Copyright

Pia Koivunen

Published On

2024-04-22

Page Range

pp. 51–76

Language

  • English

Print Length

26 pages

2. ‘I Wanted to See the Man with that Mark on his Forehead’

A Historian, Her Childhood Experiences, and the Power of Memory

Chapter of: (An)Archive: Childhood, Memory, and the Cold War(pp. 51–76)
This chapter discusses the use of one’s own memory as a source in historical research. As a historian who has employed interviews, memoirs, travelogues, and diaries in my research, I now put my own memory to a test and examine how using my own memories differs from studying the memories of others. The chapter explores my memories of Mikhail Gorbachev’s visit to Finland in 1989 and compares them with other sources, such as interviews with classmates, contemporary print media, photographs, and film material of the event. In a dual role of researcher and the researched, I demonstrate how lived experiences are supported by narrative elements and, in the end, how powerful memory can be.

Contributors

Pia Koivunen

(author)
Adjunct Professor at University of Turku
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6142-1595

Pia Koivunen grew up in Northern Finland and became fascinated by history as a child. She works as senior lecturer in European and World History at the University of Turku and holds the title of associate professor in Russian history. She is specialized in Soviet political and cultural history, her research interests including cultural Cold War, memory politics, the history of experience, cultural diplomacy, mega-events, museums, children, and youth. Currently, she leads a research project ‘Mission Finland. Cold War cultural diplomacy at the crossroads of East and West’, funded by the Research Council of Finland. Her recent publications include a monograph Performing Peace and Friendship. The World Youth Festival and Soviet Cultural Diplomacy (De Gruyter, 2023). For information on the ‘Mission Finland’ project, visit: https://missionfinland.utu.fi/en/project/. ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6142-1595