AiR Honey Simone: Process & Progress

This collection of digital scans includes two or three scrapbooks (they had deteriorated) created by Annette Pearson Cotton, Cliff’s mother, as well as a number of individual photographs. The bulk of the material dates to between 1930 and 1960.

ID: MS403.001A Folder Title: Clifford W. Cotton

Source: North Carolina Room

Video Interview with Clifford Cotton

A few tips to navigating archives:

1. Start off with no assumptions

2. Explore topics that interest you but also know how to pivot

3. Look in multiple places for information. Records can be scattered across libraries or collections.

4. Ask Questions! Contact your local library to ask question about how to navigate physical & digital collections.

5. Be patient with yourself & the process

As a person of color expect not to see yourself right away when navigating these archives. Look outside of the traditional format & trace what you find backwards. Be gentle on yourself.

Journal Entry 1

Journal Entry 2

Here is a video of me explaining some of my thoughts behind these steps:

My experience navigating the world of digital collections.