Caring Archives: Wellbeing challenges in an archive of extremism: Lessons and Questions from a Decade of the Searchlight Archive.

Siobhan Hyland, Daniel Jones*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to Book/ReportChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Based on a decade of experience operating the Searchlight Archive at the University of Northampton, this chapter explores the challenges that an archive of extremism has encountered, and the ways in which these have spurred development of safeguarding and wellbeing practices for staff, students and others. A leading collection of far right and antifascist material, the Searchlight Archive provides a compelling case study for how these processes develop over time, and also for the ways in which conflict between access and wellbeing can be mitigated or resolved.

The chapter will explore the key ways in which these issues have emerged in handling the wellbeing of its own staff, visitors, attached researchers, students and the public. It will consider the real harm that engagement with extreme material, designed to radicalise its audience, can cause in terms of risks to both mental health and physical wellbeing. It will lay out the approaches that have been taken to try and prevent or minimise these harms, and critically examine the successes and failures of these procedures. It will also explore the opportunities this material presents, both for students and those directly engaged with the material as well as wider society, and so argue that discussion to improve these processes is vital. It will finally lay out the need for a more proactive as opposed to reactive stance in regard to wellbeing and ethics processes for archives of this type, and warn against the misconception of archives as a passive custodian.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationWell-being Past and Present
Subtitle of host publicationThe History and Contemporary Practice of a Cultural Phenomenon in Britain
EditorsPaul Jackson, Mark Rothery, Siobhan Hyland
PublisherBloomsbury Academic
Chapter11
ISBN (Electronic)9781350499850, 9781350499867
ISBN (Print)9781350499843
Publication statusAccepted/In press - 29 Jan 2025

Keywords

  • Archives
  • archive management
  • Wellbeing
  • ethics
  • extreme material
  • extremism
  • radical collections
  • pedagogical practice

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Caring Archives: Wellbeing challenges in an archive of extremism: Lessons and Questions from a Decade of the Searchlight Archive.'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this