Gatekeepers to the Past? An Archival Guide

Abstract

This book is the result of the advanced seminar, “Archives: Gatekeepers to the Past?” taught by Riley Linebaugh and Bettina Severin-Barboutie at Justus Liebig University in winter 2020-21. The course examined archives as dynamic institutions, practices and relationships that are (re-)constructed over time. We critically studied key terms such as provenance, appraisal, respect des fonds and in doing so, students discussed central debates in the historical discipline, such as: the making of archival absence, the problem of hegemonic perspectives, the pursuit of alternative sources, etc. Envisaged as a teaching resource and introduction to archives, this guide documents the authors’ engagement with the political and historiographical power of archives and those who guard them.