As previously posted, we are so delighted to have Professor Mitra Sharafi, the Evjue-Bascom Professor, University of Wisconsin Law School, as our keynote. Mitra has shared a title and abstract with us.
Studying Secrets in the Legal History of Empire
This keynote reflects on the secrets we encounter, keep, and share as legal historians of empire. In some cases, we are studying something inherently secretive–like abortion (when criminalized) or the planting of false evidence–in which case we must think creatively about where to find primary sources and how to handle them when we do. In other cases, like the study of family history through contact with descendants, we may stumble on secrets we were not seeking, which demands a careful weighing of the interests and obligations involved. I will explore how colonial and imperial contexts, with their high mobility and conflicting value systems, fostered the creation, protection, and exposure of secrets. I will also consider methodological strategies and ethical questions that arise from the study of different kinds of secrets, including personal, family, and community secrets in colonial contexts.”