ReMAP

The ‘Childhoods and Play‘ project is focused on the archival collection of Iona (1923) and Peter Opie (1918-1982) relating to the play and traditions of children. The internationally significant collection contains information contributed by some 20,000 British children, as well as the Opies’ own observations and sound recordings, and is distributed between the Bodleian Libraries, the Folklore Society archives, and the British Library Sound Archive.

The project involves a collaboration between the University of Sheffield, the UCL Institute of Education, the Bodleian Libraries, the British Library and The Folklore Society. Professor Jackie Marsh is Principal Investigator; Dr Julia Bishop and Professor Andrew Burn are Co-investigators.

The project aims to surface the entire collection by creating a digital resource that brings it together and makes it freely available to all for academic, educational and community purposes. Until the collection is digitised, the project website will provide information about the project and resources relating to the Opies and their work.

The project has British Academy Research Project status from 2012 – 2017.