Document Actions

Skill Swap Series #4: Unlocking Digital Archives: A Practical Workshop for Researchers

When

Jun 30, 2026 from 10:00 to 12:00 (Europe/Berlin / UTC200)

Where

GCSC Room 109

Contact Name

Add event to calendar

iCal

 

Digital archives have transformed the landscape of cultural studies research, making vast collections newly accessible and searchable. Yet they remain significantly underused, often because researchers are unsure how to find relevant collections and unable to navigate them effectively.

This hands-on workshop offers PhD students a practical and critical introduction to digital archives. Through a mix of short presentations and guided exercises, participants will:

  • learn how to navigate key archives relevant to cultural studies (including Europeana, Google Books, and the Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek)
  • develop effective search strategies, and learn how to cite digital sources correctly in their research.
  • gain an overview of useful tools for managing and annotating your own digital collections — including Zotero for organising primary sources, and Tropy for managing photographic records.
  • discuss ethical questions surrounding digitisation, access, and provenance.
  • share knowledge and experience of AI assisted research using digital collections.

No prior experience is required. If you have a specific collection, research question, or methodological challenge you'd like addressed, please get in touch before the session.

Slides can be made available for those who cannot attend in person.

// This workshop is led by Silas Edwards, who previously worked on the creation of the digital collections database at the University of Frankfurt and the digital research skills programme DOLCE.

Please register here on Stud.IP for this course!

 

The Skill-Swap Workshop Series is a student initiative hosted by the GCSC. Inspired by the constant interdisciplinary exchange between doctoral candidates at the centre, the workshop series offers an official outlet for a peer-led knowledge transfer. Workshops are designed by candidates (FB03, FB04, FB05) and postdocs at the GCSC/GKK to swap research skills and expand teaching experience. This is an experimental initiative and a work in constant progress; if you have ideas, questions, feedback, or want to get involved as a facilitator, feel free to reach out: reqqa.salem-qubailat@gcsc.uni-giessen.de.