Tales from the Archive: How do food researchers from different disciplines use archives?

The British Library Conference Centre Monday 19th November, 2012 10:00 16:00 Libby Bishop - Peter Jackson - Stephen Mennell, Anne Murcott - Polly Russell - David Smith NOVELLA
Imperial War Museum

The recent turn towards the re-use of data in the social sciences means a growing number of food researchers are conducting 'fieldwork in the archives' (Brettell, 1998). Making sense of historical data raises a number of methodological questions for social scientists: What historical food data-sets are available and how have they been used for different studies? How do social scientists contextualise historical data in relation to contemporary sources? What can social scientists learn from historians about working with historical data in relation to food? How have social scientists in the past engaged with archives? Through a series of presentations and audience-led discussion, this day-long workshop will examine the issues raised by the use of archives in social science food research. There will also be an optional tour of the British Library between 4-5pm. If you wish to attend the tour, please ensure that you book a place as well. The event will be of relevance to researchers interested in historical and contemporary food research. The cost of attendance includes refreshments on arrival, lunch and afternoon tea UK registered students - 30 Staff from UK academic institutions, ESRC funded researchers, UK registered charitable organisations and government employees - 60 All other attendees - 120

Places on both the workshop and tour are limited and offered on a first come first served basis. nd Registration closes on 2 November, 2012. To register please visit our online store:
http://store.ioe.ac.uk/browse/extra_info.asp?compid=1&modid=2&prodid=122&deptid=112&catid=42

Tales from the Archive is hosted by NOVELLA (Narratives of Varied Everyday Lives and Linked Approaches) in collaboration with the British Library. NOVELLA is an ESRC funded, National Centre for Research Methods Phase III node concerned with the everyday habitual practices of families. Please direct academic enquiries to Abigail Knight (a.knight@ioe.ac.uk) and administrative enquiries to Rowena Lamb (novella@ioe.ac.uk)

Tales from the Archive: how do food researchers from different disciplines use archives? Programme
9.45-10.15 10.15-10.30 Registration and coffee Abigail Knight, Research Officer, Novella Food and Families, Thomas Coram Research Unit Welcome, and why this seminar? Using narrative archival data to study food 10.30-11 Professor Stephen Mennell, University College Dublin Theory-driven use of archives in food research 11-11.30 Dr Polly Russell, Curator, The British Library Archaeology or Social Research? The Biography of an Archive 11.30-11.50 11.50-12.20 Coffee Professor Anne Murcott, SOAS, London/University of Nottingham On the strategic use of archives in sociological research about food 12.20-12.50 Dr Libby Bishop UK Data Archive/Timescapes and University of Essex Digital preserves: How do researchers use archived food-related data? 12.50-1.40 1.40-2.10 Lunch Helen Wakely, Archivist, The Wellcome Library Shopping around in the archives 2.10-2.40 Dr David Smith Hon Senior Lecturer, University of Aberdeen Do the sources employed by historians of nutrition science and nutrition policy making have anything to offer those concerned with the narrative approach to everyday food behaviour? 2.40-3.10 Professor Peter Jackson, University of Sheffield Sold with a story: food narratives from farm to fork 3.10-3.30 3.30-4 Tea Sum up and questions to speakers from floor Chair: Dr Libby Bishop 4-5 Optional Tour British Library

The seminar is taking place at the conference centre of the British Library, an iconic building, which symbolises world-class knowledge and research. The day includes talks from experts, lunch provided by Peyton Events and an optional tour of the Library, including the Kings Gallery, an impressive glass-encased bookshelf spanning from floor to ceiling across multiple levels.