Category Archives: AHA!

Houston History Association Conference: AHA! Volunteer Opportunity

On May 4, the Houston History Association will be holding its annual conference from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm at the Julia Ideson Building. The theme this year, Rogues, Rascals and Role Models: Famous and Infamous Residents of the Bayou City, promises to be an interesting one.

Archivists of the Houston Area will have a table again this year, and volunteers are needed to man the AHA! table. Those who volunteered last year can attest that it was a Saturday well-spent. Please respond to Lee Pecht, who will handle the scheduling of the volunteers. We hope to see many of you there!

AHA! Announces Its Spring Meeting

The next meeting of the Archivists of the Houston Area will be held on Thursday, March 14 at 6 pm at the new home of the Harris County Archives!

Mr. Larry Mousseau, Planning & Operations Supervisor for the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, will talk about his department’s activities and what archivists need to know regarding access to their repositories following a disaster. Other items on the agenda include an introduction of a disaster preparation contest and a discussion of a proposed outreach/internship program as well as officer and committee reports. Light refreshments will be provided. Please plan to attend.

The Harris County Archives is located at 11525 Todd Street, Suite 300/Houston, TX  77055. Please RSVP by March 8th to Lee Pecht.

We hope to see you all there!

Volunteers needed for AHA table at the Houston History Conference

We’re seeking volunteers to man the AHA! table at the Houston History Conference on Saturday, June 2, 2012 from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm.  Volunteers can also register for the meeting here and arrange to attend sessions and the provided lunch.

Please contact Terry Brown and Robert Schaadt to volunteer or for more information

More information about the conference:

http://www.myhoustonhistory.com/Conference

AHA meeting – April 24 – Archives Digitization Presentation and Roundtable

Please join us for an AHA event in celebration of Preservation Week
Archives digitization presentation and roundtable
Tuesday, April 24, 6-8pm
Rice University, Fondren Library, Kyle Morrow Room

Representatives from University of Houston, Houston Public Library, and Rice University will each present a 10 minute overview of their digitization programs, and then invite open discussion and questions.
Other AHA members who are also engaged in digitization (or would like to be) are encouraged to attend and share their experiences as well. We hope to see you there!

Topics to covered in the overviews:
– what kinds of materials does the repository digitize?
– are they available online? where?
– if material is online, what platform and software are used?
– what is the workflow for such projects?
– how does preservation of these digital objects take place?
–  documentation / guidelines which can be shared
– digitization challenges and victories

Panelists include Roland Lemonius and Amber Seely from Houston Public Library, Valerie Prilop and Nicci Westbrook from the University of Houston, and Amanda Focke, Dara Flinn, and Monica Rivero from Rice University.

AHA meeting (March 22) postponed

Due to scheduling conflicts the March 22 AHA meeting and digital media roundtable discussion has been postponed (location and date TBA).

We’re still looking for participants to share information about digitization projects such as:

– what kinds of materials do you digitize?
– are they available online? where?
– if material is online, what platform / software do you use?
– what is your workflow for such projects?
– do you have documentation / guidelines you could share?
– what challenges have you had? what victories?

Also, do you have questions you would like to hear discussed?
Would you like to present on your own efforts?

Please contact Amanda Focke  – afocke@rice.edu or 713-348-2124

AHA Meeting & Digital Media Roundtable – March 22

Join us for the first AHA meeting of 2012 on Thursday, March 22 at 6 pm at Fondren Library, Rice University.

There will be a roundtable discussion about digital media including Woodson Research Center’s Amanda Focke and Dara Flinn, and Monica Rivero from Rice’s Digital Media Center.

Also, please mail your $10 dues to our treasurer:

Terry Brown
Treasurer, AHA!
872 Augusta Drive
Houston, TX 77057

Upcoming meetings:

Our summer meeting will be on July 12. Vindicator Publisher Carol Skewes will make a presentation on “Submitting News and Photos to the Texas Press.”  This will cover the proper ways to submit election news for publication and how to gain publicity for your archives (location TBA).

October is archives month with a dinner, meeting, and an outing and December 5 with be the date of the December Election Meeting and the famous, fabulous Christmas Party.  Terry Brown of the Houston Symphony Archives has been gracious again to offer to host this meeting.

2012 AHA Officers

The winning candidates are:

Vice President/President-elect:
Lorraine Stuart, Museum of Fine Arts Houston Archives

Treasurer:
Terry Brown, Houston Symphony Archives

Secretary:
Elizabeth Sargent, Houston Metropolitan Research Center – Houston Public Library

AHA Holiday Party

Join AHA! for some Christmas fun and cheer at the annual Holiday Potluck and Election.

WHEN: Thursday, December 8, 2011, 6-8pm

WHERE: Houston Symphony Archives

1220 Augusta Drive, Suite 250, Houston, TX 77057
Free parking is available on levels 3-6 in the parking garage.
(Building is across from the soccer field of the YMCA on Augusta.)

WHAT: Activities will include:

•Elections – A new board for 2012 will be elected. You must be a member of AHA! to vote. Candidates to be announced shortly.
•Food – It will be a potluck, so please bring something to share. AHA! will provide table ware and drinks.
•Socializing – Chat with old friends and meet new members.
•Games – Test your holiday knowledge and win a prize!
•Ornament exchange – Bring an “archival” ornament to exchange. Use your imagination and be creative!