Collating and Preserving Primary Material on the Northern Ireland Conflict
(Queen's University Belfast & University of Ulster)
Abstract
The Northern Irish conflict over the last 35 years has generated a vast under-used and significantly undocumented
body of material that can be utilised to address issues of violence and reconciliation, both for comparative research
and to help promote the 'peace process' in Northern Ireland. While some blocks of this material are archived, effective
use of the bulk of what is potentially available has been thwarted by its wide dispersion and the lack of any comprehensive
central index. This project will centre on:
- the collation of information about qualitative material covering the 35 year span of 'the Troubles' in NI (content, availability, recording format etc.) into a single catalogue;
- particularly in instances where material is 'at risk' of being lost, the project will take steps to procure or copy the material and lodge it in the QUALIDATA archive. 'Digitisation' will be the preferred strategy for audio and video material.
The proposal will exploit the ARK (Social and Political Archive for Northern Ireland) Project's knowledge of potential
sources for collection and its recognised expertise in the dissemination of social science information to the public.
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