The Derby Yaadaañ Archive in a nutshell
The archive has been created in partnership with Black Country Visual Arts, Derby Asian Strategic Partnership, Pakistani Community Centre, Indian Community Centre and Sinfin Asian men’s and women’s groups Derby Local Studies and Family History Library, the University of Derby, de Montfort University and W. W. Winter have all been integral to its success.
Project work at the Pakistani Community Centre, Derby.
Our aim was to collect stories from the 1950s to the 1980s that documented South Asian experience in Derby. Asking people to share with us the material they felt was important…digitising and ensuring delicate family archives were preserved…
Participant’s pictures, Derby
We recorded oral history interviews, scanned photographs and ephemera in family collections and portrait photographs were taken of participants.
Sebah Chaudhry interviewing Mohammad Yakub, Pakistani Centre, Derby
The project relied on working with Derby’s communities in their spaces and through supported visits to the museums. We wanted to know how to approach collecting material, what barriers there might be, and which stories community members felt were important.
Dharam Singh Basi Aton Pipe Works , Stored Rd, Derby c1955
We shared information in local languages…
We delivered training for staff and volunteers. Project recorded over 800 volunteer hours across varied roles.
Volunteer training at Museum and Art Gallery, Derby
We created an exhibition at the Museum of Making.
Museum of Making, Derby.
Stories shared: over 50 participants helped us collect over 1200 images most of which can be accessed here: www.derbyyaadaanarchive.co.uk
Ajit Singh Dosanjh (centre) with South Asian workers at Leys Malleable Castings Leys c1959.
Collection themes included Studio portraits (many taken at W.W. Winter)
Collection themes included and shots from homes and gardens often intended for friends and family overseas.
Participant and project champion, Phil Basi made a film documenting his family’s connections with W.W. Winter.
Some stories have been developed into animations.
