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Iranian Archives

Iranian Archives at Durham

Durham University is now home to two important archives documenting the history, culture and politics of twentieth century Iran. The archives originate in the work of three British scholars who worked extensively in Iran in the last century. The collection combines the work of the late Anne Lambton (of the region’s well known Lambton family) who carried out fieldwork between 1930-1950s, and the late Durham University lecturer David Brooks who worked there throughout the 1960’s. The archive soon expects to receive Professor Sue Wright’s work which took place in the 1970s. In future years the collection will mark Durham out as an important destination for researchers interested to know more about Iran in the 20th century.

» Watch Professor Sue Wright’s lecture on the Iranian Archives at Durham or view the slides.

The David Brooks collection contains: 10 boxes, which currently (July 2017) comprise:
1. Field notes
2. Reading and teaching and administration
3. Photographs and sound recordings
4. Draft papers on Islam, religion, and pilgrimage
5. Field notes and photographs on migration and political leadership
6. Notes and papers on women and dance, and for films People of the wind and Grass
7. Public Record Office copies of documents and India Office notes
8. Post-revolutionary Iran materials and newspaper cuttings
9. Index cards
10. Offprints and literature

Access conditions: The collection has not yet been sorted or catalogued, although this should be completed by 2018. For this reason, it is not normally possible to consult the collection. However, the collection posses a USB stick onto which much of David’s work has been scanned, this can be accessed upon request at Palace Green Library [[email protected]; ‎+44 (0)191 334 2932].

The USB stick contains:
1. Scans of diaries and field notebooks
2. Scans of 50 historical pictures and of David’s photographs from 1964, 1996 and 1967
3. Digitised versions of some tape recordings
4. Scans of all the historical documents (Public Records Office) in Box 7

View detailed information about the David Brooks collection in the Palace Green Library.

The archives are held in the Palace Green Library, Durham and are in the process of being catalogued [for further information contact Michael Stansfield – [email protected]]. The Oriental Museum is also home to an important collection of Iranian textiles [for further information contact Craig Barclay – [email protected] ].For more information about the David Brooks archive please contact Professor Bob Simpson on 01913 340251 or email [email protected].

Resources

View the lecture slides from the ‘Iranian Archives at Durham’ event! (last modified: 15 Feb 2017)