Researching a Contemporary Archive

This paper documents the experiences of a researcher offered unlimited, privileged access to the archive of a recent, contemporary, charismatic social reformer based in Naples, who was also at the head of an international fundraising network. It documents, first, the unintended consequences of embarking on a research project on the basis of an informal friendly understanding between researcher and researched. It then comments on particular, practical features of this research undertaking, before focusing upon the major ethical dilemmas it presented. The author concludes by offering advice to future archival researchers in the light of her memorable experience in this case.