The things we carry: migrants' personal collection management and use

This paper explores personal collection management and use in the context of migration. The paper further investigates how migrants use items in personal collections to reflect their self-identity and learn about their heritage.

Interviews were used to collect data from 14 immigrants in New Zealand.

Findings show how migrants perceive the value of their personal collections, manage their personal collections during migration and use their personal collections as instruments of identity formation, self-awareness, and connections to cultural heritage.

Insights presented in this study increase an understanding of the critical role personal information plays in the migration and integration process.