Immaterial and Material Archives in the Caribbean

Immaterial and material archives are the foundations of memory making and historiography, in the Caribbean as much as elsewhere. This volume offers a nuanced, interdisciplinary examination of the intricate relationships between archives and society. It focuses on interrelations of material culture, immaterial practices, and practice-based approaches to memory making and history, to explore these dimensions. As both institutions and metaphorical concepts, archives stand for the conservation and the interpretation and control of imaginaries of the past. In (post)colonial societies, this past has significance for present generations as a reference point in society, politics, and economics.

This volume explores these multifaceted aspects of archives through an interdisciplinary approach, including perspectives from disciplines in which this notion has figured less prominently, such as geography and economics. It also draws attention to alternative sources and archives in the Caribbean that go beyond mainstream institutions. Therefore, several papers in this volume reflect participatory research, interviews with local artists, family archives, intangible culture, and the built environment.