Archival Outliers, Invented Ephemerals in Constructing Environmental Histories
A NiCHE Series
Edited by Nuala Caomhanach
Submission Deadline: 7 May 2025
As scholars studying environmental history we engage with a range of source material—–from institutional reports, oral histories, environmental laboratory equipment, to personal correspondence. Annotations, random scribbles on the back of receipts, conference menus, postcards, and untitled photographs are analysed for their use within the histories we write. Once considered as not relevant or useful for a particular project of interest they become part of our own archival outliers and invented ephemerals.
What do we do with this material that resists project placement and narrative formation? Small pieces of a story that cannot fit within the project? How do we cure an archival hangover that holds on to the hope that perhaps one day they could fit in a future project? This NiCHE series invites contributions that explore archival outlier(s) that didn’t make the cut. These outlier stories offer a novel lens to think about the craft of environmental history—–both in its methods and theories and in the ways in which we write these histories.
Authors are invited to submit an abstract and image of the “thing” from their research projects that they have not found a place for within a broader project. The abstract should give context to the “thing” and explain the challenge, problem, desire, or emotional hold this item has had on them during the project’s journey. Selected contributors will be asked to submit a longer blog post, of approximately 500-1200 words based on their abstract.
The image requires correct citations and permission, if not in the public domain or owned by the author. Write a 200-word (max) abstract explaining the context for the outlier and the experience, questions, challenges, or opportunity this material meant within writing environmental history. Submit your image and proposal to series editor, Nuala Caomhanach, using the this Google Form by 7 May 2025. Accepted proposals will be notified by 21 May 2025.
NiCHE offers $50 CAD honoraria to contributors without adequate or consistent access to institutional support. Learn more about our honoraria policy here.
Feature Image: “PREVIEW ephemera papers N0-2” by melstampz is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
