Archival Research for East Asian Studies

Timeline

Status: Active Cluster

Description

Coordinating Faculty:

a headshot of Matthew Hayes
a headshot of Luo Zhou
Headshot of Eileen Chengyin Chow
Matthew HayesLuo ZhouEileen Chow

About the cluster:

The purpose of this cluster is to introduce new and current students interested in East Asian Studies to the methods, materials, and implications inherent to archival research focused on this world region. The same cluster, offered in 2023-2024, was very well received. It is redesigned this year with more emphasis on digital archives that include Duke University Libraries’ digital collections, subscribed databases, open access databases, web archive projects, as well as unique print archives from Duke University Libraries. 

This cluster will therefore offer a crucial early and direct understanding of archival research, Duke’s own archival holdings related to East Asia, and key strategies for incorporating these materials into research analysis. This cluster will expose students to an array of methods that may support ongoing research, or to materials otherwise unknown to students and that may inspire a new project. Additionally, some portion of cluster instruction will be devoted to conducting archival research in East Asia, the experience of which varies greatly between China, Japan, and Korea. This aspect is meant to encourage students to think about archival research as an activity that involves not only institutional networks, but also national and global networks of research support.

While designed primarily for students in the East Asian Studies and Critical Asian and Middle Eastern Humanities MA programs, the cluster invites all students interested East Asian Studies. Its primary goal is to benefit key stakeholders across APSI and Duke: students seeking to engage archival materials in their research, APSI faculty with courses with archival elements (broadly conceived), APSI/AMES/CAMEH advisers supporting the development of student-led thesis projects, and Duke Libraries seeking to showcase its holdings related to East Asia.

Team

Members

  • Luo Zhou, Librarian for Chinese Studies and Coordinator for East Asian Collection (EAC) Management
  • Matthew Hayes, Librarian for Japanese Studies and Asian American Studies
  • Eileen Chow, Associate Professor of the Practice of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies