Archive Collection Research
- kanisha jhaveri
- Dec 13, 2021
- 7 min read
Brief:
Choose an archival collection based on your own historical, critical and aesthetic interests. You are required to investigate the contents of the archive and select material that may lend itself to helpful study. In whatever ways you see fit, record your observations and thoughts, with particular consideration to how the material can be communicated most effectively – perhaps using time as a primary thematic element.
Selection of Subject:
The selection of the subject itself was very challenging though I had some ideas. According to the brief, it was essential to select the subject wisely according to our own interest, my various areas of the subjects were Sports, Art, Graphics, Gender biased advertisements, etc. and to study about its archive collection research:
Archive collection of shoes - The Adidas Archive
John Johnson Collection of Ephemera
Collection of sexist advertisements
Women Sports Wear - Targeting a particular country, either India or U.K.
Archive collection of sports equipment - National Badminton of Museum
Based on four major factors, I decided to visit National Badminton Museum:
Potential of the subject
In-person experience
Availability of the content to investigate the archives
Getting access in a particular place of study
While I was researching for the places to study the archive collection of sports, I came across the community of Sporting Heritage. Sporting Heritage C.I.C. is a not-for-profit community interest company working specifically to support the collection, preservation, access, and research of sporting heritage in the U.K. and broader. They have extensive experience delivering programmes and projects at strategic and delivery levels in the heritage, media, and sports sectors.
Through the list given by Sporting Heritage, I learned about the National Badminton of Museum in Milton Keynes. Soon, I called them to convince of the allowance of my visit and sensing some of the artefacts with hands in the presence of the person in charge of the Museum.
National Badminton Museum:
Introduction:
The National Badminton Museum (N.B.M.) was launched later that year. It was officially opened on September 9th 2003. The International Federation now, the B.W.F. N.B.M., has the National collection of Badminton games. They are one of the finest and most comprehensive collections of Badminton artefacts archives and memorabilia globally. Badminton England supports the National Badminton Museum.
Soul of National Badminton Museum:
Bill Andrew (N.B.M. Trustee/Chairman, Hon. VP Badminton England) and Brenda Andrew, a couple voluntarily working for N.B.M. for the past 7-10 years. They have both have played Badminton for most of their lives and were one of the top players in the history of Badminton. A big shout to them who gave me an urgent appointment for my studies and explained to me about the rich, valuable history of the Badminton game with an immense passion.
Significant Observations:
As a part of my visit to the National Badminton Museum, I observed four significant sectors in the archive collection of Badminton game:
Print publications and photographs
Clothing of Badminton players in the 1900s
Battledore and collection of Badminton rackets
Collection of Shuttlecocks (1840 to 2020)
However, my main area of study was the archive collection of Battledore to Contemporary day Badminton rackets and Shuttlecocks (1840 - 2020).
Battledore and Badminton Rackets:
Significant statement of my observation - "As I was looking at the collection of rackets from Battledore to contemporary day rackets, I noticed continuous changes in the size, material and the overall look of the Badminton rackets."
Line of Inquiry -
What are Battledore and Shuttlecock?
Based on colour, material, form and graphics, what changes happened in Badminton Rackets?
Why were changes taking place in the Badminton Rackets?
Shuttlecock:
Significant statement of my observation - "As I was looking at the collection of the shuttlecock from 1840 - 2020, I noticed very few changes in the size, but the material was evolving, and overall look of the shuttlecocks were getting functional changes."
Line of Inquiry -
What makes up the distinctive part of a Shuttlecock/Birdie?
Based on colour, material, form and graphics, what significant changes took place in shuttlecocks from 1840 to 2020?
Why were changes taking place in Shuttlecocks from 1840 to 2020?
Why were the maximum trophies in the Badminton game made in the form of Shuttlecock?
Research:
For this archive collection research, I have conducted primary and secondary research. This is my secondary research, and the additional insights gathered through my primary research will be in my Archive collection report.
Battledore and Contemporary Badminton Rackets:
My observational research of rackets includes the timeline of 1st Generation rackets - Battledore, the 1920s to 1930s, 1950s to 1960s, 1960s to early 2000s and Contemporary times.
According to SportsRec in the article of 'History of Badminton Rackets' by Sadie May, 2009 -Badminton, a game that was played in ancient Greece and Egypt, has seen a great deal of change in the years since it was officially adopted by the British in the 1860s. The rackets have changed in shape and composition to help speed up the sport. Battledore and Shuttlecock - The object of this non-competitive game was to volley the Shuttlecock as long as possible with a paddle called the battledore.
Another article on 'The History of Badminton Rackets' by Mentalitch - https://mentalitch.com/the-history-of-badminton-rackets/
Frame - The first badminton racquets featured a simple wooden frame. These racquets were neither flexible nor lightweight. As the game became famous and professional players joined, they began using lighter racquets made of aluminium or steel. Then, in the 1950s, the revolution of carbon fibres changed the way rackets were made all around. Modern badminton racquets offer both flexibility and strength at very low weights. Additionally, carbon fibre racquets also allow for excellent control and power.
