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Community-Driven Archives > Resources > Storytelling
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Storytelling

Storytelling is the spark. It can spark celebration, memory, catharsis, or movements toward social justice. The collections we hold tell a story mediated through our institution.

Storytelling Ideas

There are many ways to tell a story, through exhibits, digital projects, unfurlings, or participatory events. Pick the style that tells your story best and use these guidelines to keep you organized and on
track.

Published March 23, 2021
Categorized as Infographic, Resources, Storytelling Tagged Archival Formats, Methods

Storytelling through Community-Driven Archives (overview)

A few items from a mobile exhibit. Tall silk curtain with images of a church and other landscapes create the backdrop. Off to the left a table is set up to display collection items such as year books, graduation cap. Next to the table are dress forms displaying a pink strapless prom dress and a blue and gold varsity letter sweatshirt.

Traditionally, archivists stick to access and preservation and leave interpretation and storytelling to the researchers. But what happens when we listen to what our audiences want? We find ways to help them tell meaningful stories about their communities’ history.

Published March 23, 2021
Categorized as Reflection, Resources, Storytelling Tagged Access, Appalachian Student Health Coalition (ASHC), Eastern Kentucky African American Migration Project (EKAAAMP), Methods, Oral History, Tools

Black Communities Conference Charrette Activity

Our team used charrettes to support project planning for a local group’s community archives project. This exercise supports a fledgling project in brainstorming, networking, and connecting with community members.

Published March 15, 2021
Categorized as Activity, Resources, Storytelling Tagged Local history, Methods, Partners

Crafting the Story of an Exhibition

Archival Seedlings Workshop: Crafting the Story of an Exhibition webinar
Learn how to tell your story through an exhibition, focusing on how objects, archives, images, and design can come together to create compelling experiences for your chosen audience. This is a webinar with Rachel Reynolds Sheeran, Special Collections Exhibitions Coordinator at University Libraries at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Published February 18, 2021
Categorized as Resources, Storytelling, Webinar Tagged Access, Archival Formats, Methods, Open Source Software, Tools

Using Archival Materials for Research

Archival Seedlings Workshop: Using Archival Materials for Research Webinar
Learn about how to support your research project at an archive like the University Libraries at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Wilson Special Collections Library through this webinar with Sarah Carrier, North Carolina Research & Instructional Librarian at Carolina’s libraries.
Published February 18, 2021
Categorized as Resources, Storytelling, Webinar Tagged Archival Collections, Methods, Tools

Presenting “Gone Home: Race and Roots through Appalachia”

The cover of the book "Gone Home: Race and Roots through Appalachia" featuring a road in the mountains surrounded by trees

From 2017-19, the Community-Driven Archives (CDA) grant team and the Southern Historical Collection collaborated with Dr. Karida Brown while she was a Ph.D. candidate at Brown University, along with many Appalachian families on the Eastern Kentucky African American Migration Project (EKAAMP).

Published February 18, 2021
Categorized as Blog, Reflection, Resources, Storytelling Tagged Eastern Kentucky African American Migration Project (EKAAAMP), Partnerships, Reflection

Storytelling Basics

Storytelling Basics
Learn the basic steps of creating a documentary storytelling project with Theo Moore of Hiztorical Vision Productions.
Published February 17, 2021
Categorized as Resources, Storytelling, Webinar Tagged Archival Formats, Definitions, Methods, Oral History

How to Participate in a Community Archive Project

How to Participate in a Community Archive Project
Learn about community archiving and memory projects. Get inspired to participate in or start one of your own.
Published February 16, 2021
Categorized as Resources, Storytelling, Video Tagged Archival Collections, Archival Formats, Curation, Definitions, Methods

Collaborating with Archives and Cultural Heritage Institutions on Community Memory Projects

Here are some tips on how to find and create a sustainable and equitable partnership to help your history project thrive.

Published February 16, 2021
Categorized as How-to Guide, Resources, Storytelling Tagged Access, Local history, Methods, Partners

Announcing the Launch of the Student Health Coalition Project Website

Majority white group of students, many smiling, with their fists raised in the air. An older person is in front of the group wearing a white lab coat on a motorcycle.

Introducing a pioneering online archive about student activism in the 1960s and 70s, a digital home for video clips, historic photos, and personal profiles from former activists in the rural South with a focus on health care.

Published February 16, 2021
Categorized as Blog, Collaborations, Reflection, Storytelling Tagged Appalachian Student Health Coalition (ASHC), Local history, Methods, Partners, Tools

Credits

Community-Driven Archives

Project Duration 2017-2021

designed by
UNC Creative

web development by
Quran Karriem

This website is under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Creative Commons license
(CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

Our Team

María R. Estorino, Principal Investigator
Chaitra Powell, Project Director
Biff Hollingsworth, Co-Investigator
Charlissa Rice, Business Services Coordinator
Sonoe Nakasone, Community Archivist
Kimber Heinz, Outreach Coordinator
Alex Paz Cody, Graduate Research Assistant
Gillian McCuistion, Graduate Research Assistant
Lidia Jo Morris, Graduate Research Assistant

Past Team Members

Bryan Giemza, Principal Investigator
Josephine McRobbie, Community Archivist
Bernetiae Reed, Project Documentarian and Oral Historian
Eldrin Deas, Graduate Research Assistant
Claire Du Laney, Graduate Research Assistant
Brenna Edwards, Graduate Research Assistant
Leah Epting, Graduate Research Assistant
Lucas Kelley, Graduate Research Assistant
Lindsay Terrell, Graduate Research Assistant
Merisa Tomczak, Graduate Research Assistant

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