Christine Anne George, JD, MSIS will present “The Past That Has Yet to Pass: Archives and The Belfast Project,” today at 2:30 p.m. near the Canisius College Archives (2nd flr, ALB Library). Ms. George is the featured speaker in the Spring edition of The Archives Speaker Series.
The Belfast Project, an oral history project, captures the dark period of Northern Irish history known as “The Troubles.” George will discuss the project and its history which was conducted through Boston College. The project has been in the news since May 2011 when US attorneys subpoenaed the College for the interview tapes, and began an ensuing legal battle that reaches to the Supreme Court. This past month, The Belfast Project has been back in the spotlight on both sides of the Atlantic with the death of Delours Price, whose oral history interview sparked debate on possession of the interviews, ramifications for the Northern Irish Peace Process, and the future of archival privilege.
Christine George received her BA from Bard College, her JD from St. John’s University School of Law, and her MSIS from the University of Texas at Austin School of Information. She currently works at the Charles B. Sears Law Library at SUNY Buffalo Law School where she serves as a faculty services and reference librarian and oversees the law library’s archives. She began researching legal and ethical issues surrounding the Belfast Project for her thesis, “’Whatever You Say, You Say Nothing:’ Archives and The Belfast Project,” and has presented on the topic at archives symposia and conferences. An article on The Belfast Project in The American Archivist is forthcoming Summer 2013.
Daily updates on the case can be found at: http://bostoncollegesubpoena.wordpress.com/2013/01/29/university-files-to-close-belfast-project-case/
The Canisius College Archives Speaker Series showcases scholars with a special understanding of archival research, based on their own experiences; and, who have completed an expression of scholarship reliant on archival research. Please join us for the presentation followed by Q&A. Students are encouraged to attend. Seating is limited. For more information contact Kathleen DeLaney, archivist, at delaneyk@canisius.edu or X 8421
Submitted by: Kathleen DeLaney, archvist/reference librarian
