Selection of Finding Aids
Archives 101
Co-wrote and led with my colleague a presentation on archives fundamentals and the function of our department (Description and Access) within the Ransom Center for a group of undergraduate interns in the fall of 2019.
We expanded the presentation and delivered it to Center staff in August 2020 when all staff were working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic. The presentation was well-received as it offered a comprehensive overview of our profession and made a persuasive argument for the value of archival labor.
Austin Archives Bazaar
This event is very close to my heart. The first Bazaar was held in 2014, hosted by Archivists of Central Texas as a way of bringing together area archives, archivists, and local history-enthusiasts for a day of outreach, family fun activities, and socializing at a beloved Austin venue (Spider House Ballroom). In the years since the event has only grown in its reach and popularity. Bazaars are held biannually and organized by the passionate local archivist community of Central Texas.
My involvement in this event started in 2014 as a photo booth volunteer and for the subsequent two bazaars (2016 & 2018) I served on the Programming Committee and Chaired the Repositories Committee.
Read more about this awesome event here!
Volunteer & Internship Experiences
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• Streamlined correspondence management by creating efficient workflows to ensure the long-term preservation and accessibility of both physical and digital correspondence, simplifying the process of storing and retrieving valuable resources for research.
• Gathered best practices in email archiving by conducting research on existing email preservation projects across universities, archives, and other organizations. This included interviews with key personnel involved in these projects. The result of this work helped me develop informed decisions in relation to email archiving solutions.
• Analyzed email archiving tools for Gmail by comparing and evaluating several software programs specifically designed for preserving, accessing, and searching Gmail emails, including Aid4Mail, MUSE, Got Your Back, and Emailchemy, enabling the selection of the most suitable tool based on institutional needs.
• Developed recommendations for managing email preservation, discovery, and accessibility while considering both user privacy concerns and the research value of such communication, thereby ensuring sensitive information is protected while maintaining access to valuable historical data for legitimate research purposes.
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• Cataloged photographic negatives and prints from the Neal Douglass Photographic Archive by implementing a systematic process for organizing and documenting the photographic collection, ensuring the preservation and accessibility of valuable historical materials.
• Recorded metadata and housed negatives and prints by utilizing Microsoft Access to create detailed records and implementing appropriate storage practices for preservation, ensuring discoverability and proper storage of the physical materials.
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• Wrote an extensive appraisal report and processing plan for a collection (4.2 linear feet) by conducting a thorough evaluation and developing a detailed roadmap for processing the collection, establishing a comprehensive plan for its future use.
• Researched, arranged, housed, and described the material by employing industry standards and best preservation practices, creating a DACS-compliant finding aid, ensuring the discoverability and accessibility of this local historic collection.
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As a Landmarks Preservation Guild Volunteer I was responsible for the care of one of the public art works on UT Austin’s campus. I wrote monthly condition reports and learned more about conservation treatments for large sculptural art works.
Professional Education & Trainings
LGBTQIA+ Ally Training, UT Austin Gender and Sexuality Center
Oct/Nov 2017
Hidden Collections, one day seminar, UT Austin
November 2017
Breaking Library Silos for Social Justice workshop
January 2018
disABILITY 101, UT Austin Services for Students with Disabilities
February 2018
How To Create a Speak-Up Culture, webinar
August 2018
Applying Radical Empathy Framework in Archival Practice
Sept 2018
BeVocal Bystander Intervention Training, UT Austin
March 2019
Ethical Challenges in Cultural Stewardship, Flair Symposium, Harry Ransom Center
April 2019
Cultural Diversity Competency, preconference course, SAA Annual Meeting
July 2019
Diverse and Inclusive Recruitment, UT Austin Human Resources
August 2019
Managing Student Employees, UT Austin Human Resources
March 2020
Dynamics of Diversity, UT Learn series of 11 courses on topics related to DEI
DEI and Collections Metadata/DEI Audit, SAA Webinar
2020
August 2021
Committee Work
Austin Archives Bazaar, Programming Committee Member
Archivists of Central Texas, Board Member
Austin Archives Bazaar, Steering Committee, Repositories Chair
Critical Archives Reading Group, organizer/member
Ransom Center Diversity & Inclusion Committee, member
Ransom Center Conscious Description and Access Working Group, founding member
Jan-Oct 2016
Jan 2017-Jan 2019
Jan-Oct 2018
2019-2020
2020-2021
2022-2023
Professional Organizations
Society of American Archivists
Member since 2012
Awards
Harold W. Billings Staff Award, University of Texas Libraries, Spring 2017
This award was in recognition of collaborative work with my colleagues at UT Libraries in the design and implementation of an internal SharePoint site for the UT System Digital Library.