Strings - When it comes to the development of badminton racquets as a whole, nothing surpasses the introduction and evolution of strings. The first racquets featured strings made from animal gut strings. Although natural gut strings are still used, nylon strings tend to be more common. Thanks to technological advancement, nylon strings have become both cheap and versatile. To cater to the needs and preferences of the individual players, a wide variety of different nylon strings are used.
Head Shape - The oval-shaped rackets have been in use since the development of modern badminton game. Even though oval-shaped rackets are still used but several other developments have surfaced, paving the way for new racket head shapes. For instance, diamond, isometric and teardrop racket heads have been developed for a variety of reasons.
Handle - The racket handle is the most important part of a badminton racket. It is designed to offer maximum comfort and grip. However, the first wooden rackets featured bare handles. To achieve comfort, the players would wrap a cloth or other materials around the handle but the performance would then be compromised. Modern players soon found a solution for it. Modern synthetic materials such as elastic grips can be easily wrapped around the handles to increase comfort and grip.
Shuttlecock:
According to BadmintonBites in their blog on the analysis and evolution of Shuttlecock - 'What are the parts of Badminton Birdie?' by the founders of BadmintonBites on November 19th, 2020 -
I found the fascinating and detailed content on Shuttlecock for my own research. Let's take a look at the significant changes to the birdie's base and skirt throughout Badminton's history.
Base:1840s: The base of the birdie was not always covered in a thin layer of white fabric or leather. The base was covered with velvet. 1860s: Hessian, a woven fabric made from the jute plant, was added to the velvet base.1890s: This was when modern day leather was seen as the fabric covering the base, but was not as light as what is found on current day birdies. 1920: A birdie made for the outdoors was produced which first featured a rubber base.
Skirt: 1860s: The hessian and velvet covered base saw a single layer of stitching of the feathers. Prior to this, the birdies did not appear to have stitching to bind the feathers of the skirt together.1899: A second layer of stitching found its way into birdie manufacturing.1900: Linen thread material was introduced into the stitching procedure.1930: Chicken feathers and cotton thread were used in the construction of the birdie skirt.1945: Reinforced Shuttlecocks Limited (R.S.L.) created the "Tourney" shuttlecock, which most closely resembles modern day birdies, was created in England. 1963: R.S.L. introduced a birdie which featured three rows of stitching.
My Conclusions:
As the industry and technological revolution took place, the use of materials and techniques to make Badminton and Shuttlecock got better for the advantage of the players and the game.
In Shuttlecock, cork needs to be seasoned well, and it is challenging to make plastic feathers, but it might be created.
Badminton rackets and Shuttlecocks are now expensive to buy compared to history.
It is a desire and necessity of the people associated with Badminton to have a long-lasting Shuttlecock.
As per the experience of Badminton players, the speed of the shuttle is affected by temperature, altitude, and humidity. So, the shuttle with slow speed should be used in hot climates, whereas the shuttle with faster speed should be used in cold climates.
It is evidently seen that this game has always maintained equality between men and women from its history till today.
It is essential for all the Badminton players and the people associated with sports to know about Badminton concerning its history, archive collection and other technical understanding of the materials being used in the production of rackets and shuttlecocks. It seems very rare that the present players are aware of this history or collection of the game.
To preserve the heritage of this game, big/small sports brands should consider driving their brand strategy by giving campaign platforms to the retired players of the game as they have the truest forms of the story to inspire young generations to play and value sports.
Reflective Analysis & Learnings:
The major process of finalising the subject and researching it helped me to expand my limits of study by visiting National Badminton Museum all alone being an International student in the U.K.
Through this visit, I made the industrial connections in the right way, and insights/experience gained by this method is very much worthwhile.
For the first time, my work was appreciated without a single critic. The feedback which I received was that I took a very professional approach and it was very well researched up to the point. The timing of my presentation was also very well curated as I rehearsed this presentation almost 10-12 times to deliver the exact points of information without making it complex. My subject leader found my process and approach of documenting the whole pieces of content while involved in the dialogue with Bill and Brenda Andrew. They found it courageous of me to visit this Milton Keynes alone as an International student. Through this positive feedback, I will try my best to work with the same approach and practices to deliver an excellent outcome.
Archive collection research made me realise the importance of outdated content, but it is so helpful for expanding your knowledge about innovation.
The archive collection study is crucial because they provide evidence of activities and inform more about individuals, institutions, collection, etc. They tell stories while increasing our sense of identity and understanding of various situations/cultures/incidents. Therefore, such data can be utilised as a vital concept for driving brand strategies and innovation.
While looking at my peers work, I was very much fascinated by different topics of an archive collection. This time I could see everyone's interest reflected in their work, and each of us are such a creative thinkers with an essence of professionalism.
Overall, my learning for archive collection involved a lot of research which is fact-based and analysing the evolution, similarities and differences considering time as the main element for the same collection.
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