Welcome & Plenary Address: 8:30am – 9:30am – Regency Ballroom
Snacks with Vendors: 9:30am – 10:00am – Window Box
Educational Session 1: 10:00am – 11:30am
“Practical Approaches to Improving Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Description of Archival Collections” – Arboretum I/II
Vince Lee, University of Houston
Matt Richardson, Texas Medical Center Library
Mary Manning, University of Houston
Bethany Scott, University of Houston
Amanda Focke, Rice University
Sylvia Podwika, Rice University
Rebecca Russell, Rice University
Archivists and librarians from a variety of archival repositories will share examples of specific approaches they have used to improve discoverability for archival resources with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Examples may include subject heading revisions for finding aids, community contributions of description, creation of new research guides, remediation of harmful language, book collection analysis, social media campaigns, online and physical exhibit creation, and resources available to guide such work. The chair would begin with an overview of the meaning of DEI work in archives, referring to the SAA statement (https://www2.archivists.org/statements/saa-statement-on-diversity-equity-and-inclusion). Each presenter would then offer a 5 minute summary of their work and the chair would facilitate an ongoing conversation and as well fielding audience questions. The idea would be to show that there are many ways to begin this work, and that repositories of any size can find a way to make progress on this important front.
“50th Anniversary: Celebrating the Society of Southwest Archivists” – Arboretum III/IV
John H. Slate, Dallas Municipal Archives
Daniel Alonzo, Texas General Land Office
At a meeting at the University of Texas at Arlington on May 5, 1972, 35 individuals organized the Society of Southwest Archivists to foster cooperation among the archives profession and to encourage dialogue with colleagues in allied professions. As SSA marks our golden jubilee, please join us as we recall major events, remember our fellow members, and swap stories. Past presidents, past board and officers, and membership will offer reflections on 50 years of professional education and fun.
“To Dispose and to Keep: Records Management Practices at Two Louisiana Universities” – Arboretum V
Zach Tompkins (he/him), LSU Special Collections
Zack Stein (he/him), Edith Garland Dupré Library, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Records management, which has become mainstream practice for many archivists, is essential for creating and revising institutional policy, simplifying business operations, ensuring transparency, and collecting institutional memory. Retention entails both disposition for alleviating space concerns created by high volumes of inactive records and preservation for operational and historical purposes. Two university archivists will discuss ongoing projects for streamlined records programs and the collaborations needed to preserve university history. Edith Garland Dupré Library at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette is making records management more efficient by building an institution-wide task force to revise records management policies and create a campus-wide general schedule. LSU Libraries Special Collections is applying retention guidelines used by established campus units to manage and preserve the records of smaller organizations and student groups.
Lunch on your own: 11:30am – 1:00pm – Food options
TARO Brown Bag: 11:30am – 1:00pm – Arboretum I/II
Samantha Dodd, Southern Methodist University
Maristella Feustle, University of North Texas
Alexandria Suarez, LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections
Penny Castillo, Independent Archivist
Kristi Nedderman, Dallas Municipal Archives
Kathryn Slover, University of Texas, Arlington
Aaron Choate, The University of Texas Libraries
Robert Weaver, Texas Tech University
Join members of the Texas Archival Resources Online (TARO) Steering Committee and Subcommittees to learn about the work the group has done this past year. The agenda includes an overview of ongoing work under our NEH implementation grant to update the TARO website, subcommittee work report(s), communication among TARO members, and an opportunity to share feedback. This brown bag meeting is open to all TARO members and anyone interested in becoming a member.
Educational Session 2: 1:00pm – 2:30pm
“‘Sorry to offend(?)’ How to deal with microaggressions in the profession” – Arboretum I/II
Ayshea Khan, Austin History Center, Austin Public Library
Allison Olivarez, Dallas County Archives
Gerrianne Schaad, Florida Southern College
Cheylon Woods, Ernest J. Gaines Center, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Over the past 2 years, attention has shifted to ethical workspace and work cultures in libraries, museums, and archives. As the world has shifted to an increasingly tele-work/hybrid work environment to (presumably) accommodate COVID related protocols and the needs of faculty and staff, we have become more acutely aware of microaggressions, both intentional and unintentional. The purpose of this Skillshare is to provide conference attendees the space to discuss and question instances of microaggressions they have experienced and witnessed, and workshop ideas to help increase our institutions and colleagues’ sensitivities to what can be a microaggression and how to address them in the workspace.
“Non-traditional outreach initiatives started during the COVID-19 pandemic” – Arboretum III/IV
Michael Barera, University of Texas at Arlington
Katharine Austin, Texas Archive of the Moving Image
Julie Judkins, University of North Texas
Meagan May, University of North Texas
Regina Bouley Sweeten, Eastern New Mexico University
Judie Matthews, Metropolitan Library System, Oklahoma City
Our panel will focus on innovative and non-traditional outreach initiatives conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Michael Barera will present on the University of Texas at Arlington Libraries Special Collections’ blog posts and physical mini-exhibits. Katharine Austin will present on the Texas Archive of the Moving Image’s launch of a TikTok and a streaming video program to share their materials. Julie Judkins and Meagan May will present on the University of North Texas’s Special Collections’ “In the Archives” virtual showcases aimed at introducing the general public to archival holdings. Regina Bouley Sweeten will share how she used Zoom and an asynchronous Canvas module to prepare students for research. Judie Matthews will talk about using a Facebook group to solicit donations and information about local history and the creation of walking/biking tours.
Medical, Science & Technology Archives Roundtable – Arboretum V
Kelly Caldwell, Blocker History of Medicine Collections, Moody Medical Library, University of Texas Medical Branch
Javier Garza, Historical Resources Center, Research Medical Library, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Matthew Richardson, McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library
Sandra Yates, McGovern Historical Center, Texas Medical Center Library
Many challenges faced by archives are especially pronounced for medical, science, and technology archives. They safeguard physical materials within libraries that offer almost entirely digital collections; they can struggle to market themselves to patrons who are looking towards future innovations more than historical records; and they are often separated from the university and public libraries where many archival professionals and resources are concentrated. In addition, medical archives must be especially conscious of sensitive information regarding protecting patient privacy. As a result, it’s important for archivists in history of medicine, science, and technology collections to connect with and support one another. Members of the Texas Health Science Libraries Consortium Special Collections Group will lead this lively informal session, which will provide a venue for networking, invite brainstorming around shared challenges and solutions, and lay the foundation for future conversations and collaborations in our region.
Archivists working in other specialized collections such as arts organizations, religious groups, or museums are also encouraged to bring their perspectives.
Snacks with Vendors: 2:30pm – 3:00pm – Window Box
Repository Tours: 3:30pm – 5:30pm
- The African American Library at the Gregory School
- McGovern Historical Center, TMC Library
- Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Archives
- Woodson Research Center, Rice University
- Virtual tours will be showing in a Hyatt Regency meeting room