Beneath the surface: Community archives and belonging in Cumberland County, NS

Abstract

This study explores the connections and disconnects between archives, people, and community in deindustrialized areas of Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. I have sought to understand one central question: “In what ways can local archives improve one’s sense of belonging within (and understanding of) community?” To address this, I have used a narrative inquiry approach and interviewed four archival professionals who run community archives in the area, as well as four community members who have accessed local archives. The archival professionals serve as key informants, while the community participants provide rich perspectives on their experiences in their communities and in accessing archives. Based on thematic analysis of these interviews, it is clear that engagement with local archives can affect feelings of belonging in rural and working-class deindustrialized communities, namely by deepening connections between individual, historical, and geographic identity.