Author Archives: Rebecca

Conversation with the Artist: Patrick Feaster and Dario Robleto, The Menil Collection, October 21

On October 21, 2014 at 6.30 pm Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts at the University of Houston, presents a conversation with artist Dario Robleto and sound media historian Patrick Feaster at the Menil Collection. Prior to Thomas Edison’s groundbreaking invention of sound recording and playback technology in 1877, the ephemerality of sound meant that it only existed in the moment of its creation. To “record” sound before this time meant it appeared as oral or written descriptions or musical scores. In 2008, Patrick Feaster, a researcher and educator specializing in the history and culture of early sound media, and his colleagues revolutionized the field of historical sound recording by suggesting that attempts to record sound waves as visual tracings almost two decades before Edison’s breakthrough could be “played back” today as sound. In this discussion with Dario Robleto, Feaster speaks about his work and their recent collaboration on “playing back” the earliest nineteenth-century attempts to visually record the human pulse and heart. For more information visit: http://www.mitchellcenterforarts.org/conversation-artist-patrick-feaster-dario-robleto/

On display at the Menil Collection: “Dario Robleto: The Boundary of Life is Quietly Crossed” examines the psychological and emotional ramifications of crossing unknown boundaries whether in space, the sea, or through exploring the human body by linking two remarkable undertakings in the 1960s: the space race and development of the artificial heart. Commissioned and developed through a research residency with the Menil Collection and the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts at the University of Houston, the exhibition is the culmination of Robleto’s research realized as an installation that includes new sculptures by the artist, rare historical recordings, and objects from the Menil Collection and archives, along with a series of public programs.

 

 

Gulf Coast Reads

Gulf Coast Reads: On the Same Page is an annual regional reading initiative focused on promoting the simultaneous reading or listening to a selected title by those living along the upper Texas Gulf Coast. This year the selected book is Remember Ben Clayton written by Stephen Harrigan and Winner of the James Fenimore Cooper Prize for Best American Historical Fiction. World War I plays a central role in Remember Ben Clayton and throughout the month of October, Houston area libraries, archives, and museums will host discussions, movie viewings, exhibits, and more inspired by the book.

For more information please visit the Gulf Coast Reads website: http://www.gulfcoastreads.org/

Digital Images from Local Archives

Soldiers from Colorado County at Camp Travis

Soldiers from Colorado County at Camp Travis. World War I – Images from Local Archives – Showcasing World War I materials from area archives.

 

DAS Comprehensive Exam scheduled to take place at Rice University on November 10

The next round of the Society of American Archivists’ DAS Comprehensive Examinations is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The exam will take place in several locations including Rice University in Houston!

If you have completed the required number of courses and examinations and would like to register for the exam, please visit the SAA website http://saa.archivists.org/events/das-comprehensive-exam-1114/547/ for more information and/or contact the Education Office. The last day to register is October 17. Registration is processed on a first come first served basis. The next opportunity you will have to take the exam will be in late February 2015 at several other exam sites around the country.

Job posting: University Archivist, University of Texas at Arlington

The University of Texas at Arlington is seeking a University Archivist. The University Archivist coordinates the identification, appraisal, acquisition, description, storage, access, preservation and disposal of University Archives in all formats including creation and EAD encoding of finding aids. Proactively builds partnerships across the University including administrators, faculty, students, and alumni; works directly with donors to acquire materials documenting UT Arlington’s history. Leads efforts toward the acquisition, processing, and preservation of electronic records. Works as assigned at service desk providing reference assistance for all areas of Special Collections and Archives. Conducts bibliographic instruction and outreach to alumni, students, and community groups; coordinates accessioning, transcribing, and providing access to oral history interviews.

For more information on qualifications, please visit UT Arlington website: https://uta.service-now.com/jobs/recruiting_job_posting_detail.do?sysparm_document_key=u_recruiting_job_posting,c6725c9e6f7261000a41cf164b3ee4fe

Job posting: Head of Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries

The University of Houston Libraries are seeking a progressive and forward thinking leader prepared to articulate a vision and direction for a growing special collections and archives that supports the University’s objectives of advancing research, improving student success, and increasing national recognition.  The Libraries’ Special Collections enhances the traditional strengths of a rare books and archives department with a growing number of contemporary collections that reflect the vitality and diversity of the City of Houston.  The position provides direction and oversight to a group of 6 librarians, 4 regular staff members, and 2 post-doctoral staff members curating archival collections and rare books.  The Head oversees the ongoing development of archival collections, work with academic departments, preparation of collections for digitization, and a full calendar of exhibits.  There is frequent contact with established donors and potential donors for acquisitions of unique collections, as well as fundraising and management of departmental endowments.  The Head of Special Collections serves as a member of the Library Management Council, the Public Services Council, and the Digital Collections Management Committee.  The Head of Special Collections holds the Emily Scott Evans Endowed Professorship. The position reports to the Associate Dean for Public Services.  The position is available February 2, 2015.

