Archival Research During COVID-19 Shai M

footnotes.asanet.org American Sociological Association Professional Challenges Facing Sociologists

Archival Research During COVID-19 Shai M. Dromi, Lecturer, Harvard the Red Cross are publicly available, resources are helpful, but I plan to Vatican has made new documents University my time in Geneva proved crucial visit the archives in-person once on the papacy of Pope Pius XII y first visit to the International for the project. possible because digitized materials available, and Luft is among only MCommittee of the Red Cross While some archives are curated have limitations and can introduce 150 researchers allowed to examine (ICRC) archive in Geneva, with the specific intention of serving their own biases. Institutional (or them. None of these documents are Switzerland was demoralizing. I a scholarly community, most are personal) priorities decide which digitized and, due to COVID-19, had corresponded with an ICRC organized to serve the needs of a documents get scanned, copyright the archives themselves are now archivist and perused the catalog, living organization, and thus many restrictions determine their public closed. It is not clear when another but upon arriving I discovered that researchers share my experience. availability, and organizational visit will be possible. the boxes I had believed held the The archives they visit first con- resources and geographical location Graduate students are similarly material needed for my dissertation found their research plans, but then often determine who has the working to make progress without thesis were gone. The archivist spec- reveal unexpected discoveries that capacity to digitize in the first place. access to their own research sites. ulated those boxes may have been would have remained hidden with- Relying solely on publicly available At Yale’s graduate program, Chloe lost to fire or rats decades ago. But out an in-person visit. While the digitized materials poses the risk Sariego is conducting a legal history he also understood the questions I ideal is to have a fully funded year of systematically ignoring already on a sealed case that has never been was pursuing, and provided boxes or more for archival research, many underrepresented voices (and this is made public. While her archive visit filed close to where the boxes I was visits happen over the summer, and a particular risk for those conduct- is cancelled, she was able to access looking for should have been. While COVID-19 has stalled many archi- ing research in the Global South). documents on a comparative case my initial interest was in profes- val research plans. For many historical sociologists, through an online database. The sional correspondences, the private My summer plan was to use an digitized documents supplement, costs of access are coming out of her documents I found in those other ASA Fund for the Advancement but do not replace, the in-person pocket. In the same program, Anne boxes—diaries, manuscript drafts, of the Discipline (FAD) grant archive visit. Taylor found a colleague willing to bible study notes—revealed the ethi- to visit university archives and While COVID-19 has affected share scanned collection of 18th cal framework behind the establish- research my current book project archival researchers in all career century documents from the archive ment of the Red Cross movement. on Israel-Palestine student activism. stages, particularly affected are she had planned to visit. Cresa Pugh Unexpectedly, this became the topic While these plans were cancelled, early career researchers. Aliza Luft (Harvard) is currently analyzing a of my first book,Above the Fray: three different university archivists (Assistant Professor, UCLA), for trove of photographed documents The Red Cross and the Making of the responded enthusiastically to my example, is waiting to hear whether from her previous archive visits, but Humanitarian NGO Sector (2020). emails and directed me to useful her June visit to the Vatican Secret this analysis revealed that another Even though many sources about digitized files to explore. These Archive can be rescheduled. The visit to the archive is necessary, and Continued on Page 8

Finding Our Way While we are all doing our best as an information conduit has never or worse, our university has had From Page 6 to maintain learning, this crisis has been so important. I frequently a lot of experience with crises in demanded that we adjust our col- find myself shuttling vital com- recent years – multiple evacuations assist our students—for example, lective expectations. For example, munications between faculty and and closings due to massive wild- by loaning out hundreds of laptops. many courses with service-learning administration and students about fires, and supporting each other But many still struggle with limited components, or those undertak- contingency plans for the com- through a mass shooting close to wireless bandwidth, unforeseen ing research with human subjects, ing semesters – questions about campus, which affected students childcare responsibilities, or working have simply had to eliminate those course modalities, faculty training directly. It would be easy to say that in crowded family homes. Even in elements. And pedagogical goals programs, expanded services and constant crises have made us stron- the best situations, the uncertainty have been reduced unavoidably. The accommodations, and many others. ger. I imagine that is true in a way and anxiety make it difficult for stu- inevitable erosion of incremental On a more routine level, we are —but I also know that it has taken dents to focus. In some of the most skill-building is particularly discon- now adjusting fall schedules as energy away from important col- heartbreaking cases, struggles man- certing as we have worked to build a enrollments proceed (thankfully, lective efforts, and tasks go undone ifest in mental health issues—every- rigorous and scaffolded curriculum. adding sections to accommodate or have to be put off because we thing from crippling frustration (See Teaching Sociology 47(2) for high student demand). I am also simply can’t get to them. Still, it has to suicidal ideation. Our program a discussion of that process.) We completing my final term as depart- been a remarkable effort on the part has developed close relationships know that we’ll have some ground ment chair and working with our of faculty and students just to keep with campus units addressing those to make up with our students in the next chair on a smooth transition. the wheels on the proverbial cart as issues, such as Counselling and fall, but we’ll simply have to cross So, the cycle continues, even as we have barreled down a very rocky Psychological Services, and our that bridge when we get to it. the future remains uncertain. One path. And in contemporary higher Campus Access, Retention & Equity Even as we’re immersed in thing is certain: If we have to con- education—especially at public, team. Those ongoing relationships weathering the current crisis, we tinue in a virtual mode in the fall, regional, comprehensive univer- have allowed faculty to facilitate must push forward with planning we’ll be much better prepared to do sities—the only paths forward are critical connections more rapidly. for the future. The role of the chair so. We learn from crises. For better rocky ones. footnotes May/June 2020 7 American Sociological Association footnotes.asanet.org Professional Challenges Facing Sociologists

