Around the World in 20 Folk Tales
This map showcases the wide geographical range of the illustrated folktales in Special Collections & Archives at the University of Liverpool. Many of these were collected for the historic (pre-1914) Children’s Literature collection of the University's former School of Education Library, or by members of the Gypsy Lore Society (1888-1973), who collected and edited stories from Romani communities worldwide.
The original storytelling captured in these printed volumes has passed through the hands of many intermediaries – people listening to and recording stories, translating and interpreting, editing and illustrating them, often through the lens of an outsider, colonial or romanticizing mindset – and the original storytellers are often invisible in this process. Where possible, credit has been given to named individuals and cultural custodians whose role was not acknowledged.
The older material in this exhibition may also include outdated and offensive language and racial stereotypes. We have included works of this nature to avoid erasing evidence of these historical prejudices.
To talk back and respond to the questions raised by these collections, new voices and views are being added to the University's collections, from the Windrush generation, illustrators such as Jerry Pinkney, Black Liverpool children’s authors, and Roma community authors. We welcome suggestions for future additions, and invite perspectives from viewers from the countries of origin.
Exhibition curated by Maisy Rooth Corder, Student Partner, with thanks to Ken Lee and Eve Rosenhaft for their expert advice. You can learn more about Maisy's work on the Special Collections and Archives blog.
Around the World in 20 Folk Tales
This map showcases the wide geographical range of the illustrated folktales in Special Collections & Archives at the University of Liverpool. Many of these were collected for the historic (pre-1914) Children’s Literature collection of the University's former School of Education Library, or by members of the Gypsy Lore Society (1888-1973), who collected and edited stories from Romani communities worldwide.
The original storytelling captured in these printed volumes has passed through the hands of many intermediaries – people listening to and recording stories, translating and interpreting, editing and illustrating them, often through the lens of an outsider, colonial or romanticizing mindset – and the original storytellers are often invisible in this process. Where possible, credit has been given to named individuals and cultural custodians whose role was not acknowledged.
The older material in this exhibition may also include outdated and offensive language and racial stereotypes. We have included works of this nature to avoid erasing evidence of these historical prejudices.
To talk back and respond to the questions raised by these collections, new voices and views are being added to the University's collections, from the Windrush generation, illustrators such as Jerry Pinkney, Black Liverpool children’s authors, and Roma community authors. We welcome suggestions for future additions, and invite perspectives from viewers from the countries of origin.
Exhibition curated by Maisy Rooth Corder, Student Partner, with thanks to Ken Lee and Eve Rosenhaft for their expert advice. You can learn more about Maisy's work on the Special Collections and Archives blog.
Explore highlights from the exhibition:
Copyright Information
Images may be subject to copyright and are reproduced for the purposes of criticism, review and quotation, as permitted by Section 30 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act (1988). If you are a rights holder and feel copyright has been infringed, please refer to our Takedown Statement and Procedure.
Copyright Information
Images may be subject to copyright and are reproduced for the purposes of criticism, review and quotation, as permitted by Section 30 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act (1988). If you are a rights holder and feel copyright has been infringed, please refer to our Takedown Statement and Procedure.