Monthly Archives: September 2026

Archives Month 2026: Spooky Stories from the Stacks 10/30 at 12 PM

Join us for the second iteration of Spooky Stories from the Stacks, a virtual roundtable where archivists share our encounters with haunting histories, creepy collections, mysterious materials, eerie repositories, and anything else that’s sent a shiver down our spines while working in the stacks! We’re excited to be joined by special guest Megan Rosenbloom, author of Dark Archives: A Librarian’s Investigation into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin, for a Q&A about her research on anthropodermic bibliopegy. We also invite YOU to submit your own spooky story through our submission form — you can share it yourself during the event, or ask one of our AHA! hosts share it on your behalf. We hope you’ll join us to close out Archives Month 2026 and welcome Halloween!

Submit your story here: https://forms.gle/nLRU9523YbsXBrfYA

Add the event to your calendar: https://www.google.com/calendar/event?eid=NmprcjM1a2Iwamt1NDhyanU0MGYwNXMwb28gOGQxMzNkNmViN2MyNDNlNjk5ZjA4MjE0MjY3YTgzN2NkZDg3ZmFmYjQyOWE4OGMxMmQ2MDE1MGU0NzhmMzhkOUBn

Event: HHRC- Rare Books Room Showcase 11/21 @ 2pm

Explore rare books, historic children’s literature, and unique archival materials from HPL’s Houston History Research Center’s collections. This interactive showcase invites visitors of all ages to get an up-close look at special items, discover the stories behind them, and learn how library and archival collections are preserved and made available for research.

For more information visit https://calendar.houstonlibrary.org/event/17374394

Event: HHRC- Voices from the Texas Gulf 11/21 @ 12pm

The Houston History Research Center invites you to join us as we welcome Five Rivers Council Representative and scholar, Absolem Yetzirah! In honor of National Native American Heritage Month, Absolem Yetzirah will discuss the cultural landscape surrounding the contemporary Karankawa people and explore how historical ancestry narratives shape the present context on American history.

For more information visit https://calendar.houstonlibrary.org/event/17365074

Event: HHRC Sanborn Maps Workshop 10/1 @4:30

Discover how Sanborn maps reveal the history of Houston’s buildings and neighborhoods while learning to confidently read and interpret these unique resources with guidance from Houston History Research Center’s Architecture Archivist. Whether you’re researching a historic property or exploring the city’s past, this workshop will equip you with practical tools to get started.

For More Information visit https://calendar.houstonlibrary.org/event/17219708

Archives Month 2026: Archives on Tap at St. Arnold’s Brewery 10/22 @ 6:30 PM

Join us at Saint Arnold Brewing Company — the oldest craft brewery in the state of Texas — to soak up the remnants of Oktoberfest and Archives Month together! We are thrilled to be joined by Travis Williams, Archivist & Special Collections Librarian at St. Edward’s University, who will be speaking about the Texas Craft Brewing Collections, which aim to capture the history and culture of Texas’s craft brewing scene by documenting over 200 breweries across the state. Join us in the beer garden to learn about this fascinating collection while enjoying a brew or a bite with folks who share a passion for both history and hops! And for our AHA! members — your first one’s on us. Cheers!

Archives Month 2026: Collection Highlight at the Menil 10/17

Join AHA! for our second program in our Archives Month 2026 lineup! The Menil Library is excited to highlight some of its rare and unique treasures, including a selection of livres d’artistes, focusing on the intersection of art, macabre themes, and surrealism. Featured items include Édouard Manet’s Le Corbeau, a variety of titles written and illustrated by Edward Gorey, a stunning copy of the Limited Editions Club’s publication of The Fall of the House of Usher featuring illustrations by Alice Neel, along with a few other published works related to surrealism.

This program will be led by Donna Török-Oberholtzer. As Associate Librarian for the Menil Collection Library, Donna oversees library operations and stewards the museum’s special collections. Grounded in her experience with painting and printmaking, her work focuses on preserving historical materials, expanding resource accessibility, and supporting research in art history and visual culture.

Register here! 

