Passenger Pigeon Manifesto

by Adam Harangozó

A call to public galleries, libraries, archives, museums, and their funders to liberate our cultural heritage that has already been digitised. Illustrated with the cautionary tales of extinct species and our lack of access to what remains of them.

I.

How many people know about the passenger pigeons?

Martha, the last passenger pigeon to ever live on Earth, died on 1 September 1914. Less than 50 years before her, wild pigeons, as they were also called, flew in flocks of millions in the USA and Canada. Their numbers were so vast their arrival darkened the sky for hours, and branches of trees broke under the collective impact of their landing. Accounts describing how it felt to witness these birds were already unimaginable to most people at the beginning of the 20th century. Still, they are not a matter of poetry but factual natural history.

Simon Pokagon, a Native American Pottawatomi author and advocate, as a young man lived in a time when he could still see passenger pigeons “move in one unbroken column for hours across the sky, like some great river(…) from morning until night”. He noted that even though his tribe already named the birds O-me-me-wog, “why European race did not accept that name was, no doubt, because the bird so much resembled the domesticated pigeon; they naturally called it a wild pigeon, as they called us wild men”. Pokagon writes about witnessing a method of hunting passenger pigeons by feeding them whiskey-soaked mast, rendering them flightless. He was shattered by a tragic parallel: his tribe was devastated by the introduction of mass produced alcohol by white men.

II.

The history of the passenger pigeons is accompanied by a ubiquitous disbelief. When the sight of millions was an integral part of the ecosystem and the everyday life of modern America, many did not believe a species of such numbers could go extinct. When their disappearance became an undeniable experience, people said they simply moved to South America. Today, chasing dreams of resurrection in the face of anthropogenic extinctions shows the still continuing failure to understand the finality of their death and come to terms with our responsibility.

Deep under all this, there is a tragic lack of self-reflection on what we, humans, are capable of. Many might try to dismiss this is as being only a matter of older times and societies long since transcended. Yet, there is no need to dig deep. Don’t forget about the widespread denial of climate change. Don’t forget about the anti-narratives to the Black Lives Matter movement claiming systematic racism does not exist, denying any connections to colonialism.

In order to improve, our definition of what it means to be human must include recognising the horrors we are capable of in societies of past and present. The systematic oppression of others and the massacre of billions of animals were done by human beings. Us. We can become better only if we realise that besides all the wonders, this is us too and it can happen again if we don’t change the ways we live together.

III.

A photo of one of the last thylacines, a species which became extinct when Benjamin died on 7 September 1936. Our imagination tries to grasp it through animals we know: it’s some kind of a tiger or a wolf. But it’s none of that, not even remotely related. What colours did it have? What did it sound like?

How do we feel when we look at photographs of animals long gone? Melancholy, the repressed fear of death, sorrow but also empathy, the desire to act – these are very important feelings. Black and white conveys the sadness of a final loss that no colors can. Photography, no matter how deceptive it can be, is able to wash away cynicism and induce profoundly human emotions – ones we should feel when we think about injustice – human and non-human –, extinction or the climate crisis.

IV.

Looking at history provides a mental space where we can observe humanity and wonder about the whys and what ifs without the immediate frustration of the present. Exactly this removedness is what allows us to recognise and reflect on mistakes and right decisions.

We are supposed to learn from history, yet we don’t have access to it. Historical photographs of extinct animals are among the most important artefacts to teach and inform about human impact on nature. But where to look when one wants to see all that is left of these beings? Where can I access all the extant photos of the thylacine or the passenger pigeon? History books use photos to help us relate to narratives and see a shared reality. But how can we look through our own communities’ photographic heritage, share it with each other and use it for research and education?

Historical photos are kept by archives, libraries, museums and other cultural institutions. Preservation, which is the goal of cultural institutions, means ensuring not only the existence of but the access to historical materials. It is the opposite of owning: it’s sustainable sharing. Similarly, conservation is not capturing and caging but ensuring the conditions and freedom to live.

Even though most of our tangible cultural heritage has not been digitised yet, a process greatly hindered by the lack of resources for professionals, we could already have much to look at online. In reality, a significant portion of already digitised historical photos is not available freely to the public – despite being in the public domain. We might be able to see thumbnails or medium sized previews scattered throughout numerous online catalogs but most of the time we don’t get to see them in full quality and detail. In general, they are hidden, the memory of their existence slowly going extinct.

The knowledge and efforts of these institutions are crucial in tending our cultural landscape but they cannot become prisons to our history. Instead of claiming ownership, their task is to provide unrestricted access and free use. Cultural heritage should not be accessible only for those who can afford paying for it.

V.

