New Approaches to Colonial History using British Library Resources: Reflections from a Three-Month Placement

Abstract

• In this report, I hope to have conveyed a sense of the vast potential for exploring the history and legacies of European colonialism through the British Library’s collections. The material from colonial contexts ranges from maps and stamps to Endangered Archives sources and rare ephemera. These sources do not just shed light on colonial history, but also have a (post)colonial history of their own, with even recent works of secondary literature informing us how perceptions of the history of European colonialism have changed over time. While the authorship of some sources is clearly identifiable, others are products of the interaction between European and subaltern actors, rendering it difficult or impossible to identify where one author’s voice ends and another begins. Several important and engaging projects to highlight the colonial history of certain Library items have already been completed or are underway, and I hope that my exploratory placement has helped to identify where future projects, particularly emanating from the European collections, could draw inspiration. As the need to foreground the history and legacies of European colonialism is identified across cultural institutions, discussions about best practice continue to be held, resulting in new challenges for curators and librarians. Above all, however, the increased and long overdue interest in the mainstream of the European culture and heritage sector in colonial history brings new opportunities. The British Library cannot and need not reinvent the wheel, and the possibilities for learning from other institutions are not limited to questions of best approach and practice. By seeking collaboration and dialogue with current and prospective Library users and partners, curators may discover new ways of enhancing its international engagement and its services for teachers, students, researchers, civil society groups and casual visitors alike.