Ethnography in the Time of COVID-19 Gary Alan Fine, James E. Johnson interviews or other technologically necessary, we also must remember In a related vein, we should work Professor of Sociology, Northwestern mediated modes of interaction. why this style of research has been to address long-standing issues University, and Corey M. Abramson, Any return of in-place ethnography central to sociological inquiry. Many of transparency in ethnographic Associate Professor of Sociology, must deal with both the possibility who employ this method contend observation, representation, and University of Arizona of being a vector of disease and now, as we once did, that by looking replication. (As this paper was f there is one thing that can be said the psychological effects of seeing close-up, in real time, we can under- accepted for publication on April Iabout ethnography, it is that social others in similar ways. Will this stand key dynamics of social life 15, 2020, some of the information intimacy, and not social distancing, uncertainty undermine the will- in ways that more distant methods within has evolved.) is crucial. While we are to remain a ingness of subjects to invite us into cannot. This unique characteristic The aftermath of COVID-19 may six-foot distance from each other, their worlds? Further, how will this has been crucial for developing provide fruitful opportunities for not meet in groups of more than 10 new reality shape the decisions of and extending theory, generating revisits. The ethnographic site is (or of two in Berlin), or to shelter at Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) concepts, and illuminating empirical always in process, a challenge for home, what are the possibilities for whose preference is to be cautious patterns in numerous ethnographic conventional replication. However, ethnographic research? What is its in protecting both research subjects traditions. In addition, avoiding peo- the contextualized nature of field future in the world that follows? and those institutions for which ple’s lives limits insights on policy research is a strength, and the One answer derives from the Sufi they work? issues that our informants might occurrence of historical events can proverb, “this too shall pass.” This At present many projects have recognize and appreciate. provide for valuable comparisons. may be true. Perhaps as this essay been delayed or halted. We expect The granular details and compel- Research sites are always changing is published, the moment will have IRBs to become more guarded, both ling examples that field researchers as participants come and go, a real- passed into the realm of historical because of the looming threat of have contributed have advanced our ity more apparent in dealing with sociology. Perhaps not. What is cer- liability and uncertainty about the discipline in many ways, especially senior populations. tain is that we are living in unsettled actual risk. This affects all human in learning from populations at During the first author’s obser- times with broad implications for subjects research, but ethnogra- risk. We require a “street-level” view vation of a senior political orga- social life and for those who study it phy is unique with its focus on of complex lives and challenging nization over 30 months many of through intensive field work. immersion. We may need to rely circumstances. We should not the core members disappeared and As two ethnographers who have on alternative methods in the short discard, but rather adapt and evolve, were replaced by other recruits, engaged with the worlds of older term but must work to main- tried-and-true strategies for direct some of whom also left before the Americans, we know that even in tain the unique strengths of field observation. research was completed. By the end healthier moments, ethnographers observation. In the interim, the current crisis of the research, the first author had can be a vector of danger for the These issues are not only salient calls for reflection. Let us revisit the become a long-standing member vulnerable. As anthropology’s for those studying communities, but virtues and limits of conventional of the group. The second author history of colonialism and sociolo- also for understanding organiza- field work and its connection to examined how older adults’ lives gy’s elitism remind us, without care, tions. Ethnographers have benefited complementary methods. Other were shaped by the convergence of the work we do as social scientists from the willingness of organiza- potential complementary data American inequality and everyday can harm the groups we aim to tions to provide access. But what sources while we are out of the field challenges related to health, illness, understand. But when observing happens when these organizations include check-in interviews with and death. Historical events, like those who are medically vulnerable are weary or are overwhelmed? subjects, video data on public spaces, the great recession, provided a during a pandemic, anyone can be a Ethnographers have often needed online observations, triangulation window into seeing the differential threat in a direct and personal way. to persuade and contribute to the with surveys and archival data, and impact of shifting policies on those At this moment, we must organizations they study. Evolving engagement with computational in impoverished versus affluent confront immediate limitations circumstances may now require that methods. Can big data and deep neighborhoods. Revisiting sites after on research as universities place we formalize our understandings data contribute to each other? It the ravages of COVID-19 has the moratoriums on face-to-face social with organizations and individuals is too early to suggest where such potential for insights in arenas that science research. This leaves those to secure access and satisfy concerns alternate and hybrid methodol- are slower to change in the absence currently “in the field” with limited about minimizing harm. ogies might lead, but creativity of stress. options such as telephonic or online While physical distancing is often bursts through on dark days. Continued on Page 9

Archival Research their long-term research plans. Second, online services like Google archive can offer advice and help From Page 7 Archival researchers have numer- Books have made some resources with obtaining anything from general ous resources at their disposal for the publicly available—especially public tips to scanned documents they no with teaching responsibilities it is time being. First, university librarians domain ones. Third, many archivists longer need. Universities can and not clear when this visit will be pos- should be an initial point of contact. welcome inquiries over email, and a should support historical sociologists sible beyond this summer. In short, Given the COVID-19 closures, many brief phone call can yield digitized by helping cover newly incurred while researchers are finding ways providers are allowing free access resources and other repositories expenses of accessing databases to adjust in the short-term, COVID- to their content, including various that might have relevant material. remotely and providing deferrals and 19 is posing a serious challenge to useful resources for archival research. Fourth, past researchers in the same flexibility with travel funding.

8 May/June 2020 footnotes