Preserving Priority Boxes: Rehousing and Subject Inventory Work - 2JUN2025 1000-1800 - Supervisor: Claudia Romero

Work Description: Today, I began work on a special subproject involving ten boxes of newspaper clippings that were pre-selected by the El Paso Historical Society for priority preservation. These boxes were pulled from the main basement wall collections and included mixed content from both the Peoples and Subjects series. Each box required immediate attention due to age and physical condition, so I carefully rehoused all ten into archival-grade storage boxes, labeling them Box 1 through Box 10 to distinguish them from the alpha-numeric series. I preserved the existing folder order to maintain provenance and ensured that contents were stabilized in acid-free folders. These materials covered a variety of topics including Providence Memorial Hospital, El Paso murals, KEPO-TV, Helen of Troy Company, the San Elizario Historical Society, and Downtown Development initiatives. Some boxes also contained mixed formats or groupings—such as folders combining an individual with a subject theme—which I kept together to preserve original context. In addition to labeling the exterior of each box, I also documented folder titles, inclusive date ranges (1940s–1996), and associated themes in an accompanying inventory for future reference.

Reflection: In addition to the rehousing work, I resumed the ongoing inventory of the main Subject Clippings Collection, progressing through boxes SC 28 through SF 11. I recorded folder titles and themes, noted the date ranges, and flagged any folders that showed signs of fragility or deterioration. Notable themes included public education, local health services, urban renewal initiatives, and cultural festivals. This dual-track approach—balancing preservation needs with detailed metadata creation—reminded me how dynamic archival work can be. The pre-selected boxes demonstrated how legacy decisions shape modern access; some materials were grouped in ways that would not align with today’s descriptive practices, but they still offer valuable research potential. I also found that older labeling systems often reflect outdated terminology or lack clear date markers, which prompted me to think more critically about how to enhance discoverability without erasing context. While the physical work was intensive, it was rewarding to see immediate improvement in storage conditions and clarity. I’m excited to continue with the SF series and look forward to completing the subject inventory over the next few days.

Definitions:

• Provenance – The principle of preserving records in their original order or grouping based on origin to maintain contextual meaning.
• Rehousing – The process of transferring archival materials into preservation-safe containers to prevent deterioration.
• Inclusive date range – The span of years represented by the documents or clippings within a collection or folder.

Summary of Work Completed:

• Rehoused ten historically prioritized boxes from the Border Heritage Newspaper Clippings Collection, now labeled Box 1–10.
• Retained original folder order and documented folder titles, topics, and inclusive dates for each.
• Topics included:
  • Providence Memorial Hospital
  • KEPO-TV and local media
  • San Elizario Historical Society
  • El Paso murals and Downtown Development
  • Helen of Troy and business growth
• Continued Subject Clippings Collection inventory from SC 28 through SF 11.
• Recorded themes, verified box labels, and flagged damaged or mislabeled folders.

In Progress:

• Inventory of additional Subject Clippings (SF 12 onward).
• Supervisor verification of historically pulled boxes.