Finding Baldwin: An Exploration of Belonging and Identity in Archives

A Reckford Lecture event, in partnership with University Libraries

In this three-hour workshop, archives practitioners will use archival materials related to James Baldwin from Wilson Library’s special collections to trace how archives are used, described, and chosen. Participants will be asked to consider how the experiences of the archivist, the creators of collections, and the subjects of collections intermingle to determine what we can and can’t see in the archive. The goal is to give the audience a new lens for analyzing the archives that form the foundation of so much intellectual inquiry.

The workshop will be held over Zoom; registration required.

Panelists & Facilitators 

• María R. Estorino, Director of Wilson Library and Associate University Librarian for Special Collections
• Chaitra Powell, Curator of Southern Historical Collection
• Dawne Lucas, Technical Services Archivist
• Elizabeth Ott, Frank Borden Hanes Curator of Rare Books
• Aaron Smithers, Special Collections Research & Instructional Services Librarian

Workshop Schedule:

• 9:00 a.m.: Welcome
  • María R. Estorino, AUL for Special Collections
• 9:10 a.m.: How did these items get here?
  • Facilitator: Elizabeth Ott, Curator of Rare Books
• 9:45 a.m.: How would you find these materials?
  • Facilitator: Dawne Lucas, Technical Services Archivist
• 10:20 a.m.: How would you use these materials?
  • Facilitator: Aaron Smithers, Reference and Instruction Librarian
• 11:00 a.m.: Identity and Belonging in the Archives – Personal Perspectives
  • Panel: Elizabeth Ott, Chaitra Powell, Aaron Smithers, and Dawne Lucas
• 11:40 a.m.: Q&A