Indivisible: Stories of American Community records, 1999-2002, 1988-2002, bulk 1999-2002

Using These Materials Teaser

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:
Collection is restricted. Images and recorded interviews may be used for non-commercial, public service, or educational purposes. All other requests to copy, reprint, or republish recorded...
More about accessing and using these materials...

Summary

Creator:
Rankin, Tom, Duke University. Center for Documentary Studies, Archive of Documentary Arts (Duke University), Stack, Trudi Wilner, and University of Arizona. Center for Creative Photography
Abstract:
The records of the documentary project Indivisible: Stories of American Community span the dates 1988-2002. Through documentary photographs and oral histories, project records, videos, and other materials, the collection documents the social conditions in twelve American communities as well as the history of the project, which explored civil activism, struggle, and change in the following locations: the North Pacific Coast of Alaska; Ithaca, N.Y.; San Francisco, California; Navajo Nation, Arizona and New Mexico; Eau Claire, South Carolina; Delray Beach, Florida; Western North Carolina; Stony Brook, N.Y.; San Juan, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and the Yaak Valley, Montana. The photographers are Dawoud Bey, Bill Burke, Debbie Fleming Caffery, Lucy Capehart, Lynn Davis, Terry Evans, Lauren Greenfield, Joan Liftin, Reagan Louie, Danny Lyon, Sylvia Plachy, and Eli Reed. The project was sponsored by the Center for Documentary Studies of Duke University and the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona, and co-directed by Tom Rankin and Trudi Stack. Acquired as part of the Archive of Documentary Arts at Duke University.
Extent:
14.2 Linear Feet (7250 items)
67 Megabytes
Language:
Materials in English
Collection ID:
RL.10139

Background

Scope and content:

The records of the documentary project "Indivisible: Stories of American Community" span the dates 1988-2002, with the bulk of the collection dating from 1999 to 2002, the primary timeframe for the project. Through documentary photographs and oral histories, project records, videos, and other materials, the collection documents the social conditions in twelve American communities as well as the history of the project, which explored civil activism, struggle, and change in the following locations: the North Pacific Coast of Alaska; Ithaca, N.Y.; San Francisco, California; Navajo Nation, Arizona and New Mexico; Eau Claire, South Carolina; Delray Beach, Florida; Western North Carolina; Stony Brook, N.Y.; San Juan, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and the Yaak Valley, Montana. Each project is fully described in its entry in this collection guide. The project co-directors were Tom Rankin of the Center for Documentary Studies and Trudy Wilner Stack of the Center for Creative Photography. The project was also supported by the Pew Charitable Trusts, the NEA, and other agencies.

The photographs in this collection, most of which formed part of a traveling exhibit, were taken chiefly during 1999 by twelve well-known documentary and landscape photographers working in partnership with project oral history interviewers. The photographers are Dawoud Bey, Bill Burke, Debbie Fleming Caffery, Lucy Capehart, Lynn Davis, Terry Evans, Lauren Greenfield, Joan Liftin, Reagan Louie, Danny Lyon, Sylvia Plachy, and Eli Reed. Their images capture the experiences of individuals participating in grassroots initiatives addressing American social issues such as housing, immigration (in particular, Haitians in Florida), the natural environment, race relations, youth empowerment, and economic and cultural development, and others.

Also preserved in this collection are detailed oral histories recorded in each community, with audio recordings and transcriptions; information on the traveling exhibit; and materials on other project outcomes, including a hardbound large-format book of the images, a postcard exhibit, a guide for educators, booklets and other publications on community organizing, and radio and television programs. Other files document the establishment of research archives based on the documentary project's output, at Duke, in Arizona, and in each of the twelve communities.

The collection is arranged into three series: Audiovisual Resources, Photographs, and Project Files. Audiovisual Resources houses the interview tapes as well as other media associated with the project; Photographs includes photographic prints, most of which accompanied the project book and exhibition; Project Files houses the interview records as well as tape lists, logs, and transcripts in both paper and digital formats. Additional supporting materials found in the Project Files Series include postcards and videocassette tapes from exhibits; a CD-ROM of the 2001 website; field notes in paper and digital format; and other office files generated by the project and its staff, including Tom Rankin, one of the project co-directors.

Acquired as part of the Archives for Documentary Arts at Duke University.

Biographical / historical:

The Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University was established for the study of the documentary process. "Indivisible: Stories of American Community" was a national documentary project which took place primarily during 1999-2001, and was sponsored by the Center for Documentary Studies in partnership with the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona. The project captured the experiences of individuals participating in grassroots community organizations and activism in twelve American communities at the end of the 20th century.

Acquisition information:
The "Indivisible: Stories of American Community" photographs and project records were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library in 2002,2006, 2008, and 2011.
Processing information:

Processed by Ruth E. Bryan, Karen Glynn, Paula Jeannet, Matthew Warren, Ebony McDonald, Andrew Cannon, and Craig Breaden.

Completed February 10, 2003. Additions made in 2008 and 2012. Recordings processed 2014.

Acessions described in this finding aid: 2002-0230, 2006-0064, 2012-0090.

Encoded by Joshua A. Kaiser and Paula Jeannet.

Re-encoded by Craig Breaden, 2014.

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Subjects

Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.

Subjects:
Oral history -- United States
Social problems -- United States -- History -- 20th century
Community life -- United States -- Photographs
Community organization -- United States
Community development -- United States
Voluntarism -- United States
Format:
Videocassettes
CD-ROMs
Photographs
Machine-readable records
Transparencies
Oral histories (document genre)
Audiovisual materials
Audiocassettes
Digital audio tapes
Names:
Archive of Documentary Arts (Duke University)
University of Arizona. Center for Creative Photography
Burke, Bill
Caffery, Debbie Fleming
Davis, Lynn
Evans, Terry
Rankin, Tom
Bey, Dawoud
Stack, Trudi Wilner
Reed, Eli
Plachy, Sylvia
Lyon, Danny
Louie, Reagan
Liftin, Joan
Greenfield, Lauren
Places:
San Francisco (Calif.) -- Social conditions -- 1980-
Philadelphia (Pa.) -- Social conditions -- 1980-
Pacific Coast (Alaska) -- Social conditions -- 1980-
North Carolina, Western -- Social conditions -- 1980-
Chicago (Ill.) -- Social conditions
Delray Beach (Fla.) -- Social conditions -- 1980-
Eau Claire (S.C.) -- Social conditions -- 1980-
Ithaca (N.Y.) -- Social conditions -- 1980-
Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah -- Social conditions -- 1980-
United States -- Social conditions -- 1980-
Yaak Valley (Mont.) -- Social conditions -- 1980-
Stony Brook (N.Y.) -- Social conditions -- 1980-
San Juan (Tex.) -- Social conditions -- 1980-

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is restricted. Images and recorded interviews may be used for non-commercial, public service, or educational purposes. All other requests to copy, reprint, or republish recorded interviews or printed materials must be made in writing to the Center for Documentary Studies. Researchers who wish to use an interview that does not have a release agreement must read and sign a "Research Agreement for Restricted Materials." All quotes must be taken directly from the recorded interviews, not the printed transcripts or logs.

All or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. There may be a 48-hour delay in obtaining these materials.

Also, some of the materials in this collection are not immediately accessible, because they require further processing before use.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

Access note. Some materials in this collection are electronic records that require special equipment. Contact Research Services with questions.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Before you visit:
Please consult our up-to-date information for visitors page, as our services and guidelines periodically change.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], "Indivisible: Stories of American Community" photographs and project Records, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1zc8s