Archives are for more than research; they are repositories for stories of value to the community. These stories may be told through images, audio/visual recordings, or text documents. Unfortunately, archives are associated with red tape and restriction, which can deter the every day community member from exploring the resources.
Century Hotel in Miami. Archival Image Source: Library of Congress
Backside of Century Hotel ornament.
Make archives accessible with a bit of creativity. This hands-on workshop will highlight archival images that tell compelling community stories, teach basic copyright law and how to access archive resources, in addition to sparking ideas on how to use archives to create meaningful items. Workshop participants will create a holiday ornament, a scented sachet, or a door hanging!
Portrait of Ida B. Wells from 1891. Archival Image Source: Library of Congress
Brünnhilde the cat! Archival Image Source: Library of Congress
Prior to the event, I’ll work with you to determine what stories you want to tell in this archival accessibility workshop, and together we will select 3-5 images to be highlighted in the hands-on craft component of the event. These images can tell stories of: specific people/places, bigger themes in your community, stories that have faded with time, or celebrate a specific event (ex: 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment).
Let’s show off your resources, connect people to the past, and highlight new storytelling methods! Reach out to me@sarahmarsom.com to learn more.