Archvies Week 2015: MUN Folklore and Language Archive Tours

To celebrate Archives Week 2015, The Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (MUNFLA) will be offering free tours to the public.

Come check out our brand new cold storage vault!

Donated by over 11,000 contributors, MUNFLA has over 40,000 audio recordings, 20,000 photographs, 16,000 manuscripts, 4,000 commercial recordings, 2,000 printed documents and over 800 video recordings. These materials cover topics such as custom and belief, childlore, song, dance and foodways. We also house collections documenting folk cultures all over the world, through the research activities of Folklore students. 

Maybe not. But still...

Join us and take a tour of our collections, check out our brand new environmentally controlled vault, and learn more about MUNFLA and how archives work...and can work for you!

Time: Tuesday, Nov 17, 10am-4pm
Place: MUNFLA, ED4038, Education Building, Prince Philip Drive, St. John’s
Contact: Nicole Penney (709) 864-4586 / n.penney@mun.ca

Living Heritage Podcast Ep017 Fishing for Success with Kimberly Orren

Kimberly Orren is one of the founding directors of Fishing For Success, Inc. at Island Rooms of Petty Harbour, and currently serves as its Executive Director. Fishing For Success is a not-for-profit that aims to teach youth and tourists about the culture of Newfoundland and Labrador through the establishment of a traditional family inshore fishing premises. We talk about her first memories of fishing, science education, getting kids interested in fishing, and everything from capelin and sharks to traditional fishing marks.

 

Look out! Mummers want your long johns!

The Mummers Festival is looking for donations of old, clean mummers garb to be used during our annual Rig Up! This free community event allows anyone to dress up in the perfect disguise just prior to the Mummers Parade on Saturday, December 19th, 2015.

All donations are welcome, but especially useful items include things such as:

• Lace curtains or pillowcases to cover the face
• Silly household items that can be used as hats (Tea cozies, colanders, lampshades, etc)
• Wigs, masks, mittens
• Loose-fitting clothes that can be worn over winter clothes so our mummers stay warm!
• Kooky dresses (unwanted wedding dresses welcome!) 
• Fishermen’s oilskins, hunting jackets, flannel
• Aprons
• Longjohns
• Anything else you can envision a mummer wearing!

From November 6th to December 14th drop-off boxes will be stationed at:

A.C. Hunter Library
Arts and Culture Centre
125 Allandale Rd

Michael Donovan Public Library
655 Topsail Rd

Marjorie Mews Public Library
12 Highland Drive

We will also be accepting donations all day on November 24th, 25th, and 26th out of Victoria Park Poolhouse.

For more information check out our website at mummersfestival.ca

Living Heritage Podcast Ep016 Digitization How-To with Archivist Nicole Penney

Nicole Penney is a folklorist and archivist living and working in St. John’s, Newfoundland. She holds a BA in Folklore / English Literature and an MA in Public Folklore from Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. On this episode, we talk all about digitizing archival records, with tips for community museums and archives, as well as private individuals, about how to best digitize old photographs, print, video, and audio materials.

The Memory Store: But there is a figure of man in work clothes just to the side...

This week’s Memory Store video is a clip of Elisabeth Laverty from the Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Elisabeth tells the story behind the ghostly picture found in the museum of the Cathedral. The story is that the ghost is a mason from England who fell to his death during the construction of the Cathedral.

Watch the video below or click here to watch the video on YouTube.

Click here for more information about the building's history and architectural style.
If you missed our initial post explaining the concept of the Memory Store clip here to go back to our first blog post with the introduction video or check out our YouTube channel at ICH NL.

Stay tuned for more short stories about historic places in the province, in the form of short oral history interviews conducted with the people who care about those places and if you have a personal memory about a historic place in Newfoundland and Labrador, and want to add your voice to the Memory Store project, let us know at ich@heritagefoundation.ca

-Terra

Heritage Foundation promoting heritage places and youth creativity.

Students, it’s time to get creative! The Heritage Places Poster Contest is currently running in all schools in the province. It is organized through the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (HFNL).

