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.
In addition to completing Box 2, I also documented several oversized materials that were removed from the main folders due to size and fragility concerns. These documents included muster rolls, arrest statements, and payroll records from the Frontier Battalion, primarily dating to the late 1870s. Though they were not physically housed within Box 2, all six items were accounted for according to the original inventory. Items numbered #222, #225–227, and #269–269a each provided unique insight into the administrative and operational aspects of Captain Dolan’s service with Company F. Their large format and brittle paper surfaces require flat storage and possible conservation treatment, especially considering their historical value. These oversized materials help round out the narrative captured in the main boxes, offering institutional records that complement the personal correspondence and legal papers. Many items detailed Dolan’s professional connections with law firms, military units, and community leaders across Texas. Receipts, tax forms, land deeds, and legal letters also traced the expansion of Dolan’s property and responsibilities over the decades. Now that both boxes have been inventoried and reviewed, I am preparing to draft the intellectual arrangement and outline the thematic and chronological groupings for the finding aid. As always, my notes include observations on condition, labeling discrepancies, and original order preservation. Today was long but deeply rewarding—I feel that I’ve gained an even fuller view of Captain Dolan’s historical significance and the archival steps needed to safeguard his legacy for future researchers.
Reflection: Completing the inventory of the Dolan Papers Collection has given me a newfound appreciation for the power of personal archives to tell rich, multifaceted stories. With each folder I opened, I found myself stepping deeper into the world of Captain Patrick Dolan—a world that spanned frontier justice, land development, political service, and community leadership. What struck me most was how interconnected everything was: military orders overlapped with legal disputes, family correspondence touched on civic issues, and receipts and deeds painted a picture of sustained personal and professional growth. The presence of oversized items further highlighted the administrative weight of Dolan’s service and the care needed to preserve such fragile yet essential documents. From identifying missing records to stabilizing brittle papers, this experience challenged my attention to detail and deepened my understanding of conservation priorities. It also reminded me that archives are not static—they are built through interpretation, stewardship, and empathy. I’m excited to take everything I’ve learned so far and begin translating it into a structured, accessible, and respectful finding aid that captures both the content and context of this incredible collection.
Definitions:
- Oversized materials – Archival documents that exceed standard folder or box dimensions and require flat or special storage methods to ensure preservation.
- Shipman Collection – A donation group that includes documents originally gathered or preserved by third-party contributors such as Mrs. L. C. Brite or Robert McNellis, often forming part of a larger archival collection.
Summary of Work Completed:
- Completed full inventory of Box 2 (Folders #228–292) from the Dolan Papers Collection.
- Carefully reviewed itemized list and noted presence, content themes, and preservation needs.
- Logged 2 missing folders (#290 and #292) and confirmed multiple donor attributions.
- Documented six oversized items, including muster rolls and arrest documents.
- Prepared all folders for rehousing and continued preservation flagging.
📂 Total Folders Inventoried: 72
📜 Oversized Items Logged: 6
⚠️ Preservation Needs: Rehousing due to rust and wear; note the degradation of handwritten and legal documents. Paperclips and staples will be removed during the final conservation process.
Next Steps:
- Begin drafting the intellectual arrangement and themes for the Dolan Papers finding aid.
- Continue documenting conservation concerns and rehousing efforts.
- Review oversized materials for future digitization or conservation prioritization.
Box 2 of the Dolan Papers Collection continues the expansive documentation of Captain Patrick Dolan’s life and career. Containing more than 70 folders of legal, personal, and government documents, this box helps tell the story of civic leadership and land stewardship in 19th-century West Texas. Like Box 1, it will be fully rehoused in acid-free folders and reviewed for long-term preservation planning.
The oversized items in the Dolan Papers Collection include original muster rolls, arrest reports, and payroll records from the 1870s Frontier Battalion. Due to their large format and fragile condition, these documents are stored separately from the boxed folders and will require conservation-friendly flat housing. These rare materials provide unique insight into the military, administrative, and law enforcement structure of the Texas borderlands in the post-Civil War era.