Embracing Folklife Collections: The Roles of Community and Shared Stewardship
When: June 1, 2023 from 9:00 am-12:00 pm EST (15 min break)
Where: Virtual (MARAC Zoom)
Instructors: Ryan Koons, Maryland State Arts Council
Laurainne Ojo-Ohikuare, UMBC Special Collections
Cost: $50.00
Workshop Description:
This workshop introduces participants to folklife archival collections, sometimes also called ethnographic collections. Ryan Koons (Maryland State Arts Council) and Laurainne Ojo-Ohikuare (UMBC Special Collections) take the Maryland Traditions Archives (MTA) as their case study. Opened to the public in 2013, this folklife archive contains fieldwork, administrative materials, and collections donated by tradition bearers, circa 1940s - present. Koons and Ojo-Ohikuare will review the history of the MTA, and the role of folklore and other disciplines in the creation of this and other folklore archival collections. They will discuss the importance of community involvement and outreach, and recommend ways other repositories can improve equitable collections management, notably through the shared stewardship model. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the value of folklore collections, ways to deepen community engagement, and the ethics that vitally underpin folklore collections.
Questions? Contact Elizabeth Wilkinson at wilkinsone2@southernct.edu