معرفی
Jennifer Douglas is an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia's School of Information, where she serves as MAS Program Chair. She teaches courses on archival arrangement and description, personal and community archives, and is a leading scholar in person-centered archival theory and practices. Her work bridges archival science with emotional and affective dimensions of recordkeeping.
Her educational background includes:
- Ph.D. from the Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto (2013)
- Master of Archival Studies from the University of British Columbia (2006)
- MA from the University of Victoria (2004)
Douglas's research centers on the emotional and intimate aspects of recordkeeping and archiving. She investigates how records function in processes of grief and bereavement, examining the relationships between people and their records. Her work challenges traditional archival principles by advocating for more person-centered, care-oriented approaches that acknowledge the emotional dimensions of archives. She explores how a deeper understanding of these emotional connections can transform archival theory and practice to be more inclusive and responsive to human needs.
Her scholarly output reveals a consistent evolution toward understanding the affective dimensions of archives, with increasing focus on grief, emotional labor, and person-centered approaches. Douglas's work demonstrates how archival practices intersect with human emotions, relationships, and community memory, particularly in contexts of loss and healing.
Her notable awards and funding include:
- Hampton New Faculty Award (2017-19)
- SSHRC Insight Development Grant (2018-20)
- SSHRC Insight Grant (2020-23)
- Mellon Foundation Public Knowledge Program funding for FOCAS initiative
Douglas actively supervises graduate students and leads significant research initiatives. She co-leads the Community Archival Collections and Heritage Exhibitions (CACHE) Research Cluster through the Centre for Asian Canadian Research and leads the UBC Faculty Organizing for Community Archives Support (FOCAS) team. Her collaborative approach emphasizes interdisciplinary research and community engagement, particularly with marginalized communities seeking to document their histories.
She is deeply involved with research clusters and teams focused on community archives, including CACHE and FOCAS, which work to support community-based archival initiatives and develop ethical frameworks for community-centered archiving practices.
