Author Archives: Houston Archivist

Archives Month 2011 – Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission talk

Please join us for a talk by Phil Montgomery, archivist at the John P. McGovern Historical Collections and Research Center: “Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission: lessons in compassion, language and cooperation.”

The talk covers the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission (ABCC) collections, which is a long-term study of the effects of radiation on the survivors of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The Texas Medical Center Library’s ABCC collection is recognized in Japan as one the three worldwide leading sources on the effects of nuclear weapons. The other sites are the NIH archive in Washington D.C. and the Radiation Effects Research Foundation in Japan.

Phil will show photographs from the collection to tell the story about the challenges and the gifts that arise from caring for these papers and how an international consortium is slowly taking shape with the intent of sharing this information. The collection regularly draws researchers from Japan and throughout the U.S. who study the effects of the bombings and the interaction between two divergent cultures.

The ABCC study began in 1947 and lasted until 1975, when the organization was changed to the Radiation Effects Research Foundation. The ABCC collection consists of 20 assorted collections measuring 184 cubic feet and includes hundreds of photographs, correspondence, memos, diaries, realia, maps, film and official ABCC documents.

WHEN: Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 6 pm

WHERE: Kyle Morrow Room, Fondren Library (3rd floor), Rice University (parking information)

Job posting: Stark Foundation Archivist

The Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation needs an archivist to establish a brand new archive of foundation materials that include historical family, community and business records and objects, some dating back to the 1800’s, as well as current business records.

The foundation has several hundred square feet that the successful candidate will be responsible for evaluating and creating an archives program based on best practices.  The archivist will manage and operate all aspects of the archive including archival processing, preservation, development of an accessibility plan, etc.  The work will be completed in the context of a private organization environment, which also has an affiliated museum, and the archivist will be expected to interface well with curators/museum staff, foundation board members, and community visitors.  The preferred candidate will have experience with or knowledge of records management regulations and be vigilant in protecting the interests of the foundation and family name.

Please visit the Stark Foundation website:  www.starkfoundation.org

For more information download the job posting document (Word) here.

 

Call for papers: Houston History Association conference

The Houston History Association is holding a conference on Houston & Southeast Texas history on October 29, 2011. The theme for this inaugural conference, held in conjunction with the city’s official 175th Anniversary Celebration, is “Milestones and Arrivals: 175 Years of Coming to Houston.” The program committee invites the submission of panels and presentations (see link to download below for details. Note: the deadline for submissions has been extended to August 31st).

Papers may be considered for potential publication in Houston History Magazine, put out by the University of Houston—Center for Public History.

Download (PDF):

HHA call for papers


AHA General Meeting, July 14

AHA General Meeting – July 14 – very special speaker and location!

PROGRAM

April 20, 1836 saw a series of skirmishes triggered by Tennessean Sidney Sherman against Santa Ana’s army, the Toluca Skirmishers, who had led the main attack at the Alamo. Recently recovered battle-related artifacts and maps point to the location of the skirmishes between the Twin Sisters Cannons and Santa Ana’s Golden Standard cannon – events of the day before the Texian Army fostered the cry, “Remember Goliad, Remember the Alamo.” Local historian and consultant Janet Wagner will discuss these discoveries.

Janet is owner of the landscape architecture firm  J. K. Wagner & Company, Inc., whose work also includes research and site analysis for historic preservation projects. She is currently chairman of the Harris County Historical Commission.

TIME/LOCATION

6:00 pm

Bayou Bend’s Lora Jean Kilroy Visitor and Education Center
6003 Memorial Drive at Westcott Street
Houston, Texas 77007

The MFAH’s most recent building project, the Kilroy Center opened in September 2010 with an orientation gallery, a library, a retail shop, two meeting rooms, and public terraces. It is LEED-Silver certified. The Hogg Family Legacy Room and videos in the orientation gallery feature images from the MFAH Archives and other repositories in Houston and Austin, so be sure to check these out! If you can arrive before 5pm, the Shop at Bayou Bend offers a unique assortment of gifts and souvenirs. Parking is plentiful and free.

Do not miss this special event!

