Paper short abstract:

We present and discuss our work with the digital platform "In motion". It aims to make visible archived narratives about migration to, from and within Sweden. We emphasize the importance of curating the narratives to make the archival materials truly accessible to both scholars and the public.

Paper long abstract:

In this paper we present and discuss our work with the digital platform "In motion" ('I rörelse'). In motion aims to make visible archived narratives about migration to, from and within Sweden over the past 100 years. The platform is based on the historical collections of the Institute for Language and Folklore and makes use of an interactive world map to show individual's movements in space and time. Our goal has been to create a versatile digital resource with a scientific and knowledge-spreading approach to the migration issues of today. The platform's target groups are both the research community and the broader public, including children and young people.

In this paper, we describe our work with In motion by highlighting a few examples of the narratives included in the platform. We emphasize the importance of curating the narratives and discuss why it has never been a possibility for us to simply make the archive material digitally available, without contextualizing information. With the platform, we strive to be a stable voice in today's heated debates on migration by contributing with personal experiences from the archives.