Opportunities: University of Houston-Audiovisual Archivist

The University of Houston (UH) Libraries seeks a collaborative and resourceful candidate for the position of Audiovisual Archivist. This position is part of the Special Collections department, which supports teaching, learning, and scholarship, on campus and globally, with primary source collections of distinction in priority collecting areas including university archives, energy and sustainability, Houston and Texas history, women’s studies, performing and visual arts, and LGBT history. The Audiovisual Archivist will work closely with archivists, librarians, and staff to achieve the goals of the Special Collections department in alignment with the strategic priorities of UH Libraries.

Reporting to the Head of Special Collections, the Audiovisual Archivist will develop and implement policies, procedures, and workflows for the stewardship, description, access, and use of audiovisual collections held by Special Collections. At a broader level, the successful candidate is expected to collaborate with Libraries’ colleagues to ensure the responsible management and long-term access of audiovisual collections. The position serves as the primary subject specialist for the KUHT and KUHF collections and works closely with colleagues in Preservation and Reformatting, Resource Management and Metadata, and Library Information Technology to support preservation and reformatting initiatives, collection description, and discovery.

The Audiovisual Archivist is a promotion-eligible librarian position. Librarians hold academic rank pursuant to the University of Houston Libraries’ Bylaws and are expected to develop a record of service, scholarship, and professional involvement. UH Libraries supports the ongoing professional development of librarians, and our goal is to recruit librarians committed to continuous learning.

 

Learn More at: https://libraries.uh.edu/about/employment/audiovisual-archivist/

Upcoming Vote on By-Law Amendment

The Board of the Archivists of the Houston Area (AHA!) proposes to amend the organization’s by-laws by appending Article X: Administration and Governance and its subsequent sections.

In accordance with Article VII of the by-laws, the by-laws may be amended only at the End-of-Year member meeting by a two-thirds majority vote of those members present, provided that the membership is notified of the proposed amendment(s) at least three weeks prior to the End-of-Year member meeting.

This notice, being shared with the general membership via newsletter, email, and website on September 1, 2026, serves as the official notification of the proposed amendment. All AHA! members are invited to vote on the proposed amendment during the End-of-Year member meeting, which is scheduled on Wednesday, December 9, 2026.

 

 

START OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT

Article X: Administration and Governance

Section 1: Professional Standards and Continuity Planning

A. Authority to Establish Rules and Regulations.

The Board of the Archivists of the Houston Area (the “Board”) shall have the authority to establish, maintain, and amend a set of supplemental Rules and Regulations. These rules shall govern the professional operations of the Organization, ensuring the long-term sustainability of its mission. The purpose of the Rules and Regulations is to enable the AHA Board to make governance decisions on an expedited timeline.

B. Continuity and Succession Planning.

The Board shall develop and execute a comprehensive Continuity and Succession Plan to be included in the Rules and Regulations. This plan must address, at a minimum:

• Emergency Succession: Procedures for the immediate appointment of interim leadership in the event of a vacancy in any elected or appointed position.

• Planned Transition: A formal process for identifying, recruiting, and onboarding successors for any elected or appointed position.

• Operational Continuity: Protocols to ensure the uninterrupted programming and maintenance of administrative, legal, and financial obligations during periods of transition.

C. Review and Execution.

The Continuity and Succession Plan shall be reviewed and updated by the Board as needed to ensure it reflects current organizational needs. The Board is authorized to delegate the development of these standards to a standing or ad hoc committee, or a sole individual, provided the final execution is approved by a majority vote of the Board.

END OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT

 

 

The following document is a review copy of the Rules and Regulations document that the proposed by-law amendment would authorize, if passed.

REVIEW COPY_ AHA Rules & Regulations

Archives Month 2026 Registration Open Now!

We are thrilled to announce our slate of programs for ARCHIVES MONTH 2026! Check out our Archives Month page here to register and learn more about each of these exciting programs. We’re so grateful to be collaborating with colleagues and friends from across the state of Texas to support, promote, and celebrate the dedication of archival professionals and the incredible diversity of the collections we help preserve.

Questions? Please email houstonarchives@gmail.com. We hope that you’ll join us in celebrating Archives Month!