Researching institutional involvement in Transatlantic Slavery: a guide for archivists, researchers & institutional stakeholders
This toolkit is designed to support those investigating institutional links to the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Since 2020, more than 100 UK institutions have commissioned research into their historical involvement in the transatlantic trade in enslaved people. Recent reports have suggested that demand for this work is likely to grow. London’s Records of Slavery was established in 2021 to connect institutions across sectors undertaking such research: by sharing their experiences this toolkit creates capacity, provides benchmarks for future projects, and discusses possible challenges and opportunities future work might face.
The contents include detailed case studies of three projects undertaken by the Bank of England, Church Commissioners using Lambeth Palace Library Archives, and Lloyds of London. Their national importance, rigorous research underpinnings, and commitment to longer term action, as well as the interest they generated in the media, make their experiences particularly relevant. Overall, they show that the historical research underpinning projects is of vital importance to their reception and their broader success. Historical research is a key factor in motivating institutional stakeholders to take action and a key interest of audiences engaging with such work, as well as of corporate stakeholders. Transparency and accuracy of historical research is also important to descendent communities.
Considering the importance of historical research, the case studies are followed by consideration of research design and discussion of practical methods for undertaking such projects. Our network’s experience shows that archivists and institutions view undertaking this work as a net positive, offering meaningful dialogue about institutions’ historical record. However, when the demands of this research fall on the shoulders of librarians, curators or archivists, key dilemmas can occur. They include challenges to time and capacity, differing access to resources, competing visions of what constitutes a positive outcome and challenging communication between key internal stakeholders, and occasionally a lack of confidence in interpreting data. Other obstacles to success include constraints on time, limitations of the available sources, lack of engagement with external consultation, and the risks associated with publicity. Recommendations include the use of external researchers, the establishment of advisory boards, well-defined outcomes, transparency with regards to process, and making the research generated public. The toolkit includes a detailed set of resources and appendices to facilitate this ongoing work.