Practicum Reflection:

Behind the Stacks: Supervisor Interview on Archival Practice

Work Description: Today, I finalized the arrangement and description of the Dolan Papers Collection by completing the finding aid and relabeling all folders to match the updated numbering system. I cross-checked each folder's contents with the new arrangement to ensure alignment with the container list and added accession numbers and unique item IDs to the processing spreadsheet. The relabeling process was thorough and systematic, requiring careful handling to avoid damaging fragile documents, particularly those in previously restored folders. I also double-checked previously flagged folders for condition updates in the finding aid to support future conservation planning. Once all relabeling was completed, I focused on formatting the final version of the finding aid for submission and uploaded the supporting spreadsheet. As a final gesture to close out the project, I selected a special item to highlight: a comic strip featuring Captain Patrick Dolan that was tucked within his unpublished memoirs. This vivid piece of illustrated narrative, full of action and wit, captured Dolan’s personality in a way the official documents could not, and it felt only right to share it.

Work Description: Today, I completed my hands-on preservation work for Folder 215 of the Dolan Papers Collection. This folder contained hundreds of deteriorated manuscript fragments, which had been severely damaged by age, wear, and environmental factors. I focused my efforts on separating and flattening curled pieces, realigning torn edges, and gently positioning fragments on interleaving sheets for stable storage. Several of the documents had once been letters or formal statements, and I was able to loosely group and reunite fragments based on handwriting and ruling lines. I used tweezers and a soft brush to move delicate slivers without introducing further damage. I also began assembling a PDF report for my supervisor, Mrs. Claudia Romero, documenting all the steps I’ve taken to stabilize both Folder 214 and Folder 215. This includes photographic documentation, narrative summaries, and suggestions for future conservation interventions. In addition, I worked on updates to the Dolan Papers finding aid, refining the scope and content note and listing Folder 215 as "Extremely Fragile – Partial Reconstruction Completed." The materials are now stable for storage and can be evaluated by professional conservators in the future for long-term preservation.

Work Description: Today, I began the day by revising and resubmitting the El Paso Times Newspaper Clippings Collection finding aid based on Mrs. Claudia’s feedback. After confirming the updates were in place, I moved on to one of the most complex preservation efforts to date: working on the final two folders in the Dolan Papers Collection, Folder 214 and Folder 215. Both folders were extremely fragile, with dozens (if not hundreds) of brittle and crumbling paper fragments, many illegible or faded with time and acidic degradation. The folders appear to be separated; however, I found fragments of both folders mixed in each plastic housing. I photographed each set of contents in stages, both to preserve a visual record of the condition and to aid any future conservation effort. Folder 214 was carefully separated, and a reconstructed letter was mostly stabilized and documented. Folder 215, however, remains in progress and will be completed on June 24 due to the volume of fragments and overlapping materials. This project required patience, steady hands, and extreme care in handling the materials to avoid further loss.

Work Description: Today, I focused exclusively on processing Folder 225, Folder 226, and Folder 227 from the Dolan Papers Collection, which included highly fragile muster rolls, pay records, and arrest statements from the Texas Frontier Battalion. My goal was to gently separate, align, and stabilize all items within these folders, while identifying their chronological range and content for rehousing and metadata documentation. Folder 225 contained three separate muster rolls from 1876, 1877–1878, and 1878–1879, all of which were brittle, torn, and required careful flattening and placement within mylar sleeves or archival folders. Folder 226, the muster-out and pay roll dated April 30, 1879, was particularly challenging due to missing sections, edge deterioration, and ink bleeding, but I was able to preserve original structure and identify enlistment and discharge details. Folder 227 held a single document—a statement of arrests dated May 31, 1877—which provided incredible insight into the duties of Company F and listed names, dates, crimes, and narrative descriptions of law enforcement activity during the Reconstruction era. As I worked through each document, I compared the handwritten content against the preliminary metadata and cross-referenced it with the donor information attributed to the Shipman Collection, specifically Mrs. L. C. Brite. By the end of the shift, I had successfully processed, documented, and housed all three folders while flagging several sheets for potential conservation attention due to large tears and water damage.

Work Description: Today, I focused on intensive preservation and rehousing efforts for two delicate folders in the Dolan Papers Collection: Folder 195 and Folder 213. These folders contained highly fragile, water-damaged, and brittle documents that required extra attention and care. Folder 195 arrived encased in a plastic sleeve with yellowed tape, thread, and embedded metal fasteners, all of which posed significant preservation risks. I began by carefully removing the sewn plastic sleeve and fragments to prevent further tearing and chemical damage. Once removed, I stabilized the paper fragments with a layer of acid-free tissue and transferred them to a larger archival folder for flat housing. I arranged the loose fragments in their approximate original layout for future reassembly or conservation, while ensuring all metal was removed to prevent future oxidation. Each fragment was handled gently to avoid additional stress, and all work was documented with before-and-after photographs.

