1st Edition

Exhibiting the Archive Space, Encounter, and Experience

By Peter Lester Copyright 2022
242 Pages 60 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

242 Pages 60 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

242 Pages 60 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

Exhibiting the Archive examines the role that exhibition plays in archives and analyses the impact they are understood to have on how users and visitors experience the archive. Drawing on research conducted in Europe, North America and Australia, the book analyses the key theoretical and social influences on exhibition-making in archives today and discusses the role of exhibitions in the... Read more

Introduction; 1. Conversations about Exhibitions; 2. Spatial and Temporal Encounters; 3. Experience in the Archive; 4. Exhibition-Making in the Archive: Fragment, Context, Performativity; 5. Exhibitions as Sites of Activism: Reflecting, Challenging, Harnessing; 6. Archives+, Manchester: Reshaping Space; 7. The Royal Danish Library, Copenhagen: Encountering the Archive; Conclusion; Index.

Biography

Peter Lester is a researcher and archivist. He recently completed his PhD at the School of Museum Studies at the University of Leicester. His research interests focus on the exhibition and display of archives, encounters with archival material and the design and experience of archival spaces. He is also a professionally qualified archivist with over ten years’ experience in the UK archives sector.

Lester’s ability to deftly weave sensory narratives and complex theoretical texts together truly made this a pleasure to read. I foresee future exhibit research building on his work by pushing past the boundaries of Western constructs of knowledge sharing. 

Claire Du Laney, University of Nebraska at Omaha