Category Archives: Meetings

AHA! Spring Meeting 2023

Monday, February 13, Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm, Zoom

Thanks to everyone who attended our Spring Meeting! It was a packed zoom. It’s always great to see everyone. We covered a lot in our first meeting of the year. The agenda, slides, and chat are available at the end of the post. The presentation slides link out to important information and planning documents.

Special thanks to our guest speakers of from the City of San Antonio, Office of Historic Preservation

  • Jessica Anderson, Senior Historic Preservation Specialist
  • Rachel Rettaliata, Senior Historic Preservation Specialist
  • Jenny Hay, ScoutSA Program Manager

There’s a Story Here

Using ArcGIS and maps that allows community members to share historically relevant stories that are interesting and relevant to the space or location. For more information, https://www.sanantonio.gov/historic/Local-Historical-Markers/Story-Here.

Presentation Slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YJnPYNqcWNBDsRMmXw7LLatZSUUPRzzK/view?usp=sharing

Zoom Chat: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1abJEKFc8Fde0DnLL-WoB1DwtIfGCYYXf/view?usp=sharing

Video: https://youtu.be/BXHhg7sMqn4

Screenshot from the AHA! Spring Meeting 2023-02-13, showing There's a Story Here program, City of San Antonio, Office of Historic Preservation.
Screenshot from the AHA! Spring Meeting 2023-02-13, showing There’s a Story Here program, City of San Antonio, Office of Historic Preservation.

Agenda

  • Welcome & Introductions
    • Guest Speakers: There’s a Story Here, City of San Antonio, Office of Historic Preservation
    • President’s Report
    • Vice President’s Report
    • Treasurer’s Report
    • Programming Committee Report
    • Social Media Report
    • The Orange Show presents Old, Weird Houston
    • Old Business
    • New Business

    The AHA Board invites you to our first ever Virtual Open House!

    Who should attend?
    Anyone interested in becoming a member of AHA! That includes library students, recently graduated, professionals, and archives enthusiasts living or working in the Houston area!

    We will present opportunities for networking and connecting with peers in our area!

    Meet members of the AHA Board!
    Have questions on the history and mission of AHA? Interested in upcoming events? Have questions for us? Join us and chat!

    Sign up get a reminder on your calendar at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aha-virtual-open-house-tickets-525779309067

    Meeting link:
    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87356017032

    Slide from Spring Meeting of Archivists of the Houston Area (AHA)

    AHA! Spring 2022 Meeting

    Time: Apr 14, 2022 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM (Virtual)

    Thank you to all who made it to our Spring 2022 meeting! For those of you that missed it, the Spring Meeting Program included:

    1. SSA Scholarship Recipients Announcement.
    2. Speaker, Matt Richardson, will talked about SSA Local Arrangements and how AHA! members can help. Matt is the Registration chair for SSA 2022 Houston. It’s a great opportunity to hear how we can contribute to the annual meeting.
    3. AHA! Social Media Action! Tips for submitting content and engaging more people through the AHA! social media accounts.

    A link to the video of the meeting will be sent to the membership email list. See below for the slides from the presentation and the Zoom chat.

    Presentation Slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wQ7Q8kV_sybxbyziM8hFTeq3OXjdT7-_/view?usp=sharing

    Zoom Chat for links: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15zcmC0ZoIi3kPuAnlSqJgBwMZBvNZpsd/view?usp=sharing

    AHA! Hosts Archival Certification Panel

    By Joe Lueck, AHA! Secretary

    On September 22, 2020, the members of AHA! convened virtually for the second general meeting of the year. The AHA! board overviewed ongoing and future initiatives, including a slate of exciting Archives Month programming for October. Watch your inbox for more information in the coming weeks! If you’re not on the AHA! listserv and are interested in becoming a member, contact the board at houstonarchivists@gmail.com.  

    Following the business meeting, archivists and AHA! members John Rovell, Sandra Yates, and Amanda Focke shared their experiences and thoughts on the Certified Archivist (CA) and Digital Archives Specialist (DAS) certification programs. The panelists discussed skills and lessons learned, the costs and benefits of each certification program, and answered questions from the group, offering advice to prospective certificate seekers. 

    The Certified Archivist certification is offered by the Academy of Certified Archivists, an independent organization made up of professional archivists. Obtaining this certification involves coursework, professional service, and passage of an exam covering all aspects of archival enterprise.

    The Digital Archives Specialist certification is offered by the Society of American Archivists. This certification pertains specifically to working with born-digital records, involving a customizable curriculum of coursework and a cumulative final exam. 

    Thank you again to our panelists! If you are interested in viewing a recording of the meeting and panel, contact the AHA! board at houstonarchivists@gmail.com.

     

    AHA! visits the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston!

    Stacks area at MFAH Archives. Photo by Joe Lueck.

    By Joe Lueck, AHA! Secretary

    On March 12th, 2020, the members of AHA! held their first general meeting of the year at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. MFAH archivists Marie Wise and Stratton Meyer graciously hosted the event, and offered a tour of the MFAH archives’ new space in the institution’s administration building at 5100 Montrose Boulevard.

    Reading Room at MFAH Archives. Photo by Lilly Carrel.

    Under the care of Wise and Meyer, the MFAH archives have reopened for research following a three year closure. The collections include institutional records and manuscript collections from affiliated and local artists, documenting over one hundred years of institutional and local history. Traffic in the reading room has been consistent since reopening, as researchers from inside and outside the MFAH dig into the archives’ rich historical and cultural resources.

