Previously Special Collections & Archives were viewed as less readily open and accessible, however since 2012 this perspective has shifted. We acknowledge that 19th –early 20th century collectors are predominantly male; in the last 10 years we prioritised acquiring and listing more EDI created and owned collections. Our collections are held for posterity but through the process of kaizen we aim for 1% improvement daily of how, who and what we collect. This is so collections in the future better reflect who we are in the constantly evolving society. To this end we have selected an Emily Dickinson quote for the title as it too challenges our preconceived notions of past, present and future.
Our paper will address how we are changing what makes an item worth collecting. We will identify and address the cultural bias of historical collectors and how we increase the visibility of a more diverse range of voices. Examples of this process include Emma Horgan listing the Elizabeth Friedlander collection (2016) and Elaine Harrington creating the Gayfield Press collection (2021), both of which have extended the ways potential stakeholders view the usefulness of our collections. In 2023/2024 the Radical Humanities Lab use these collections for modules including Women, Class & Society; Visualising War; and Visualising Feminist Activism.
In changemaker terms we are aligning our work with our values which match those of our institution’s. We know we are not ‘heroes in capes’ therefore we partner with academics, UCC’s community and further afield to influence and connect, utilising our skills and expertise to create lasting change. These actions will enable the collections to be widely used and our level of impact aligns with the potential for systems change as we gain momentum.