Workshop: Voices in Slavery's Archive Project

The 'Voices' project works closely with descendant communities to understand potential uses of the reports of the 'Protector of Slaves'.
About this Event

WHAT WE ARE DOING

Digitising and mapping the Reports of the Protectors of Slaves in conjunction with Slave Registers, which recorded the enslaved populations in British colonies between 1813 and 1834. These materials are currently hard to access. We will also be writing about and publishing on aspects of this history.

OUR GOALS

• Create a free online resource
• Map where complaints were made and what issues were raised
• Show how enslaved people used the legal system to resist exploitation
• Work closely with descendant communities to understand the potential uses of these resources

THE WORKSHOP

We want what we produce to be valuable beyond the academic world. Part of our research agenda is to think about how best to present this material to the public. While it is very important historical material, it is also challenging, upsetting and a reminder of a brutal history. We want to think with you about the different ways this material can be represented with sensitivity and care.

In this interactive session, participants will read and discuss a small selection of case studies drawn from the Reports of the Protector of Slaves. Together, we will explore:

1. What these testimonies reveal about the lives, strategies, and resilience of enslaved people.

2. What community members feel is important, and/or should be prioritised when sharing these histories publicly.

The workshop is designed to be reflective, collaborative and grounded in care. Please note that the workshop will be recorded as part of our research process and that participants need to be 18 or over.

Your perspectives will help shape the work ahead.

The Voices in Slavery's Archive project team and convenors of this workshop are:
Professor Diana Paton, University of Edinburgh
Professor Randy Browne, Xavier University
Dr Estherine Adams, University of Guyana
Dr Philippa Hellawell, The National Archives
Mr Jamie McLaughlan, University of Sheffield Digital Humanities Institute
Dr Linsey McMillan, University of Edinburgh
Dr Juanita Cox, University of Edinburgh
Dr Kimberley Thomas, University of Edinburgh

This workshop is being run in partnership with Dr Jack Webb, convenor of Black British History: Local and Place-based Perspectives, University of Manchester.