The Red Star Line Museum holds a rich collection of maritime heritage related to the history of the Red Star Line, along with an extensive archive of personal migration stories. These include not only accounts from people who once traveled between Antwerp and America on Red Star Line ships, but also more recent migration stories.
The story collection consists of photographs, letters, personal belongings, and recordings of people sharing their experiences.
Well-being, Privacy, and Safety of Story Donors
When dealing with contemporary migration stories, we are confronted with challenges related to privacy and ethics. Many of these stories touch on sensitive themes and involve individuals who are still living. Respecting the privacy of all those involved is crucial, even when it complicates the process of collecting and sharing these narratives.
This is why the museum has established a set of guidelines and steps, an ethical framework, to help us make informed decisions about what we share, with whom, and when.
At the heart of this ethical framework lies our risk analysis tool. It enables us to identify and properly address the sensitive aspects of personal stories. Even in cases of uncertainty, this allows us to make decisions that are ethical and respectful to everyone involved.
We want people to feel safe when sharing their stories and to trust that their stories will only be shared after a thorough risk assessment. We collect powerful, deeply personal stories and bring them to the public in a responsible way, with care and respect for all involved.
Brochure
How the Red Star Line Museum monitors and validates privacy issues through an ethical framework.
