Taking Ownership of Our History by Documenting Our Heritage.
Everyday Muslim Heritage and Archive Initiative is a long-term project to create a central archive of Muslim lives, arts, education and cultures from across the UK. Our aim is to collect and document the presence and contribution of Muslim life in Britain through images, interviews and documents; to provide a comprehensive and unmediated portrayal of Muslim life in Britain.
As well as, creating physical collections of archives, the objective of the project is to educate and empower the Muslim community in the importance of creating tangible connections between their Muslim heritage and the representation of their identity in the wider society.
The collections are partially catalogued and archived in archival institutes across the UK, placing Muslim history and heritage directly in the context of wider British history. Our archive partners to date include Bishopsgate Institute, Vestry House Museum, George Padmore Institute, Surrey History Centre, Brent Museums and Archives.
The project was initiated when it was realised that the Muslim narrative was almost completely absent from the British Archives, Museums and History books. To counteract this very obvious absence we decided to create our own narrative by recording oral history interviews with members of the community and collecting photographs, documents, film, artefacts and ephemera to document their stories about their everyday lives. It is a way in which our community has the opportunity to take ownership of experiences and memories for the purpose of preserving our history in Britain. Recounts of childhood; education, migration, food, celebrations, prayer, and culture all come together to create a unique representation of our community’s history in our own words and, embeds them in the context of the wider history of British society.
How Can We Support You?
Our work is not only important in documenting and preserving our history and heritage for historical reference but, aims to place value on the achievements, contributions and struggles of our community.
We are already working closely with community groups and mainstream organisations, mosques, schools, academics and heritage organisations to develop resources to support their efforts in identifying, documenting and celebrating the contribution of Muslims in society today and in an historical context. Collaborations can support aims to engage with a large and diverse audience with the purpose to promote understanding, awareness and learning about the everyday aspects of Muslims lives.
What We Do
Record Oral Histories
KS2/3 Classroom Resources
Booklets and Curriculum Based Resources for School Visits
Heritage Workshops
Exhibitions
Podcasts
Documentaries
Archive Research
Websites
Archive Collections
Bespoke Heritage Open Day Tours/Presentations/Activities
Family History Lesson Plans for Madrasahs and Community Groups
Training in Oral History and Basic Archive Cataloguing
Get in Touch
If you would like to learn more about how we can support your group or organisation to develop your own heritage project or would like to share an idea please get in touch: info@everydaymuslim.org