The Department of Archives will host a series of monthly workshops aimed at crowdsourcing its Barbados Runaway Slaves Digital Collection.
Using ads from the newly digitized Mercury Gazette, these workshops are intended to be used as a space for people to gather and work together to extract stories of enslaved Barbadians who chose to escape to freedom.
The next workshop will take place on Thursday, August 29, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Department of Archives, located at Black Rock, St. James. This follows the first one which launched the digital collection back in May this year.
During the session, persons will have the opportunity to read newspapers to locate ads; ‘lift’ them out of the digital images; transcribe the information contained; proofread transcriptions for accuracy; and research information about places, people, or things mentioned in the ads. Additionally, they would also be able to sketch portraits of the people described in the ads.
Persons may choose to work alone, or as a member of a team. The workshops will be led by the Mercury digitization archivist, Amalia S. Levi, and Archives staff, who will be on hand to assist as necessary. Participants should bring a laptop for each individual or team.
For more information, persons may email archives@barbados.gov.bb, or telephone 535-0050.