A world-renowned baritone and artist has collaborated with libraries at the University of Oxford for a pop-up exhibition.
Mischief in the Archives, opening at the Weston Library's Blackwell Hall on January 27, seeks to challenge racialised narratives and restore honour to those long silenced in the archives.
Deriving from the Bodleian Libraries collections, Peter Brathwaite uncovers his roots back to the British-owned Codrington plantations in Barbados.
He has found enslaved ancestors as well as others who were slave traders, including plantation owner John Brathwaite, and Margaret and Addo Brathwaite, an enslaved couple subsequently freed.
The exhibition juxtaposes items from his personal collection with the Bodleian's records, shining a light on the intersecting lives of his ancestors amid the harrowing reality of 18th-century Barbados slavery.
The title, 'Mischief in the Archives', encapsulates different facets of this unique exhibit.
Mr Brathwaite places his family artefacts alongside researched archives from Bodleian Libraries, a creative "mischief" he refers to as "counter-archives".
This approach aims to challenge the colonial records and uncover the concealed voices within.
The exhibition further incorporates a shaggy ceremonial costume symbolising trickster spirit in Caribbean folklore.
Mr Brathwaite's contemporary perspective and personal items juxtapose the past archives, aiming to humanise the dehumanised histories while offering the public the chance to witness a living history that has been buried in the archives.
Mr Brathwaite said: "I always had this urge to dig.
"I wanted to learn more about these real people from history - from my history, and I am heartened and unbelievably proud to have this opportunity through the Bodleian Libraries, to share them with you too."
Despite describing the work as "pain-staking" but "totally worth it", Mr Brathwaite warned that such a task must be done with care due to the "visceral violence" and challenging terminology of the historic papers.
Coming in partnership with the Bodleian Libraries, the exhibition is part of the libraries' Mellon Foundation-funded research project, We Are Our History.
The project's title takes inspiration from a quote by the American writer James Baldwin: "History is not the past."
Jasdeep Singh, project lead for We Are Our History, said: "Peter's journey of family history shows how diving into the archives can unexpectedly intertwine past and present.
"His 'counter-archive' ensures varied voices are present, asserting his ancestors' humanity, not passing mentions in colonial records.
"By sharing this platform with Peter to engage critically with our collections, this display embodies our commitment through the We Are Our History Project to learn, adapt and represent overlooked stories and experiences within our archives."
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