    Stacks area at MFAH Archives. Photo by Lilly Carrel.

    Wise and Meyer worked creatively to configure shelving in the new space, making the most of the former studio spaces now available for archival storage. Using a color coordination system, the archivists deftly managed the move of collection material from two offsite storage locations outside the 610 loop to the museum’s main campus.

    Thanks again to the MFAH, Marie, and Stratton for hosting! Visit the MFAH Archives website for more information about hours, available resources, and collections.

    AHA! General Meeting – Thursday, March 12, 2020 @ MFAH!

    The first general meeting of 2020 will be hosted by our colleagues Marie Wise and Stratton Meyer at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Administration Building (5100 Montrose Boulevard) on Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 6:30 pm! After the AHA! business meeting, Marie and Stratton will lead us on a tour of their recently renovated archives space and share with us their experience of moving the archives to their new location.

    Parking & Logistics: MFAH Archives are located in the museum’s Administration Building at 5100 Montrose Boulevard. An uncovered carpark is located behind the building. The Archives are on the 2nd floor and signs will be posted to assist AHA folks getting to the right place! Additional details on parking forthcoming.

    First AHA! Meeting of 2019!

    Our first meeting of the year will be Thursday, April 11 at 6:00 PM at the Woodson Research Center, located in Fondren Library on the campus of Rice University. Dr. Joshua Furman will speak to us about the Houston Jewish History Archive.

    Founded in 2017 in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the Houston Jewish History Archive is dedicated to the study and preservation of Jewish life in South Texas. By collecting artifacts from all facets of Jewish life, the HJHA sheds light on how Jews in and around Houston have balanced maintaining their traditions and heritage with adapting to life in Texas and the United States.

    Prior to Dr. Furman’s discussion, we will have a short business meeting including an update on the upcoming Houston Archives Bazaar. If you are interested in volunteering, please email Lilly Carrel at lcarrel@menil.org.

    Logistics:

    The closest parking to Fondren Library is the Rice Central Garage.  Please see the Rice University interactive campus map for more information: https://parking.rice.edu/Content.aspx?id=32

    Questions please contact: Emily Scott at Emily.Scott@houstontx.gov

    We hope you will join us for our 2019 inaugural meeting!

    AHA! Holiday Party and Meeting 2017

    AHA-holidaymeeting2017

    The AHA! Holiday Party and Meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 13 at 6:00 pm at the McGovern Historical Center, 8272 El Rio St. Suite 190 Houston, TX 77054.

    This year, we will host a round-robin style event for members to share current archival projects, recent accomplishment, or future plans.

    AHA! will supply the main dish, drinks, and tableware for the party, but please feel free to bring your favorite side dish or dessert to share.

    CALL FOR CANDIDATE NOMINATIONS!
    Nominations (including self-nominations) are now being accepted for AHA! officers, incluiding Secretary, Treasurer, or Vice-President. Contact Emily Vinson with your nomination.

    CANDIDATES, AGENDA, MINUTES
    Check out the AHA 2018 Slate bios for the election (note that nominations are accepted up until the time of the election), the AHA_Winter2017_agenda, and the AHA_Summer2017_minutes_20170719 courtesy of AHA Secretary Lisa Cruces.

    DUES!
    Sandra Yates, AHA! Treasurer, will be collecting membership dues for next year (and beyond). Dues are $10 and can be paid by cash, check, or credit card ($1 convenience fee). If you can’t make it to the meeting, contact Sandra.

    Houston Archives Collective Meet & Greet

    Please consider stopping by the Houston Archives Collective’s first meet & greet gathering at Brasil Houston Tuesday, August 1st, at 6 pm-7:30 pm.
    HAC is an informal group and space for exchange and collaboration between professional archivists and librarians with individuals in the community interested in archives and Houston history.

    The Year Ahead for AHA!

    Dear AHA! Members,

    Thanks to all who joined us recently for the inaugural monthly AHA! Happy Hour—it was a great evening of discussion and socializing. We had a productive executive meeting and brainstormed ideas for an exciting upcoming year.

    One thing that came out of this gathering was a thoughtful review of AHA’s mission statement. Reflecting on the organization’s stated mission energized board members and others present. It also provided guidance as we seek to align AHA’s activities with this mission.

    AHA! exists to increase contact and communication between archivists and those working with records, to provide opportunities for professional development, and to promote archival repositories and activities in the greater Houston, Texas area.

    As we craft programming and communications for the year, we’ll seek to ensure that all three of these pieces are actively cultivated. Improved communication, increased fellowship, and opportunities for training and knowledge-sharing all seem like areas ripe for connecting and developing our membership. The big-ticket item—the Houston Archives Bazaar—naturally fits the focus of promoting our work within and beyond Houston. By deliberately aligning our activities with the stated mission, it is our hope that we can better serve and connect Houston’s archival community—that’s you!—as well as the communities we serve.

    As we look ahead to the year, we’d like to begin by getting your input on what you’d like to see from AHA! Please take a moment to fill out this member survey.

    We hope that you’re as excited as we are about the upcoming year!

    Sincerely,

    AHA! Executive Board

    Emily Vinson, President
    Matt Richardson, Vice-President
    Lisa Cruces, Secretary
    Sandra Yates, Treasurer