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Jill
I think you will have real problems if the children are easily identified. For the people you can't contact, I think you have to assume that no-one would want to be identified, and then think what to do. This might lead you to remove all names, and just identify individuals as 'pupil in 1963' or similar. I would also consider removing all close ups of individual children who would still be under [say] 50 and thus easily recognised.
Here's the view of Angela Rawson, from our Learning & Access team, who potentially uses a lot of photos of school children:
'I would say that if the photo came from the person in the photo then its OK as permission is given. However they are right in thinking there could be problems with people who do not wish to be identified. In this case it may be Ok just to avoid giving names of those in the pictures as they can't be traced then! They could try and contact people via friendsreunited though and also put a disclaimer in the newspaper saying that putting photos in an exhibition and get people to get in touch if they do not want to be included! Tough one!'
It does raise the whole thorny issue about using photos taken by person A, of person B, for a wholly different purpose than A originally took them for. This touches on Data Protection, Child Protection and Copyright, but more usually when you 'publish' rather than 'exhibit'.
Christine
Christine Johnstone
Principal Cultural Officer: History, City of Wakefield MDC Cultural Services
Wakefield Museum, Wood St, Wakefield, WF1 2EW
Tel: 01924 305350 Fax: 01924 305353
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
web-site: www.wakefieldmuseums.org and www.wakefield.gov.uk
Exhibitions in the district:
Beautiful History - Pontefract Museum
Inside Outside - Wakefield Art Gallery
I.D: Who are you? - Wakefield Museum
For more details, click on www.wakefield.gov.uk/cultureandleisure/museums
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jill Holmen [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 16 October 2006 14:42
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [SHCG-LIST] The use of potentially sensitive photographs in exhibitions
>
> This is an email sent via the SHCG List. If you reply to this message, your message will be sent to all the people on the list, not just the author of this message.
> ---------------
>
> The Epping Forest District Museum is currently collecting photographs of
> daily life at Great Stony School, a residential school for children with
> learning difficulties (1939-1994). We are planning to create an
> exhibition with this material.
>
> Lots of photographs have come forward, mainly from and made by
> ex-staff, who are of course happy for their pictures to be used in a
> display. However, it will be impossible to track down the children
> pictured to ask for their permission. We are particularly concerned
> about this as some children might not want to be identified as ex-pupils
> of the school, or would not like to see themselves back either in an
> exhibition or on related publicity.
>
> We would appreciate advice on any restrictions we should be aware of,
> or if anyone is aware of or has been involved in other exhibitions
> dealing with similarly sensitive subjects.
>
> Many thanks.
>
>
> Ms J Holmen AMA+
> Collections Manager
> Epping Forest District Museum
> 39/41 Sun Street
> Waltham Abbey
> Essex
> EN9 1EL
> Tel: 01992 716882
>
>
>
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