Acknowledging the importance of access to information and cultural heritage, and the vital role of public institutions, we call on galleries, libraries, archives, museums, zoos, historical societies, and their funders all over the world:

1.) Cultural institutions should reflect on and rethink their roles in relation to access. While the current policy landscape, lack of infrastructure and the serious budget cuts do not support openness, cultural institutions cannot lose sight of their essential role in building bridges to culture. Preservation must mean ensuring our cultural heritage is always easily accessible to anyone. Without free, public access, these items will only be objects to be forgotten and rediscovered again and again, known only by exclusive communities.

2.) Physical preservation is not enough. Digital preservation of copies and metadata is essential but due to the erosion of storage, files can get damaged easily. To ensure the longevity of digital items, the existence of the highest possible number of copies is required: this can be achieved by sharing through free access.

3.) Beyond preservation and providing access, institutions need to communicate the existence and content of their collections, our cultural heritage. Even with unlimited access, not knowing about the existence and context of historical materials is almost the same as if they didn’t exist. Approachability and good communication is crucial in reaching people who otherwise have less access to knowledge.

4.) Publicly funded institutions must not be transformed by the market logic of neoliberalism. The role of archives, museums and other cultural institutions, is more and more challenged by capitalism. They need to redefine themselves in ways that allow cultural commodities to be archived, described and shared in the frameworks of open access and open science. The remedy to budget-cuts and marketisation requires wide-scale, public dialogue and collaboration. Involving people from outside of academia has great potential: NGOs, volunteers, open-source enthusiasts, online and offline communities and passionate individuals are a vast resource and should be encouraged to participate. Akin to citizen scientists, there can be citizen archivists.

5.) Liberate and upload all digitised photographs and artworks that are in the public domain or whose copyrights are owned by public institutions. Remove all restrictions on access, quality and reuse while applying cultural and ethical considerations to special cases when open access is not possible, for example material related to indigenous cultures (“open by default, closed by exception”).1 Prioritize adapting principles and values recommended by the OpenGLAM initiative in the upcoming ‘Declaration on Open Access for Cultural Heritage’.2

6.) All collections should be searchable and accessible in an international, digital photo repository. Instead of spending on developing various new platforms for each institution, the ideal candidate for an independent, central imagebase that provides the widest possible reach is Wikimedia Commons. Using Commons would provide an immediate opportunity to release cultural heritage for the public while still allowing the long-term development of different digital archives for institutional and preservational purposes.3 Operated by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation, Commons is a community managed, open and free multilanguage platform. It provides access to millions of people by sharing images under open licences. Wikipedias of all languages are using Commons to illustrate their articles, and the photos appear on news sites, blogs, and research articles all over the world. Wikimedia is open to collaboration with GLAMs and many institutions are already uploading their collections to the site including the Digital Public Library of America4, the Cultureel Erfgoed5 and the National Archives of Brazil.6 By using Commons, institutions will also benefit: the platform runs on a free and flexible software where photos can be described and categorised using structured data. Utilising the participation of a large and diverse community in catalogising, tagging, publicising and even researching can save time and cut costs. At the same time, institutions will still retain the physical copies and will be able to use the digital photos on their own platforms as well. The images on Commons will also cite their original holding institutions, granting further visibility to their collections and efforts.

Today we are so far ahead in forgetting our past that we came very close to repeating it. Providing free, universal access to culture and knowledge is one of the steps we must take to prevent this.

Signatories

African Digital Heritage • Archives Portal Europe Foundation • Associazione Italiana Biblioteche GOAPD • Center for Open Science • COMMUNIA • CRAI Universitat de Barcelona • Crested Tit Collective • Curlew Action • DARIAH-EU • DieDatenlaube • Europeana Foundation • Humanidades Digitales Hispánicas • Humanities for Change • International Centre for Archival Research (ICARUS) • Knowledge Futures Group (MIT) • New Networks for Nature • Open Education Resources Ghana • Open Humanities Press • Open Knowledge Maps • OPERAS • Pensoft Publishers • PHOTOCONSORTIUM • Reclaim The Records • Research Ideas and Outcomes

