Hidden stories in the archives

Hidden stories in the archives

Presentation

Every historical or personal document is a window into a forgotten story. Old letters, diaries, photographs, and community archives are full of untold narratives. This project invites students to become detectives of the past to uncover these stories and bring them back to life through compelling narratives and digital productions. Their mission: to revive these stories and show how they enrich our understanding of the world and our identities.

Detailed structure and interdisciplinary teaching

1. History and social sciences

Archive analysis: Study archival documents to reconstruct historical events and social contexts.

Activity: Select a corpus of letters, diaries, or photos and identify the historical events or social dynamics they reference.

Key competency: Critical interpretation of historical sources and contextualization.

Cultural perspectives: Identify biases and gaps in archive preservation.

Activity: Study why certain voices are absent or marginalized in archives.

Key competency: Critical analysis of dominant historical narratives.

2. Languages (English and primary language)

Narrative writing: Rewrite discovered stories as short stories, podcasts, or journalistic articles.

Activity: Translate original stories into English and produce bilingual versions adapted for a general audience.

Key competency: Effective written and oral communication in two languages.

Oral presentation: Record a podcast or produce a video telling the stories in English and French.

Activity: Work on storytelling, narrative voice, and emotional engagement.

Key competency: Oral expression and audience engagement.

3. Arts and design

Story illustration: Create visuals or animations based on the uncovered stories.

Activity: Design a visual gallery (digital or physical) including drawings, collages, or photo montages.

Key competency: Translating text into evocative visual creations.

Multimedia production: Edit a video or short film to accompany the presentation of the stories.

Activity: Use software like Adobe Premiere or Canva to visually tell the story.

Key competency: Multimedia product design.

4. Technology and STEM

Digitization and preservation: Explore technologies used to preserve and share archives.

Activity: Scan and retouch historical documents, then integrate them into an interactive database.

Key competency: Understanding digital tools and conservation methods.

Interactive platform creation: Develop a website or app enabling navigation through the stories.

Activity: Use tools like Wix, WordPress, or interactive databases to host stories and visuals.

Key competency: Web design and UX (user experience).

5. Humanities and philosophy

Collective memory: Reflect on the importance of preserving and sharing stories to build collective memory.

Activity: Organize a debate on ethical responsibilities in archive conservation.

Key competency: Ethical argumentation and critical reflection.

Final product

Students will present an interactive gallery of hidden stories, including:

• A physical or virtual exhibition of their artistic and multimedia creations.

• A bilingual website compiling the stories and digitized documents.

• A podcast or video narrating the stories with contextual analyses.

• A roundtable or public debate on collective memory.

Evaluation

• Formative: Tracking research and narrative drafts in a logbook.

• Summative: Assessment of produced stories, visual and multimedia supports, and oral performances.

• Self- and peer evaluation: Students assess their own and peers’ progress.

This project develops narrative, analytical, and digital skills while highlighting forgotten stories, thereby enriching collective memory and cultural diversity.