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The Ethnology Notebooks. 2021. № 6 (162), 1441—1456

UDK [930.25:39](=161.2:71)

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/nz2021.06.1441

IN BETWEEN THE WORLDS: BOHDAN MEDWIDSKY UKRAINIAN FOLKLORE ARCHIVES

CHERNYAVSKA Maryna

  • ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1655-2734
  • Master of Arts in Folklore,
  • Master of Library and Information Studies, Archivist,
  • Kule Folklore Centre, University of Alberta, Canada,
  • Contacts: e-mail: chernyav@ualberta.ca

Abstract. The article analyses knowledge organization in folklore archives on the example of the Bohdan Medwidsky Ukrainian Folklore Archives at the Kule Centre for Ukrainian and Canadian Folklore at the University of Alberta, Canada(Archives). I examine the Archives at the intersection of several disciplines: folkloristics, archival studies, and Ukrainian studies, as well as in relationship to other areas of information studies such as research data management. I discuss the context of the Archives’ establishment, development and operations at a North American university from its founding in the 1970s until today. The impact of the key individuals on the content of archival collections and their organization is examined. I argue that it is extremely important to adopt professional archival description standards, to document processes and workflows, and to participate in the activities of local and international professional associations, both folklore and archival. I detail the challenges of arranging and describing folklore materials and argue that it is necessary to apply hybrid methods of information organization, which in addition to archival standards take into account specifics of fieldwork materials, collected by folklorists in the field. The importance of collaboration between folklorists and professionally trained archivists is emphasized, as well as ethical aspects of the work of folklore archivists and their impact on the shaping of historical records.

Keywords: folklore archives, folkloristics, archival studies, Ukrainian folklore diaspora, interdisciplinarity, Ukrainian Canadians, Ukrainian research institutions in Canada, institutional history.

Received 22.09.2021

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