The Archived Academy

Archival research can sometimes be a strange mix of rigorous preparation and research intuition. Considering these two elements as connective parts of a broader archival methodology, rather than disparate, unrelated processes, can expand our understanding of archival research as an iterative, creative process. Research intuition and archival serendipity are not random, unplanned occurrences in the archives. Instead, these moments of finding what you need are the outcome of research preparation, archival labour, and even donor intention. Acknowledging intuition as something more than luck honours research instincts and abilities, the labour involved to make collections organized and accessible, and the intentions and spirits of record creators and donors and the traces that they left behind. Researchers can represent and mobilize the complex and layered considerations of archival methodology through various written forms and structures, as well as through research-creation projects.

By drawing on feminist and archival methodologies, as well as my own research on the archived reading practices of three scholars, I propose a methodological workshop that explores various elements of archival research through mini lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities. Participants in this workshop will learn archival research practices and tips, gain an understanding of some feminist approaches to research in/with the archives, and explore ways to express these practices and approaches through writing and craft-based activities. A proposed itinerary for the workshop includes an introduction with icebreaker activities followed by a mini lecture on archival research and a group discussion. The second third of the workshop will involve a mini lecture on research-creation and the creative use of methodologies, and a think-pair-share writing activity. In the final third, participants will make creative representations of their research using provided materials, such as paper and textiles, and/or complete guided writing activities focused on methodology.

Ayla Morland
Ayla Morland is a third-year PhD candidate at the University of Toronto’s (U of T) Faculty of Information and the Book History & Print Culture collaborative specialization. Her research explores the reading practices of feminist scholars through the study of their archives. She aims to use historical everyday reading habits to tell a broader story about women in the Canadian academy. Ayla has worked as a research assistant and teaching assistant at the U of T. She has previous experience working in public, academic, and special collections libraries. Her doctoral research has been generously supported by a SSHRC Doctoral Canada Graduate Scholarship, an Ontario Graduate Scholarship, and the U of T’s Faculty of Information.