For more information on qualifications and salary, please visit UH Libraries website: http://info.lib.uh.edu/about/employment/head-special-collections

Louisiana Archives and Manuscript Association Annual Conference, November 7, 2014

Members of  AHA! are  invited to the Louisiana Archives and Manuscript Association Annual Conference, which will be held on Friday November 7, 2014 at the Old US Mint in New Orleans, LA. Registration is from 8:30 to 9:00.

We have a great line up of speakers and topics. Tara Laver and Jessica Mlotkowski, both of LSU Libraries Special Collections, will present on the Free People of Color Project in a session titled “Free People of Color in Louisiana: Revealing an Unknown Past through a Collaborative Digital Project.”  In our second session “Records Management an Update from the State Archives”, Carrie Fager, Records Management Officer Statewide, Louisiana Secretary of State, will discuss important changes at the State Archives and laws impacting Archivists in Louisiana. And our final presentation of the day will be given by Mary Linn Wernet, Dr. Charles Pellegrin, and Cammie Henry, all from Northwestern State University, on the Kent Courtney Collection.  Following the presentations, we will hold our annual business meeting. The day will conclude with tours of the Old Mint and wine and cheese at the Old Ursuline Convent.

If there is interest, a dinner will be planned on Thursday night for early arrivers.

Attached you will find the registration form, with information about the conference hotel, parking, a restaurant guide for lunch and other goings on in the City of New Orleans.  Two important dates to remember: the deadline for conference registration is Friday October 24, 2014 and for those who plan on staying at the conference hotel, the deadline to receive the conference rate is Monday October 6, 2014.LAMA, 2014 Registration Form

Please consider joining us.

In the meantime, if you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me: mcourtney@arch-no.org

Sincerely,

Michael Courtney

Vice-President/President Elect

Louisiana Archives and Manuscript Association

 

Early Houston artists and Sam Houston celebrated in 2 new exhibits

Houston Founders at City Hall

The Mayor’s Office, in conjunction with William Reaves Fine Art are showcasing art made by earlier Houston artists in the working conference rooms of Houston City Hall. The exhibition acknowledges the Bayou City’s rich arts legacy and recognizes local artists who have made life-time contributions to the growth of the Houston arts scene. The exhibition will be on display through August 1, 2014.  Reception with brief remarks by Randy Tibbits is this Friday, July 11, 2014, from 5-7 in the Rotunda of City Hall, 901 Bagby, Houston, Texas 77002. For more information visit: http://reavesart.com/?page_id=5236

Following General Sam Houston

As part of the centennial celebration of Sam Houston Park, the Heritage Society is presenting a set of etchings on the life of General Sam Houston, created by celebrated artist Bernhardt Wall. The exhibit will also feature some personal objects from the Houston family from the Permanent Collection of The Heritage Society. The etchings are on loan from The Printing Museum. The exhibition will be on display through August 2, 2014. For more information visit: http://www.heritagesociety.org/museumgallery.html

Job posting: Digital Asset Manager, Menil Collection

The Menil Collection is seeking a Digital Asset Manager: Reporting to the Chief Registrar, the Digital Asset Manager is charged with developing the infrastructure of the museum’s digital asset platform, and leading efforts in migrating and organizing existing media, chiefly images, to meet the Menil Collection’s strategic digital initiatives and future implementation of a Digital Asset Management System (DAMS). For more information visit http://www.jobtarget.com/c/job.cfm?job=18745698&keywords=houston&vnet=0&max=25&site_id=8712

AHA! Summer Meeting, Thursday, July 10

The summer meeting of the Archivists of the Houston Area will be held Thursday, July  10th  at 6 pm, at the University of Houston Special Collections at the MD Anderson Library (2nd floor). Jim Parsons, Director of Special Projects at Preservation Houston,  will be our featured guest speaker as he talks about Archival Discoveries from the Texas Centennial Exposition.

Please plan to attend and RSVP to Vince Lee today!

Directions and Parking:

 

If coming from the north/downtown, take I-45 South. Take exit 44-B. Merge toward Spur 5 South. Turn right onto University Drive. Turn left on Calhoun and you will immediately see the Welcome Center & Parking Garage, a yellow brick building with red trim.

 

If coming from the south, take I-45 North. Take exit 44-A (Elgin/Lockwood/Cullen). Turn left on Cullen. Drive along Cullen, passing the stadium, and turn left on Wheeler. Turn left again on Calhoun. To your left just past the parking lot you will see the Welcome Center & Parking Garage, a yellow brick building with red trim.

 

Once you’ve parked, walk in towards the center of campus. You will pass the Hilton Hotel on your left and the University Center (student center) on your right. You will find yourself behind the M.D. Anderson Library, a large cream-colored building. You must go around to the front of the building to enter the Library. Head back to the main circular staircase, and take that, or one of the elevators behind it, up to the 2nd floor.

 

Special Collections is at the top of the stairs through the glass door.