Paper Short Abstract:

This presentation will report on a draft Tradition Archives Code of Ethics, which outlines the values of folklore archivists as they relate to their professional practice and the ethical considerations that are relevant to their work. We attempt to capture the tacit knowledge and the unwritten values that guide such work.

Paper Abstract:

Tradition archives operate within the field of folkloristics or ethnology and, at the same time, they employ a variety of approaches in their research activities and day-to-day operations that can be viewed as professional folklore archival practice. This practice differs from what is known as professional archival practice in the information world of records management and archives. It is concerned as much with the collection of traditions as with their preservation and dissemination. It also often includes stewardship of community relationships beyond the fieldwork and archiving stages. Ethical considerations apply to many aspects of the work of folklore archivists: from fieldwork and data collection to definitions of roles of multiple contributors, to documentation of ownership, access and usage rights to the collected research data, to description of materials and making them accessible. These ethical considerations guide folklore archivists and provide a framework for their activities both in the field and in the archives.

This presentation will report on a draft of the Tradition Archives Code of Ethics that aims to capture the values of folklore archivists as they relate to their professional practice and the ethical considerations that are relevant to their work. Discussions of ethics are part of every encounter of folklore archivists. This project will attempt to capture the tacit knowledge and the unwritten values that guide such work and attempt to challenge the assumption that they are unwritable. The audience will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft during and after the presentation.