Gaps and Silences in Archives and Special Collections
While archives have been viewed as unbiased repositories of the past in its entirety, they are in fact spaces of gaps and silences. These gaps and silences are due to changing opinions of archivists have considered "of enduring value," and can reflect historical, institutional, and internalized racism, classism, sexism, and ignorance of marginalized genders and sexualities. Biases may also impact the archivist's description. Archives are not neutral.
Hello! I am an Archivist at Kennedy Library's Special Collections and Archives. I can help you navigate archives research and primary sources, from Kennedy Library's Special Collections and Archives to around the world and online.
Contact:
Special Collections and Archives
Kennedy Library, Cal Poly
Social Explorer interactive maps for current and historical census data (full version available for Cal Poly affiliates)
National Historical GIS (NHGIS) provides easy access to summary tables and time series of population, housing, agriculture, and economic data, along with GIS-compatible boundary files, for years from 1790 through the present.
With the Racial Dot Mapyou can explore current SLO demographic data
Data USAincludes current numbers for SLO County and City
The Decennial U.S. Census is a valuable resource for local history research, including genealogy and history of sites and buildings. Learn more about the census.
Up through the 1940 census is available online for research.
Data accessed from: IPUMS NHGIS, University of Minnesota, www.nhgis.org
An introduction to Critical Race Theory in the context of public health:
Ford, C. L., & Airhihenbuwa, C. O. (2010). Critical Race Theory, Race Equity, and Public Health: Toward Antiracism Praxis. American Journal of Public Health, 100(Suppl 1), S30–S35.https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2009.171058