Reflections on an Archive of Whaling Photographs
As part of a placement working on the Museum’s online photography collection, student Sydney Vitti has created this blog post to mark the launch of the Whalers’ Memory Bank, a brand-new living, growing digital time capsule where veterans of the whaling industry, their families and communities have come together to share their stories with a wider audience.
Sydney says:
Overall, the history of the whaling industry, particularly its ties to Scotland and South Georgia, presents a complex narrative of economic reliance, technological innovation, and ethical dilemmas. The meticulous preservation and presentation of photographs and artifacts, as undertaken by the Whaler’s Memory Bank Project and the Scottish Fisheries Museum, do not merely ensure that these historical moments are remembered—they also provide an accessible platform for critical reflection on the industry’s cultural and environmental impact.