Job Posting: Historian/Archivist

Job posting: Historian/Archivist, Mouthwatering Media on behalf of Rice University’s Centennial Celebration

Historian/Archivist for Documentary

This two-month part-time project resource assists Mouth Watering Media’s documentary filmmaker by researching and sourcing archival materials including moving footage in support of a 30-60 minute documentary on the intertwined histories of Rice University and the city of Houston, potentially covering the topics of Athletics, the Built Environment (Engineering, Architecture, Construction & Development), Business/Economy, Culture (Art including Menil & MFAH, Music including Shepherd School of Music and Houston Symphony, Theater), and Science & Technology (e.g., NASA, nanotechnology, Texas Medical Center).

Familiarity with the archives at both the Woodson Research Center (Rice University) and the Houston Metropolitan Research Center is desired. Knowledge of written and photographic archival materials as well as archival moving footage is required. Experience with obtaining archival rights is preferred.

Some background information can be found here: http://centennial.rice.edu and here: http://centennial.rice.edu/timeline. Mouth Watering Media’s website is: http://mouthwateringmedia.com/

The documentary is scheduled for development between July 1 and September 1, 2011. A total of 20 days (160 hours) of work is estimated.

Please send your resume and a cover letter to: Douglas Newman, Mouth Watering Media, dnewman@mouthwateringmedia.com.

 

Call for nominations – Julia Ideson Award

The Julia Ideson Award recognizes research projects documenting Houston and Texas history and culture where the researcher made significant use of the resources from the Houston Metropolitan Research Center.

Items eligible: Books, published articles, graduate theses or dissertations, films or video productions, or web sites published within the past five years.

Deadline for nominations: June 1, 2011

Award presentation: Friends of the Texas Room Annual Meeting (October)

Entry form and award rules:
Julia Ideson Award (PDF – requires Adobe Reader)

Send entries to:
The Friends of the Texas Room
P.O. Box 27827
Houston TX  77227-7827

For more information, please contact:

Barbara Eaves
713.521.0768
barbara.eaves@att.net
www.friendsofthetexasroom.org

AHA General Meeting, March 23

Please join us for AHA’s first general meeting of 2011!

WHO: Adrian Melissinos, a member of AHA! who completed her PhD in Nursing Science at Texas Woman’s University last year, will present on her dissertation.

WHAT: Kezia Payne DePelchin, Nursing, and the Memphis Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1878:  How Archives Helped Tell the Tale

Yellow fever raged as an epidemic throughout the South in the summer of 1878. Memphis was overwhelmed with more than 17,000 cases of yellow fever and put out calls for assistance.  Mrs. DePelchin, an untrained nurse (there were no nursing schools in Texas at the time) and survivor of yellow fever, traveled to Memphis to render aid as a nurse in the stricken city.  In a series of letters to her sister, she wrote in great detail of her nursing experiences during the epidemic.  Archives in both Texas and Tennessee were instrumental in preparing this material as a dissertation.

Light refreshments will be provided.

WHEN: 6:00pm, Wednesday, March 23, 2011

WHERE: University of St. Thomas

Ahern Room (located in the Crooker Center)
3909 Graustark, 77006-4696

Information on parking and how to find us are here:

http://www.stthom.edu/Visitors_Community/Maps/Directions.aqf
http://www.stthom.edu/public/getFile.asp?File_Content_ID=1707
http://www.stthom.edu/Visitors_Community/Maps/Index.aqf

TSU events for Barbara Jordan’s 75th birthday, February 17-21

The Barbara Jordan/Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University is hosting a series of events to commemorate the 75th birthday of Barbara Jordan. The events will kickoff this Thursday evening at the Robert J. Terry Library at TSU with a reception from 6:30 to 8:30pm. There will be speakers, free food, and a look at the life and career of Jordan through her archives. Everyone is welcome to attend. There will be additional events happening this Friday, Saturday, Sunday and next Monday at TSU and around Houston—a schedule of events is posted here. For more information, please feel free to contact Gary Chaffee (chaffeegj@tsu.edu, 713-313-7298), or the School of Public Affairs at 713-313-6849. We hope to see you there!

2011 board elected

We are pleased to announce the results of last Thursday’s AHA! elections. Thank you to all our candidates for their willingness to run. Joining Amy Mobley (incoming president) on the board for 2011 are:

Vice-President/President Elect: Robert Schaadt (retired)
Secretary: Dara Flinn (Woodson Research Center, Rice University)
Treasurer: Terry Brown (Houston Symphony Archives)

Many thanks go to Annie Golden for her leadership and enthusiasm this year as president! And to Javier Garza and Ron Drees for their service as secretary and treasurer, respectively.