Using archival methods in feminist organization studies

This chapter explores the use of archival methods in feminist organization studies. Archival methods have been underutilized in the discipline, thereby contributing to the perception of organizations as ahistorical. Through considering the relevance of the Feminist Library archives for researching its organizational praxis, I make a case for the use of archival research as a valuable resource for organization studies. Archival encounters are conceptualized as ‘conversations,’ highlighting their continuing relevance to the creation of organizational stories. Further, the chapter provides a case for the use of archival research in feminist organizational studies as a tool for addressing underrepresentation. Lastly, the research contributes to the study of organizational materialities, through reflection on the changing nature of archives in the era of digitization and the COVD-19 pandemic (and providing tools for improving the accessibility of archival materials for future researchers). Thus, the research makes methodological, conceptual, as well as practical contributions.