Collections Overview

The Iroko Historical Society stewards archival collections related to Africana religious practice, ritual knowledge, ethnobotany, and community history. The Society’s holdings reflect forms of knowledge that have often circulated outside formal institutional archives and require culturally informed stewardship.

In keeping with ethical archival practice, public access is currently provided through collection-level descriptions and finding aids. Many materials described below contain sacred, initiatory, or culturally sensitive content and are not publicly reproducible. Item-level access is governed by ethical review, custodial permission, and, where appropriate, community consultation.

The following collection summaries are provided to support research discovery and transparency regarding the scope of the Society’s holdings.

Primary Archival Collections

Library of Babaláwo Irete Obara (Havana, Cuba)

Dates: circa 1940s–2000s

Scope:
Ritual notebooks, manuCollection descriptions are representative and will expand as processing and ethical review continue.script texts, prayer books, ceremonial documentation, and personal papers associated with Afro-Cuban Lucumí practice. Materials reflect divination, ritual instruction, lineage history, and ceremonial knowledge recorded over multiple decades.

Access:
Descriptive access available. Materials contain sacred and initiatory knowledge and are not publicly reproduced. Access by request and subject to ethical and custodial review.

Africana Ethnobotany & Ritual Ecology Collection

Dates: circa 19th–21st centuries

Scope:
Research notes, textual excerpts, photographic documentation, and reference materials relating to plant knowledge, ritual use, and ecological practice within Afro-Atlantic traditions. Materials span West African, Caribbean, and diasporic contexts.

Access:
Descriptive access available. Certain materials are restricted due to cultural sensitivity or ongoing research use.

Ritual Sound & Performance Documentation (In Development)

Dates: circa 20th–21st centuries

Scope:
Documentation relating to ritual music, chant, and ceremonial performance, including field notes, contextual descriptions, and limited audiovisual references. This collection emphasizes contextual metadata rather than public playback.

Access:
Collection under development. Descriptive summaries available; media access restricted.

Community History & Photographic Archive (In Development)

Dates: circa 20th–21st centuries

Scope:
Photographic and documentary materials related to community life, ritual spaces, and cultural practice across Afro-diasporic contexts. Emphasis is placed on historical context, provenance, and ethical representation.

Access:
Descriptive access available. Reproduction and use subject to review.

Collection descriptions are representative and will expand as processing and ethical review continue.

Archival Reference Library (Published Works)

The Iroko Historical Society maintains an Archival Reference Library consisting of published books, journals, and research materials acquired to support archival description, contextual research, and ethical stewardship of the Society’s archival holdings. This reference library complements the Society’s unique archival collections by providing scholarly, historical, and comparative sources relevant to Africana religious practice, ritual history, ethnobotany, and cultural heritage.

Materials in the Archival Reference Library are published works and are not considered archival records. They are maintained separately from manuscript, photographic, audio, and other unique or unpublished materials stewarded by the Society. Their primary function is to inform responsible description, interpretation, and preservation of archival collections rather than to serve as objects of archival provenance themselves.

The Reference Library includes, but is not limited to:

  • Scholarly monographs and edited volumes

  • Historical publications and reprints

  • Ethnographic and anthropological studies

  • Works on Africana religions, ritual practice, and cosmology

  • Reference texts related to ethnobotany and ritual ecology

Access to the Archival Reference Library is intended to support research and archival work.

Materials are available for on-site consultation by appointment and do not carry cultural or ethical access restrictions beyond standard handling guidelines.

The presence of this reference library reflects the Society’s commitment to informed archival practice. By maintaining clear distinctions between published research materials and unique archival holdings, the Iroko Historical Society ensures transparency, professional integrity, and responsible stewardship across its collections.

Access & Research Inquiries

Researchers interested in learning more about these collections may consult the Society’s Access & Use Policy for additional information. Inquiries regarding access, use, or stewardship may be submitted through the Society’s contact page.

Questions regarding collections, access, or stewardship practices may be directed through the Society’s contact page.