Work Description: Today, I continued physical processing of the Dolan Papers Collection, with a specific focus on Box 2 (Folders #228–292). This box contains historical documents dating from the late 1800s through the early 1900s, many of which highlight administrative practices, legal proceedings, and personal communications from the Texas frontier era. My primary task was to rehouse each folder into acid-free archival enclosures to promote long-term preservation and stability. I carefully labeled all new folders to reflect the original arrangement, ensuring consistency with the structure already established during earlier stages of inventory. For every item, I reviewed its contents and recorded essential metadata in the processing spreadsheet, including item type, date range, donor information, condition, and new folder location. The contents varied widely and included letters, legal records, land deeds, arrest reports, and government pamphlets, each offering valuable insight into West Texas civic and military life. Several items required special attention due to brittle paper, rusted fasteners, and fading ink; these were flagged for future conservation review. This hands-on phase reminded me how crucial physical stabilization is when working with legacy collections that carry both historical and research significance.

Work Description: Today, I officially began the physical rehousing process for the Dolan Papers Collection, starting with Box 1. This phase of work marks a shift from inventory to preservation-focused processing, and my primary objective was to ensure long-term physical stability for each item while maintaining the original order. I carefully transferred all documents from worn legal folders into acid-free, archival-quality replacements, recording detailed metadata for each item in a spreadsheet. This documentation included the item’s title or description, type, box and folder location, condition notes, and donor attribution. Along the way, I encountered several preservation challenges, such as rusted paper clips, metal brackets, and rivets. These were delicately removed and replaced with plastic archival-safe fasteners to avoid further deterioration. Oversized materials that could not be stored upright were moved into a flat archival box buffered with acid-free paper to reduce physical strain and prevent future damage. I also reconciled the contents with the previous inventory, noting missing or misidentified items and preserving original folder structure wherever possible. Every step taken today was rooted in archival best practices that balance respect for provenance with proactive preservation.

Work Description: Today, I completed the full inventory of Box 2 of 2 from the Dolan Papers Collection, marking another important milestone in my internship. Like Box 1, this box displayed visible signs of wear, including rusted brackets and aged folders, making it clear that complete rehousing into acid-free archival enclosures is necessary. Despite the physical container’s condition, the interior folders were relatively stable and contained a wealth of historically significant material. Each folder was carefully reviewed and compared against the original itemized list found in a plastic sleeve at the front of the box. The list itself was cleanly stapled and fairly accurate overall, though I did identify two discrepancies—Folder #290 (a warrant for arrest) and Folder #292 (government report excerpts) were both missing. The remaining 70 folders offered an extensive array of materials ranging from personal correspondence and legal documents to land deeds and federal certificates. Notably, many documents were donated as part of the Shipman Collection and were attributed to Mrs. L. C. Brite, with one additional contribution from Robert McNellis. Highlights included Folder #291’s certificate of election from 1888, court documents involving Captain Dolan, and a 1908 government pamphlet explaining homestead law. Together, these records provided a deeply layered portrait of Dolan’s life, encompassing his roles in frontier law enforcement, land ownership, agriculture, and civic service in West Texas and the borderlands. Even with stable content overall, the presence of handwritten and older materials warrants a closer preservation review in future phases.

Work Description: Today marked a major milestone in my internship journey as I officially submitted the completed finding aid for the Border Heritage Newspaper Clippings Collection. After weeks of detailed inventorying, rehousing fragile newsprint, and formatting the finding aid according to DACS standards, submitting the finalized product for supervisor review felt like a significant achievement. It was incredibly rewarding to see the fruits of my labor come together in a professional document that will support researchers and community members exploring the history of the border region. Working with this collection deepened my appreciation for how local journalism captures the nuance of social, political, and personal identities across time. While the photo I took today of the now-empty shelves might seem underwhelming at first glance, it actually represents hundreds of boxes I processed and the incredible amount of work completed. This project reminded me of the archival value of ephemeral materials—like newspaper clippings—that often tell stories excluded from more formal historical records. Finishing the finding aid symbolized not only the end of one archival project but the beginning of a more confident and skilled chapter in my archival development. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to the preservation of this community’s narrative memory.

Work Description: Today, I completed the final stage of inventory for the El Paso Times' Subject Newspaper Clippings Collection by processing boxes SN 2 through SV 1. This involved reviewing each folder one by one to record accurate titles, inclusive date ranges, subjects, and any special formats such as photographs, negatives, or printed brochures. The topics represented were impressively wide-ranging and reflected deep historical and social relevance. Materials addressed everything from Native American issues and federal programs to education, criminal activity, and local civic traditions. Among the most prominent and well-documented themes were decades of educational coverage, regional infrastructure, and El Paso civic celebrations such as the Sun Bowl and Sun Carnival. I ensured that each folder’s metadata was recorded with care and consistency, and I flagged visual or fragile materials for possible separate housing during the rehousing stage. By the end of the shift, I had completed physical processing for all remaining boxes in the Subjects Clippings. I ensured that everything was prepared for integration into the final collection finding aid.