Family, history, photography...
How are the communities of South West Burnley seen? In what ways are they visible?
Media headlines and Government statistics present a particular image, and it's an image that endures. These 'official' sources are preserved, made available and, in time, they become the record - consulted by historians.
Over the past few weeks I've been exploring census records with residents in South West Burnley. Sites like ancestry and find my past can be frustrating, because there are always gaps, people disappear, change their name - there's a lot of guesswork involved. When someone begins to explore their family tree, the strongest starting point is the information they already have - the family stories and half-remembered rumors they carry with them. This oral tradition can be crucial in deciding which 'John Sutcliffe' is the one we're looking for: "I was always told he had something to do with the railway", "He had a lot of family in Colne", "Two of his brothers died in the war"........
Family history is a process of recovery, an attempt to recover meanings and connections from the past, and sometimes this process helps to locate us in the present and carry us forward in some way. We assemble the fragments and pass them on to our children.
If we're lucky this inheritance comes with a collection of photographs. Studio portraits of young men in uniform at the outbreak of war, wedding photos, school photos and family snapshots. Family photographs are an important part of oral culture, oral tradition - they are part of an ongoing conversation about family and community. Many people post treasured family photos on their Facebook page, and they share them on community pages.A single image can generate an avalanche of comments; eliciting memories and forging connections.
There's a wealth of photographs out there - on mantle-pieces, in drawers, in family albums. Collectively, these images provide a record of the way people in South West Burnley have documented their own lives and neighborhoods across time.
Despite the advantages of Facebook, these personal and family archives remain largely invisible. The stories and memories they represent can easily be lost. It's common to find old family photographs for sale on flea markets, fragments of a conversation that has been interrupted or come to an end. These photographs always raise questions; who is the person? where was it taken? when? what was the occasion? When they are shared on Facebook these anonymous photographs generate new threads of conversation; sometimes a building or setting is identified and we try to reintegrate this fragment into a collective conversation. Photographs are the ultimate conversation piece.
We need to bring these photographs together in one place. Make them accessible to more people and keep the conversation going. Family photographs tell stories of life in South West Burnley; stories of families, streets, communities, celebrations, work and traditions. What stories do we want the children of South West Burnley to inherit - what do we want to pass on to them?
As part of my work with Ground Up I want to build a collection of photographs taken in the area and by the people of South West Burnley. The collection will form part of an exhibition held in the local area, entitled You Are Here.
People who want to participate can bring their photographs to scanning days at venues in the area.
Coal Clough Library, Monday 22nd July, 2.30pm to 6.30pm. (more to follow)
It would be great to find photographs of events, gatherings, people outside their homes, schools and places of work.
Photos will be scanned at a high resolution, and the original returned to you in a few minutes. Details about the image will also be recorded.
If you are interested in the project and/or want to be involved please contact me here at the Ground Up blog or the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ground-UP-Burnley/366156833465215
Or, come along to a scanning day and share your photographs.
Kelly
