Archival Awards 2020
Call for Nominations for Archival Awards of Excellence, Advocacy, and Distinguished Service
Deadline: August 10
The Texas Historical Records Advisory Board (THRAB) is pleased to announce an expanded awards program for 2020. In addition to the Archival Award of Excellence for an individual and institution, THRAB seeks nominations for the Advocacy for Archives Award and a Distinguished Service Award. Organizations, individuals, programs, and institutions are all eligible for the new honors. Send nomination packets to THRAB coordinator Jelain Chubb at the address below by August 10, 2020. THRAB announces award recipients as part of Texas Archives Month celebrations in October.
Advocacy for Archives Award acknowledges an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to ensure the preservation and availability of the historical record of Texas.
Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual, archival institution, education program, or nonprofit/government organization that has provided outstanding leadership, service or contribution to the archives profession in Texas.
Archival Award of Excellence recognizes significant achievements in preserving and improving access to historical records in any format by a Texas archival institution and individual achievements.
For institutions: All Texas institutions responsible for archival records that provide public access to at least a portion of their collection are eligible. Achievements include recent projects and/or on-going programs that build collections, enhance access to archives, develop effective digitization programs, or implement preservation strategies.
For individuals: An archivist or individual who has made an outstanding contribution in the areas of management, preservation, access, advocacy, or use of historical records in Texas. Nominees must have accomplished the work within the state of Texas during the five years preceding the year in which the award is presented. Current THRAB members are not eligible.
Nomination Process: Submit a complete nomination packet to THRAB coordinator Jelain Chubb. Nomination packets include the appropriate award nomination form, a statement of work accomplished, two letters of support and any supporting materials.
Nomination Forms:
Send nominations via email to thrab@tsl.texas.gov or U.S. mail to: Jelain Chubb / ATTN: THRAB Awards / Texas State Library and Archives Commission / PO Box 12927 / Austin, TX 78701
Archival Award of Excellence 2019
The Texas Historical Records Advisory Board (THRAB) is pleased to announce that the C.L. Sonnichsen Special Collections at the University of Texas at El Paso Library and Brenda Lincke Fisseler, former volunteer with Lavaca County, have been chosen to receive the 2019 Archival Award of Excellence. The award recognizes significant achievements in preserving and improving access to historical records in any format by a Texas archival institution and individual.
“This year’s recipients serve as stellar examples of how dedication and ingenuity can help ensure that archival records are not only preserved, but made even more useful for future generations,” said Jelain Chubb, State Archivist and the board’s coordinator.
The board selected the C.L. Sonnichsen Special Collections at the University of Texas at El Paso Library as the recipient for the award in the institutional category for their Casasola Project. With the Casasola Project, Special Collections personnel employ crowdsourcing to help identify unnamed individuals featured in the images from their Casasola Studio photograph collection. Not only does the collection of photos highlight the people and culture of Texas, but the Library has enhanced the value of the images by partnering with the community for biographical and historical information. In so doing, members of the general public have contributed narrative context to the collection and connected personal history with the greater purpose of archives work.
Catholic Youth Organization Golden Gloves Boxing Team, PH041-10-00111, circa 1955. More than 40 people called to identify individuals in this Casasola Studio photo when it appeared in the El Paso Times. Courtesy of C.L. Sonnichsen Special Collections, University of Texas at El Paso Library.
THRAB selected Brenda Lincke Fisseler as the recipient for the award in the individual category for her extensive work with Lavaca County records. Ms. Fisseler helped coordinate an initiative to rescue, preserve, properly house and facilitate access to historical records documenting the county that led to the creation of the Lavaca County Archives. She has demonstrated the enormous impact one individual may have on preserving our collective history.
Past Recipients:
2018
Institution: Special Collections, University Libraries , University of North Texas (Denton, TX)
Morgan Gieringer, Head, Special Collections at UNT Libraries and THRAB member Linda Barrett at the 2018 DFW Archives Bazaar. Barrett presented the Archival Award of Excellence to Gieringer for their NBC5/KXAS (WBAP) Television News Archive Project.
2017