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Overview
Since its founding in 1920 as the Royal Institute of International Affairs, London-based Chatham House has been a leading center for policy research on international affairs. In 2013, an online searchable database integrating a large extent of Chatham House’s publications and archives was made available for the first time. Gale Cengage released the first module of The Chatham House Online Archive, covering the years 1920–79, in 2013. The second module, covering the years 1980–2010, is slated for release in late spring 2014.
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Since its founding in 1920 as the Royal Institute of International Affairs, London-based Chatham House has been a leading center for policy research on international affairs. In 2013, an online searchable database integrating a large extent of Chatham House’s publications and archives was made available for the first time. Gale Cengage released the first module of The Chatham House Online Archive, covering the years 1920–79, in spring 2013 (c. 410,000 pp.). The second module, covering the years 1980–2010 (c. 179,000 pp.), is slated for release in late spring 2014. .
Gale Cengage indicated that The Chatham House Online Archive would ultimately provide nearly 600,000 pages of multiple content types, covering most regions of the world. Briefing papers, special reports, pamphlets, conference papers, and monographs generated in connection with Chatham House were to be be subject-indexed and cross-referenced. Full runs of searchable text content would be included for two notable Chatham House serial publications already accessible in JSTOR—the journal International Affairs (1922–2008) and the monthly The World Today (1945–2008)—as well as Bulletin of International Affairs (1925–45), and the important annual reference sources Survey of International Affairs and Documents of International Affairs. According to Gale, approximately 17% of the text content has not been previously published, and 80% has not been previously digitized; none of the audio has been published or digitzed.
Key topics covered in the archive include: diplomacy and international relations; energy, environment, and development; international economics, trade, and business; international and national politics; international security and law; and global health issues.
The archive is also slated to include over 8,000 hours of audio recordings along with searchable transcripts of Chatham House lectures from such figures as: Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill, Willy Brandt, King Hussein of Jordan, Henry Kissinger, François Mitterand, Prof. A. J. Toynbee, Chaim Weizmann, Dr. Andreas Papandreou, Caspar Weinberger, Chief Gatsha Buthelezi, HE Yousuf Al-Alawi Abdullah, Dr. Zhores Medvedev, and Hans Blix.
Gale has provided a detailed breakdown of content planned for the two modules: see Appendix A.
Delivery
Gale reported that features were to include:
- Transcripts of speeches/meetings
- Indexing of speakers and authors by nationality and profession
- MP3 audio recordings of meetings from 1966 onward linked to the transcripts
- Indexing of documents and articles by author, topic, and region
- Cross-searching cability and linking across journal articles, reports, books, conference papers, and Chatham House speeches or meetings
- Linking between an article in Survey of International Affairs with its referenced document in Documents of International Affairs
- Faceted results lists
Strengths and Weaknesses
The two chief journals from Chatham House are already accessible online through JSTOR and in part through other aggregators (according to Gale), and 80% of the print content has been previously published (but less than 20% of that digitized). Nevertheless, this database should provide a unique opportunity to follow connections between significant documents and analysis reflecting a specific 20th-century world view. The content extends over a long period: some publications run up through 2010. In addition, the opportunity to hear a range of political leaders' voices in recorded speeches will be valuable for students as well as scholars. More than 7,000 speeches will be accessible not only through audio format but also through searchable transcripts and links between the original speeches and subsequent published articles.
Reviewers
Center for Research Libraries
- Virginia Kerr - Digital Program Manager
- Gretchen Rings - Communications Staff Writer
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