Hi,
In cases where it is relevant we actually specifically highlight the term:
Letter from John Black to his mother. References include, “the niggers are cutting wood… they are a queer lot you have got to keep your eye on them…”, 13th
March 1903
I don’t know that I’d bother to highlight a medical term (although I do remember being appalled at a teacher describing a girl as “a cretin” before realising
that that was in fact a medical term at that time), but in cases like the above I think it’s important that people can find examples of racism, sexism, or whatever. Although on second thoughts it is also interesting how medical terms become insults, then
are superseded.
Regards,
Jackie Davenport,
Archives Officer
Argyll and Bute Council
01546 604774
Realising our potential together
From: Archivists, conservators and records managers. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Matthew McMurray
Sent: 28 June 2017 09:51
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Use of terms which have become offensive.
Dear Michael
This question has come up several times on the List serve, though in most cases I think people have replied off list.
Words used to describe people at particular periods is a difficult subject for archivist, but despite pressure from elsewhere we
should not deny history as that is a sure fire way to forget and repeat it. These words need to be taken in their historical context. Here we always use the original file titles and if alternative words are needed in the description or as keywords to allow
searching by modern phrases then that is probably the way to go. Some people use quotation marks, ad it you are comfortable with that then that is probably the route for you, but please don’t ever remove words because you think they might cause offence today.
Very best wishes
Matthew
Matthew McMurray BA(Hons) MA MLitt
Archivist
Royal Voluntary Service Archive & Heritage Collection
Unit 1a Bath Road Business Centre
Bath Road
Devizes
SN10 1XA
Telephone: 01380 730211
Mobile:07714 898569
Twitter: @rvsarchives
Facebook: facebook.com/rvsarchives
From: Archivists, conservators and records managers. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Michael Kelliher
Sent: 28 June 2017 09:42
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Use of terms which have become offensive.
Dear All,
I was wondering what would be best practice when it comes to the use of terms which are now considered offensive.
I am currently cataloguing correspondence with an organisation which used a medical term in its title but which later became pejorative.
What best practice to include this word in title, with or without inverted commas? Would it be better to use an alternative title which uses the modern title and then include the old title of the organisation within the scope and content?
Regards,
Michael Kelliher,
Contract Archivist Officer,
Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles, Province of Ireland,
Ardfoyle Convent,
Ardfoyle Avenue,
Ballintemple,
Cork.
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