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<DIV><FONT size=3>This very interesting discussion has included several comments
on access and use of photos of deceased persons taken at funerals and how
attitudes have changed in this respect in recent generations. Some comments
referred to cultural aspects as to what is considered personal or public. There
can be quite serious cultural implications of not only photos of the deceased
but even the names of deceased in some cultures and while it is common
in some cultures to include permanent pictures of the deceased on their graves,
in others it is next to taboo. Those of you dealing with personal or other
records of different societies will find it worthwhile to read Helen
Onopko's presentation on "Evolving access solutions -- repatriation of
records of indigenous communities," which is accessible in the Guest Authors
section of <A href="http://www.mybestdocs.com">www.mybestdocs.com</A>.
This presentation was a report on a project to develop and provide portable
archives of Aboriginal records to the groups that were the subject of the
records, and the challenges that arose in that process.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3>Quoting from Helen's presentation:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV><FONT size=3><FONT size=2>"On the one hand free accessibility to this
heritage is needed so that Aboriginal people can trace their genealogies, find
their tribal identity, their ancestral lands, and trace their relatives. On
the other hand 'free' access can go against traditional methods of control
over the flow of cultural sacred information. As recordkeeping professionals
we can appreciate that here is a special circumstance where <U>context</U> is
as important as <U>content</U>.</FONT> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">"In July 1978, photographs by a powerful
collector of aboriginal records were printed in Stern Magazine showing sacred
sites and secret rites of indigenous groups.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He was very upset when the photographs
were then sold to People Magazine.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Stern subsequently apologised. The whole controversy about whether the
photographs should or should not have been published caused a great deal of
moral anguish.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He said that he
had every right to permit use of the photographs because the subjects in the
photographs had passed away. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><o:p>"In some Aboriginal communities, seeing the names and photographs of
the deceased may cause sadness and distress, particularly to relatives of
those people. </o:p></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 302.25pt 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV>"It is admittedly very difficult to write history without including such
names. On the Ara Irititja<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>website, cautions are provided to users, so that choices can be made
prior to record access.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"This was placed at the beginning of the website and the warning has to
be accepted by all users to enter."</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3>Regards,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3>Rick</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 10/29/2008 8:51:45 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
catherine.hobbs@lac-bac.gc.ca writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=#000000>Judith's message brought
to mind an interview with Joan Schwartz (no<BR>doubt some of you know the
programme/new item I'm referring to, but I<BR>can't remember) where she
discusses her study of 19thC portraits taken<BR>of dead children. She
discusses the way in which these portraits were<BR>taken by studio
photographers shortly after the death and how they<BR>functioned as reminders
to the Victorians who had a different sense of<BR>memorialization.<BR><BR>If
any of you know of an article on the topic we'll add it to the<BR>citations
relating to the discussion. (By the way, I've been meaning to<BR>mention
that: we'll be aiming to compile the citations for
the<BR>discussion).
<BR><BR>Best,<BR><BR>Catherine<BR><BR><BR>-----Original Message-----<BR>From:
personal_archives-bounces@mailman.yale.edu<BR>[mailto:personal_archives-bounces@mailman.yale.edu]
On Behalf Of Judith<BR>Colwell<BR>Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 3:04
PM<BR>To: Archives; Personal_archives@mailman.yale.edu<BR>Subject: Re:
[Personal_archives] personal archives<BR><BR>The photos that we have in a
church archvies, amid personal papers, are<BR>often taken to back up a report
or to put a face on a church -- hence<BR>alumninum souvenir plates and
postcards showing the image of the<BR>minister and of the church
exterior. In some circles these would be art<BR>forms -- after all the
engraving on the aluminum or tin took some skill.<BR>Then the question arises
asking whether the church was as stern as the<BR>minister, or was the minister
pushing an image that he thought the<BR>church wanted.<BR><BR>As to pictures
of funerals, etc. -- depends on the geographic area in<BR>question. I
have some photos of people laid out in their caskets which<BR>appear to be
part of a culture. And I vividly recall, from back in the<BR>late 1950's
a schoolmate with her album of photos of her mother in<BR>casket and the
funeral. Creepy to me, but ....<BR><BR>Judith
Colwell</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV CLASS="aol_ad_footer" ID="6d0c577bd68f26602d8cd1a2253b6bf1"><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Plan your next getaway with AOL Travel. <a href=" http://travel.aol.com/discount-travel?ncid=emlcntustrav00000001
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