Themes, Tensions, and Community Stories: Deep Dive into Subject Clippings - 3JUN2025 1000-1800 - Supervisor: Claudia Romero

Work Description: Today, I made significant progress in processing the El Paso Times’ Subject Newspaper Clippings Collection, concentrating on boxes SG 6 through SM 20 and SN 1. Each box was carefully reviewed for folder titles, inclusive dates, and special materials, such as photographic negatives and rare ephemera. The subjects documented across these folders were impressively diverse, with themes ranging from graduation ceremonies and community celebrations to pressing topics like immigration, military activity, and public policy. Notably, I came across El Paso High School graduation clippings dating back to 1947, material about the Holocaust Memorial Museum, and folders documenting NASA’s space projects. Other impactful themes included migrant labor, discrimination cases, and even disturbing clippings about local Ku Klux Klan activity during the 1950s. Each folder’s content and chronological range were verified and logged, with fragile or unusual formats flagged for potential rehousing. This careful tracking is helping prepare the groundwork for the finding aid and ensures that significant content like the “Juarez” and “Murder” series can be fully traced and cross-referenced later.

Reflection: As I continued the inventory process, I began building descriptive summaries and identifying keywords to support future access and research. The richness of content stood out—especially how certain subjects, like Hispanic heritage, international affairs, and law enforcement, reappear across multiple folders and decades. I flagged materials that included visual content, like photographs and negatives, for special handling and separate storage consideration. The repetitive nature of certain topics emphasized how archival materials capture evolving social conversations over time. One of the highlights of today was recognizing how the physical scope of the collection is finally becoming more visible, as box after box is processed and positioned for access. This work has reinforced my understanding of descriptive consistency and intellectual control in legacy collections. By recognizing overlapping themes and inconsistencies, I’m learning how to navigate complex organizational structures and maintain accessibility for future users. Each folder reveals not only historical facts but also the emotional and cultural weight that archives carry.

Definitions:

• Ephemera – Transitory written or printed items, often meant for short-term use, like flyers or brochures, that gain value over time through historical context.
  • Intellectual control – The process of organizing and describing materials to ensure users can locate and understand archival content accurately.
  • Inclusive dates – The earliest and latest dates that span the contents of a folder, box, or collection.

Summary of Work Completed:

Boxes Processed:

• SG 6–SG 9: Graduation clippings (1947–1996), Graphic Arts Society, Guadalupe Mountains, graffiti, tourist centers, Guatemala Earthquakes
• SH 1–SH 11: Habitat for Humanity, Holocaust Museum, homelessness, hurricane coverage, Hispanic heritage
• SI 1–SI 6: Immigration and Naturalization, gambling, insurance, IRS, internet, Iran, Iraq, Israel
• SJ 1–SJ 7: Jazz festivals, Juarez (multiple entries), judges, justice reform, Job Corps
• SK 1–SK 4: El Paso broadcast stations (KASK, KOYE), Kennedy assassination, Ku Klux Klan (1953)
• SL 1–SL 11: Labor laws, Las Cruces issues, literacy, Led Zeppelin, low rider shows
• SM 1–SM 20 / SN 1: Marijuana, Medicaid, migrant workers, Metallica, murder cases, NASA, military, museums

Notes:

• Unique formats (e.g., negatives, photographs) flagged for special housing
• Cross-referencing noted for repeated themes like “Juarez,” “Hispanic Heritage,” and “Military”