The Derby Yaadaañ Archive

Telling stories of South Asian Communities in Derby between the 1950s-1980s

In partnership with Black Country Visual Arts (BCVA), Derby Museums is working with South Asian communities to build the Derby Yaadaañ Project, an ambitious new archive that brings together historic and contemporary material documenting stories of migration to the city between the 1950s and 1980s. The project tells the story of the impact of migration on individuals, communities and cities, working alongside Derby’s diverse communities to celebrate the contribution of all to the city we live, work and play in.

The archive will comprise of high quality scans of photographs from personal collections, individual oral testimonies and contemporary portraits of participants, all of which will come together to form a digital archive that will be accessible to the public for years to come. It will also form an exhibition and collaborative space at the Museum of Making to run from April until September.

Do you have a story to tell, photographs you’d like documented, or perhaps know a family member or friend who you think might like to share a story with us? Get in touch- we’d love to chat. Contact us via email at info@derbymuseums.org or call us on 01332 641901 to organise a meeting.

The Derby Yaadaañ Project has been made possible thanks to generous funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Derby Museums and the BCVA would also like to acknowledge project partners including the Indian Community Centre and Pakistan Community Centre where there are project hubs and Derby Asian Strategic Partnership, The University of Derby, Local Studies Library and W.W.Winter photography for their support of the project.