From Clippings to Correspondence: Finishing the El Paso Times’ Newspaper Clippings Collection and Beginning the Dolan Papers - 10JUN2025 1000-1800 - Supervisor: Claudia Romero

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.

Immediately after submitting the El Paso Times’ Newspaper Clippings Collection finding aid, I began work on a new project: processing the Dolan Papers Collection, which includes two document boxes and three oversized items. This collection focuses on Captain Patrick Dolan, a prominent figure in the Texas Rangers and Frontier Battalion during the late 19th century. Today, I began inventorying Box 1, which spans folders #176 to #223, and discovered a wide range of historically significant documents. The box itself was worn, and many of the folders were held together by rusted brackets or degraded materials, requiring immediate attention and rehousing. A plastic-sleeved inventory sheet fastened with a rusty staple served as my starting point, though it became clear that the content list included missing items and labeling inconsistencies. Nevertheless, I identified unique documents such as Civil War-era correspondence, U.S. Army discharge papers, Customs Inspector certificates, and even unpublished memoirs of Captain Dolan. Several items, like those in folders #195 and #211, were extremely brittle, prompting me to transfer them into a flat archival box for stabilization. Throughout the process, I recorded preservation concerns and condition notes while comparing original inventory entries with actual folder contents to guide the upcoming finding aid.

Reflection: Crossing the finish line with the El Paso Times’ Newspaper Clippings Collection finding aid and starting the Dolan Papers Collection on the same day was an emotional and intellectual turning point for me. Submitting the completed finding aid felt like a true culmination of everything I’ve learned so far—about structure, accuracy, and honoring the integrity of the materials I’ve worked so closely with. It also reminded me of how archival work goes beyond organizing boxes; it’s about facilitating access to stories that shape community memory. Beginning the Dolan Papers immediately afterward helped me transition into the mindset of long-term preservation and deeper historical context. The differences between these two collections—newspaper clippings and 19th-century manuscripts—have already expanded my technical skills and broadened my archival vocabulary. I found myself problem-solving in real time: identifying rust damage, deciphering mislabeled folders, and making decisions about rehousing without disturbing original order. More than anything, today reinforced the importance of adaptability and attention to detail. As I move into the next phase of this internship, I feel more confident not just as a student, but as an emerging professional in the archival field.

Definitions:

• Ephemera – Materials that were originally meant to be short-lived (e.g., newspaper clippings), but are preserved for their historical or cultural value.
• Rehousing – The process of transferring archival materials into new, stable containers to improve preservation and accessibility.

Summary of Work Completed:

• Submitted the completed finding aid for the Border Heritage Newspaper Clippings Collection to the supervisor for review.
• Completed final documentation and inventory alignment.
• Began inventory of the Dolan Papers Collection (Box 1, Folders #176–223), noting presence, condition, and archival needs.

Observations:

• Box 1 exhibited signs of aging, with rusted brackets and fragile folders that needed immediate preservation.
• The original itemized inventory sheet was stapled and housed in plastic sleeves, but contained errors and missing entries.
• Several folders were extremely fragile and removed to a flat box for long-term storage.

Significant Items Identified:

• Folder #191: “Last Battle of the War” dated May 13, 1865.
• Folder #207: U.S. Army discharge papers (1865), originally misidentified.
• Folder #210: Unpublished memoirs of Captain Patrick Dolan.
• Folder #215: Official letter confirming appointment as a Customs Inspector (1868).
• Folder #217: Texas Rangers Company F officer list (1877–1878).

Missing Folders:

• #176–180, #212–213, #218–220, #222

Fragile and Rehoused Items:

• Folders #195, 211, 214, 215

Next Steps:

• Inventory Box 2 and assess the oversized items for content and condition.
• Recommend preservation actions for rust-damaged or brittle documents.
• Begin drafting arrangement and description notes for the finding aid.