Daisy M. Ahlstone – Ohio State University Stacy Alaimo – University of Oregon Stefan Aumann – Hessian State Office for Regional History Paola Banegas – Universidad Católica Argentina, SEGEMAR Patrick Barkham – The Guardian Amy-Jane Beer – Independent, biologist, nature writer Jens Bemme – Saxon State and University Library Dresden Sarah Bezan – University of Sheffield Jeroen Bosman – Utrecht University Library Patricia Brien – Bath Spa University Ronald Broglio – Arizona State University Matthew R. Calarco ‎– California State University, Fullerton Cameron Campbell – Online Thylacine Museum Fiona Campbell – Independent, artist Cat Chong – Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Christopher Cokinos – University of Arizona Marina Cotugno – Independent, photo editor Jill Cousins – Hunt Museum Thomas Crombez – Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp Istvan Csicsery-Ronay – DePauw University, Humanimalia Anna Dempsey – Bath Spa University Jessica M. DeWitt – Network in Canadian History & Environment (NiCHE) Tinghui Duan – Friedrich Schiller University Jena Ehab K. Eid – IUCN Species Survival Commission Jonathan Elmore – Savannah State University Christian Erlinger – Vienna Public Libraries Andreas Ferus – Academy of Fine Arts Vienna Frank Fischer – Higher School of Economics (Moscow), DARIAH-EU Franz Fischer – Venice Centre for Digital & Public Humanities Andy Flack – University of Bristol Errol Fuller – Independent, writer Madeline B. Gangnes – University of Scranton Martin Gersbach – Museos Abiertos Terry Gifford – Bath Spa University Lucy Gill – University of California Berkeley Giovanna Gioli – Bath Spa University Dorothea Golbourne – Independent, sustainability copywriter Cesar Gonzalez-Perez – Instituto de Ciencias del Patrimonio (Incipit) Mitch Goodwin – University of Melbourne Andrew Gosler – University of Oxford, EWA Mark Graham – University of Oxford, Fairwork Jonathan Gray – King’s College London, Public Data Lab Adam Green – The Public Domain Review Katrina van Grouw – Independent, writer, illustrator Gary Hall – Coventry University, OHP Adam Harangozó – Independent, author/initiator of the manifesto Stevan Harnad – Université du Québec à Montréal, Animal Sentience Terry Harpold – University of Florida Caroline Harris – Royal Holloway, University of London Laura Hellon – Royal Holloway, University of London Marieke Hendriksen – Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) Charlotte Hess – Digital Library of the Commons, Indiana University Daniel Himmelstein – University of Pennsylvania Steve Hindi – Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) Ben Hoare – Independent, author, naturalist

Richard Hoffmann – York University Poul Holm – Trinity College Dublin Branden Holmes – REPAD Briony Hughes – Royal Holloway, University of London Julian Hume – Natural History Museum, London Richard Iveson – University of Queensland Sigi Jöttkandt – UNSW Sydney, OHP Paul Keller – University of Amsterdam, COMMUNIA Wouter Koch – Norwegian University of Science and Technology Richard Kock – Royal Veterinary College John Laudun – University of Louisiana Peter Maas – Independent, The Sixth Extinction website Roger Maioli – University of Florida Christof Mauch – Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society, LMU Federico Mazzini – MobiLab, University of Padova Daniel Mietchen – University of Virginia Paolo Monella – Venice Centre for Digital and Public Humanities Lenore Newman – University of the Fraser Valley Brian Nosek – University of Virginia, Center for Open Science Melek Ortabasi – Simon Fraser University David Ottina – Open Humanities Press Ben Parry – Independent, artist Bill Pascoe – University of Newcastle, Australia Justine Philip – Museum Victoria, University of New England Bo Poulsen – Aalborg University Andrew Prescott – University of Glasgow Kate Rigby – Bath Spa University Kenneth F. Rijsdijk – University of Amsterdam Gimena del Rio Riande – University of Buenos Aires, IIBICRIT-CONICET Antonella De Robbio – E-LIS Merete Sanderhoff – Statens Museum for Kunst Copenhagen, Europeana Marco Sartor – University of Parma Boria Sax – Mercy College Jeffrey Schnapp – Harvard University Philip Seddon – University of Otago Nicole Seymour – California State University, Fullerton Sadik Shahadu – Global Open Initiative Stephen Sleightholme – International Thylacine Specimen Database (ITSD) Cooper Smout – Queensland Brain Institute, IGDORE Genese Sodikoff – Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey John Sorenson – Brock University Heather Staines – Knowledge Futures Group (MIT) Peter Suber – Harvard University Eline D. Tabak – University of Bristol & Bath Spa University Simon Tanner – King’s College London Chao Tayiana – African Digital Heritage, Museum of British Colonialism Michael P Taylor – University of Bristol Erzsébet Tóth-Czifra – DARIAH-EU Kevin Troch – University of Mons, MUMONS Harry Verwayen – Europeana Foundation Sacha Vignieri – Science Magazine Mathew J. Wedel – Western University of Health Sciences Francisco Welter-Schultes – University of Göttingen Joshua Williams – Bath Spa University Steve Williams – Singleton Park Library, Swansea University