Along with the photos, postcards, letters, souvenirs and assorted memorabilia your storytellers have tucked away, a wealth of material exists in archives. Gathering this together and documenting sources can add a whole new layer of depth to your project, and result in all sorts of different outputs – exhibitions, articles, workshops – even plays or creative writing.
The Nitty Gritty
Process phase
Discover
Suggested time
Alongside the story gathering phase
People
Archivists, librarians, subject experts, storytellers
Steps
01
Go to the source
Researching online is always a good place to start, but you will often find that visiting in person will reveal new and unexpected riches. Historical documents are often held in archives and might not be available online.
02
Ask and ye shall find
The British Library and the National Archives are fantastic places to explore, and surprisingly user-friendly. Local libraries and museums are also great resources. If you’re not sure where to start, always ask for help: there are people who can point you in the right direction.
03
Check the copyright
This is important. Getting permission to use other people’s material needs to come with an agreement which ensures everyone is happy. Always try and credit the maker or owner. Creative Commons has good information on different licences and what they mean.
04
Rummage in the attic
Ask your storytellers for any additional material. Old photos, memorabilia or objects can really enhance a story.
05
Organise your files
Check the material you gather is right for the output: a large print needs to be in high resolution. Make sure you save the documentation or images as pdfs, jpgs or tiffs. And store the credit line along with each file.
