Overview
In 2024, the Archives Service was awarded funding from The National Archive’s Research and Innovation fund to reframe access to our historic medical photograph collection.
Continuing our efforts to address the colonial legacies of our collections we have partnered with Decolonising the Archive (DTA) to run a series of events in the Autumn.
For too long archives have been shaped by a colonial gaze- misrepresenting lives, cultures, and histories. We invite you- especially from communities featured in our collections- to help us inform the record and co-create better futures for our shared heritage.
Background
LSHTM was established in 1899 with funding from the Colonial Office with the object to facilitate British colonialism and white settlement through research and the treatment of tropical disease.
The LSTHM Archives reflects this problematic past, with holdings including photographs of people from Colonised nations taken by School staff and other donors. For many of these images there is little provenance, but it is assumed that these photos were taken without consent or an understanding of why they were being taken and how they might be used.
Owing to their sensitive nature, these photos have remained hidden as we are uncomfortable with researchers accessing them but through our decolonising work, we understand the importance of making these accessible in an appropriate way.
This project has been designed to reframe access to LSTHM’s colonial medical photo collections, ensuring that we preserve and promote the collections in a respectful and equitable manner.
Working with our expert Consultants at Decolonising the Archive (DTA) we hope these conversations will help us to reconcile institutional archival practices with Community Archiving initiatives.
Decolonising the Archive (DTA) was founded in 2011 and focusses on the definition, safeguarding and activation of our collective archives, they have worked with, supported and trained hundreds of people across the UK and internationally.
Structure
September 24th, 2026, 2-3pm – Online (partially recorded): This webinar session will introduce the context of some of the medical colonial photography within our collection and the ongoing ethical discussion around them.
October 20th, 2026, 6.30-8.30pm - In Person, Brixton House London OR November 3rd, 2026, 2-4pm – In Person, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London: Placing participants at the centre, our two in-person workshops will allow participants to view and respond to the photographs, reflecting on whether, how and why they ought to be preserved and accessed.
November 17th, 2026, 2-3pm – Online: The final webinar will include a discussion of responses and help inform processes going forward and explore what methods ought to be used to continue to confront historic violence in the archives.
Note: The workshops will feature material from Sri Lanka, Pre-partition India (region uncertain) and Cameroon but the discussions are designed to address material featuring all Colonised regions.
Content note / what to expect
Owing to the nature and context of the materials, elements of these events may be offensive and/or distressing.
We will be doing our best to provide the space for audiences to safely engage with the material, but welcome anyone with concerns or queries to contact us at [email protected].
These events have been designed for adults.
Our evening workshop at Brixton House may feature alcohol.
Accessibility
We strive to ensure our events are as accessible as possible, with specific details on each event page but we encourage anyone with concerns, queries or requests regarding accessibility to contact us at [email protected].