website</a> includes data for 12,000 coastal sites and invites the public to update information based on local knowledge. The site is relatively user friendly and interesting to explore even for those without a local connection to Scotland. <br />
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SCAPE also asks community members to nominate sites for preservation. Though the <a href="http://scharp.co.uk/shoredig-projects/">ShoreDig </a>project SCAPE works with communities to facilitate community excavation and to encourage engagement with threatened local heritage. <br />
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Dawson's work highlights the crucial role the public has to play in the preservation of coastal heritage. Community engagement is essential to assessment of local heritage sites and working with the public can help preserve information and sites which would otherwise be lost in changing landscapes. Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-44799889052308254612014-10-08T12:16:00.000-04:002014-10-08T12:16:00.016-04:00Signage and Not So Common Sense in GalleriesThe <a href="http://www.artgalleryofalgoma.com/">Art Gallery of Algoma</a> is currently featuring an exhibit titled <i>Imagery from the Canadian North</i> in its <a href="http://www.artgalleryofalgoma.com/project-room-exhibitions.html">Project Room gallery</a>. The exhibition contains works in a variety of mediums from the AGA's permanent collection that were created by artists from Canada's North. <br />
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The small exhibit contains wall hangings, prints, drawings, paintings, and stone carving. The pieces included provide a small glimpse into the rich artistic traditions in Canada's arctic and Indigenous art in Canada. I particularly enjoyed an untitled wall hanging by Joanne Akoptanuak depicting both humans and animals sharing a space. <br />
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However, very little contextual information was included in the project room about the featured artists, the impact of climate on art, and where in Canada's North the works were created. Two maps were included as part of the didactic material in the exhibit but didn't really provide detailed context about the location of the Northern artists whose work was being featured.<br />
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While taking in the exhibition a few other visitors to the gallery were also in the space. The exhibition features a few soapstone carvings on pedestals without a glass enclosure. The signage at the entrance to the space did include a note about not touching the artwork. However, during my time in the space I had to restrain myself when two other visitors repeatedly touched the uncovered artwork. The one visitor also commented to a friend, "oh these pieces are uncovered, that must mean they want us to touch them." Cringing and sideways glares abounded.<br />
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If nothing else that experience reminded me of the importance of exhibition design, signage, and security in galleries and museums. Things gallery staff might think are common sense aren't always. Having visible signage explaining appropriate conduct, contextual information, and educational information is a crucial part of any exhibition. <br />
<span></span> Krista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.com0