“2015 marks the 11th year that HFNL has sponsored a poster contest highlighting heritage places in the province,” explains contest coordinator Andrea O’Brien. “Over the years we have been impressed and inspired by the quality of artwork and stories submitted by students across the province. From Nain to Trepassey, students have told us why local heritage places are important to them and their communities. We look forward to this year’s entries as students continue to highlight and celebrate our province’s rich heritage.”

To participate in the contest, students must create an original piece of art depicting a building, structure or landscape that has heritage value in their community. They must also submit a short written statement explaining its heritage value. Prizes are awarded at the primary, elementary, junior high and senior high levels. An overall winner is chosen from these category winners. The winning artwork will be featured on HFNL’s 2016 Heritage Day poster in February.

Contest guidelines and entry forms can be found on HFNL’s website at www.heritagefoundation.ca, by calling 1-866-739-6592 extension 4 or by emailingandrea@heritagefoundation.ca.

Contact information: For more information, please contact Andrea O’Brien by calling 1-866-739-6592 extension 4 or by emailingandrea@heritagefoundation.ca.

Living Heritage Podcast Ep015 Cultural Geography with Jo Shawyer

Jo Shawyer is a cultural geographer who taught in the Department of Geography at MUN for many years. Her special interest is the study of cultural landscapes. Jo has researched the tradition and structure of a farming landscape, the impact of an expanding urban area on the adjacent rural farmscape, the arrival of a military landscape in St John's during World War II, and, currently, the landscape of property in downtown St John's. We talk about cultural geography, what it is, and how Jo started in the field. We also discuss historic and cultural landscapes, sense of place, the history of Churchill Park’s development, and what role geographers will play in the future.

Job Posting 2 - Built Heritage Intern

BUILT HERITAGE INTERN

The Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador was established in 1984 by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to preserve the built heritage of the Province. The Foundation is now accepting applications for a Built Heritage Intern. This position will be funded under “Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage” and is for a period of 52 weeks.

The candidate would be a recent graduate of a post- secondary institution with a background in the built heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador. They should be proficient in architectural terminology, building methods, and historically appropriate building materials. The job would include assisting Foundation staff in program delivery, notably designation, granting, building inspections, maintaining records and delivery of services.

The applicant must have excellent written and oral communication skills, good knowledge of Microsoft Office and a valid driver’s licence.

Please apply in writing to:
Executive Director, Built Heritage Intern, Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, P.O. Box 5171, St. John’s, NL, A1C 5V5 or by email to info@heritagefoundation.ca

Application deadline is Friday, November 13, 2015. 

Job Posting: Intangible Cultural Heritage Intern

Job Posting: Intangible Cultural Heritage Intern
This is a position with Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (HFNL) Intangible Cultural Heritage Office, with a salary of $15/hour. The position will require a candidate with strong writing and speaking skills in English, with a degree in folklore, public history, anthropology, or related discipline.

Previous experience with a heritage organization is an asset, as is a keen interest in folklore and local culture. Excellent organizational skills are a must, and an interest in textile arts or fabric traditions is a bonus.

The ICH Intern will work with staff in the planning and development of programs related to the collection, conservation, transmission, and celebration of the intangible cultural heritage of the province, as well as helping to identify aspects or themes of ICH under threat.

The intern will conduct archival and historical research on the First World War knitting of socks for soldiers at the Front, and the work of the Women’s Patriotic Association, and to make that information available to the public through online collections and public presentations. The intern will also assist in the creation of workshops and after-school programs that will bring together seniors and children, to teach and share knowledge and skills around knitting.

The Intern will document and identify key participants as well as conduct oral history interviews, and help organize, plan and run events. The job will also include some blog and report writing, taking minutes of committee meetings, and assisting with intangible cultural heritage workshops. The position will end March 31st, 2016.

Application Deadline Friday, November 13th, 2015
Send resume, cover letter, and list of 3 references to:

Dale Jarvis, ICH Development Officer

Heritage Foundation of NL

PO Box 5171

St. John's, NL, A1C 5V5

ich@heritagefoundation.ca