Collaborative Research
E Study on the Photo Collection Related to Munro of the National Museum of Japanese History
| Type of Research | Scientific Research |
|---|---|
| Project Title | General Study of Materials and Advanced Historical Information of Artifacts |
| Research Title | E Study on the Photo Collection Related to Munro of the National Museum of Japanese History |
| Head of the Research Team | UCHIDA Junko |
| Research Period | 2006–2008 |
| Research Team |
|
| Purpose | The National Museum of Japanese History holds the photographic collection of Neil Gordon Munro. However no organization of this key resource has been carried out and for the disclosure of such photographs, it is necessary to solve the legal problems related to the image rights. The purpose of this research is to establish an efficient method of disclosure by conducting fieldwork in Hiratori City, the primary location of the photos, so that this collection may be utilized in research and education. |
2008
Progress
[Workshops]
| January 22 to 27 (Kushiro City) |
|---|
At Kushiro Archaeological Center, we examined archeological research materials and reproductions of those letters of Munro whose originals are held by the Royal Anthropological Institute. In addition, we discussed and reached a conclusion on methods for summarizing the results of our research. |
| March 14 (National Museum of Japanese History) |
Based upon each result accumulated from our research during these three years, we discussed methods for summarizing them. |
[Inspection and research meeting]
| July 22 to 24 (Hiratori City) |
|---|
| We interviewed the surviving relatives of the photographed individuals whose photographs are held at the National Museum of Japanese History. We asked them to identify their family members and requested their approval of the utilization of these photographs in our research. Based upon these interviews, we discussed research methods, research subjects and methods of disclosing the results of our research. |
| November 8 and 9 (Hiratori City) |
| We discussed methods for disclosing the results of our research. |
| December 21 to 23 (Hiratori City, Sapporo City and Shiraoi City) |
| We discussed methods for summarizing the results of our research. |
| February 22 to 23 (Hiratori City and Akan City) |
| We investigated methods for using the results of our research in the renewal of the fourth laboratory at National Museum of Japanese History. |
| March 26 (National Museum of Japanese History) |
| We discussed methods for summarizing the results of our research. |
| March 30 (Sapporo City) |
| We gave a presentation of the results from the comparative analysis conducted on the motion picture films held by Hokkaido University and the relevant photographs and movies from the National Museum of Japanese History. We also discussed methods for summarizing these results. |
Result
We have spent two years in interviewing those photographed individuals whose dry glass plate images are held at the National Museum of Japanese History. However we had great difficulty in identifying them as they were photographed more than 70 years ago. We continued our search and succeeded in identifying some additional individuals.
In connection with those individuals who have been identified, we discussed methods for using these materials in specific reference to the comments from their surviving family members. In addition, we also discussed to methods for establishing disclosure standards for these materials so that they can be of use in any succeeding academic research on the Ainu culture without infringing the human rights of the Ainu people. For instance, we are planning to make the initial disclosure in the form of a National Museum of Japanese History research report, in accordance with the disclosure standards generated from our research.
2007
Progress
[Workshops]
| Schedule: September 16 and 17 Venue: Karuizawa |
|---|
| We pooled the information from each research project and discussed methods for summarizing the results of our research. |
[Examination and research meetings]
| Schedule: May 23 Venue: National Museum of Japanese History |
|---|
| Examination of dry glass plates held by the National Museum of Japanese History |
| Schedule: June 13 and 14 Venue: Historical Museum of Hokkaido |
| Examination of lantern slides held by the Historical Museum of Hokkaido. These are highly relevant to the dry glass plates at the National Museum of Japanese History |
| Schedule: June 14 to 16 Venue: Ainu Museum, Hokkaido University and Hiratori City |
Examination of films relevant to the motion picture films at the National Museum of Japanese History Fieldwork at filmed site |
| Schedule: August 3 to 6 Venue: Hiratori City and Hokkaido University |
Interviews of the persons photographed by Munro Research meeting concerning the films at the National Museum of Japanese History and other relevant films |
| Schedule: October 13 to 25 Venue: Hiratori City |
| Interviews concerning Munro and the persons photographed by him |
| Schedule: November 23 to 25 Venue: Nagoya and Tokyo |
| We interviewed the surviving family members of the individuals whose dry glass plate images remain at the National Museum of Japanese History. We asked them to identify the members of their families and obtained their approval of the disclosure of their families’ photographs for our research. |
| Schedule: March 27 to 30 Venue: National Museum of Japanese History |
| General confirmation on the data remaining on the dry glass plate images held by the National Museum of Japanese History |
Result
We attempted to interview individuals of whom dry glass plates remain at the National Museum of Japanese History however we had great difficulty finding surviving family members as it has already been more than 70 years. We have made requests to those survivors we hae been able to find up to the present time asking for their approval of the utilization of these plates. It is necessary to discuss more carefully how we will use these materials for research in the future.
This cooperative research has been conducted in close relationship with the integrated research of National Institutes for the Humanities and the research funded by scientific research fund. The intermediary research results of these research projects were presented at 22 International Abashiri Symposium (November 3 and 4, 2007; Venue: The Culture Exchange Center, Okhotsk, Abashiri City)
<Media Exposure>
The Nikkei article dated July 7, 2007 entitles "Research on the Ainu is Deepening"
2006
Progress
[Workshops]
| First Workshop |
|---|
September 8
September 9
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| Second Workshop |
November 22
|
This cooperative research should be undertaken in close relationship with the integrated research of the National Institutes for the Humanities as well as the research funded by the scientific research fund for the purpose of integrating information resources through the comparative analysis of photographs, movies and texts chosen from the relevant materials concerning Munro held by academic institutions and museums both in Japan and England. We need to keep in mind that each of the research projects mentioned are different from each other in the following ways: our research focuses on the examination and investigation of photographic and visual materials possessed by the National Museum of Japanese History; the integrated research of the National Institutes for the Humanities focuses on comparative analysis and integration of the materials archived separately in Japan and England; and the research funded by the scientific research fund is focused on the digitalization of materials necessary to promote the comparative analysis of these materials.
Result
Judging from the age of the photographs, a certain portion of the dry glass plates were found to have been made by another person. The results from the examination of each photograph were saved in the database and we are planning to disclose them.
