Microfilm

I contacted the Philadelphia Archdiocese Archives looking for letters sent from bishops or archbishops to parish priests to be read to their congregations. After I clarified that I wanted public letters not private (those are not released for 70 years after their creation), the archivist thought my best bet was to search The Catholic Standard and Times.

The Catholic Standard and Times was a weekly newspaper produced by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for 117 years.  Because of budget cuts, it was closed and the last issue was published in June 2012.  It's website counterpart continues at CatholicPhilly.com. 
 
The archivist suggested flipping through the bound volumes of the newspaper but I requested the microfilm instead.

Susan Hiller and Jane and Louise Wilson

Here's the beginning of my September research paper:

Susan Hiller (American, b. 1940) and twin sisters Jane and Louise Wilson (British, b. 1967) make work that preserves the memories of forgotten histories. Much of Hiller’s work includes text, signage or sound that describes people who are unseen; making their absence profound. Jane and Louise Wilson often document an institution, populating the site for their videos with reenactments.

 
My approach to my work is more in line with Susan Hiller's efforts in The J Street Project to make images that show "everydayness," using existing lighting without any manipulation. The idea is to allow a cooler reading of the subject matter so the audience can have their own reactions as opposed to the Wilsons more theatrical productions. 

So in an effort to emulate Hiller and get the creative twin vibe of the Wilsons, I returned to my college to do research with my twin sister.  She humored me by walking around the campus talking about my work and her writing.  (She did not indulge me by speaking in a British accent - at least not for too long).

Unfortunately, the trip didn't yield any useful research but I was able to get this image:

© 2012 Sarah Barr