Meet the Staff: Brianna Cochran

Posted on March 29, 2018 by ARIS Staff

Meet the Staff is a Q&A series on Out of the Stacks that highlights the Archives and Information Services staff of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Brianna Cochran

In 50 words or less, describe what you do.

As a new Library Assistant, my day is split between orientations and training, staffing reading rooms, and working on stacks maintenance projects. Eventually, I will be trained to assist patrons with locating research resources, and I will take on more complex stacks maintenance projects.

Why did you choose your profession?

I have always felt at home in libraries. When my single mother could not find a babysitter, she used to take me to the library with her while she studied for her associate’s degree. She studied in the adult reading room while I entertained myself in the children’s reading room. There, the children’s librarian taught me how to use an out marker and I enjoyed the satisfaction of placing a book on the shelf in its correct location. My childhood enthusiasm for libraries carried over to my home life. Enthusiastically, I created library check out cards on scraps of colored construction paper, for my personal collection of books and VHS tapes.

What is your favorite document, photo, or artifact in TSLAC’s collection?

At this point, I have a limited exposure to our vast collection, so I will probably discover new favorites as I work with more materials. However, my current favorite is our collection of newspapers on microfilm. I have selected the Houston Post from November 1, 1919, as an example.

Before working at TSLAC, I needed access to the Houston Post for personal research. The only places I could find that provided access to the out-of-print the Houston Post were Rice University in Houston and paid newspaper subscription sites, so I was not able to access the materials I needed for my project. I was excited to find out the Houston Post is at TSLAC, and I have enjoyed learning how to use microfilm.

The Houston Post. (1919, November 1)

[TSLAC also maintains institutional memberships to the Newspaper Archive and Newspapers.com Texas Collection, both available for free on-site in our Reference Reading Room located in the Lorenzo de Zavala State Library and Archives Building in Austin.]

When you’re not busy what do you like to do for fun?

I like to be in nature. Beaches are my favorite, but in Austin I like to hike nature trails. I am learning to practice mindfulness, which is accepting and noticing the present moment without judgment. Therefore, my hikes look more like walking slowly and marveling at water droplets sparkling in the sun, rather than hiking quickly for exercise. I find mindfulness helps manage stress, because it gives me a sense of power. Instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, I can make decisions about what to do in the present.

Meet the Staff : Taylor Fox

Posted on December 15, 2017 by ARIS Staff

Meet the Staff is a Q&A series on Out of the Stacks that highlights the Archives and Information Services staff of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Photograph of Taylor Fox

In 50 words or less, describe what you do.

I’m a Reference Librarian, and I answer questions from people researching or just plain curious about Texas history, government, and culture! I’m the lead for our Genealogy and Main collections, which involves identifying very old books that need maintenance and very new books to collect and make available to researchers.

Why did you choose your profession?

I was a student worker at my university’s library because I heard it was a fun place to work, and figured if I wanted to fully immerse myself in academia, I better understand how to use the library. I started in technical services, then moved to circulation, then to interlibrary loan, where I really found the heart of what libraries are all about: making information available to the public without discrimination or judgment. It’s a wonderful sentiment that speaks strongly to me, and so I pursue it!

What is your favorite document, photo, or artifact in TSLAC’s collection?

This changes over time as I’m exposed to more and more of what TSLAC has to offer, but currently my favorite publication in our collection is a periodical called The Woman’s Viewpoint. This was a female-led periodical published in Houston between 1923 and 1926 which sought to provide a space and vehicle for Texas women to share their opinions “fully, frankly, and fearlessly.” The magazine offered articles on a variety of topics which the editor considered of interest to women: government, politics, and women’s right to vote; environmental concerns; the importance of maintaining good health and recreation; and fashion, movies, music, and other cultural affairs.

Image of The Woman’s Viewpoint, Vol. 1 No. 1
Sterling, Florence M. The Woman’s viewpoint magazine. Houston: Woman’s Viewpoint Publishing Co., 1923.

One of the reasons I enjoy this periodical so much is because it’s very easy for me to think of Texas in the 1920s the way my family has described it: lots of cows, farms, and not much to do. This magazine transports me to a grander view of Texas: one of daring, educated, urban women dedicated to building strong homes and communities, with the understanding that their voices were critical to the shaping of our state and country.

When you’re not busy what do you like to do for fun?

I play guitar in a prog-rock band called Dream Eater, and enjoy writing, rehearsing, and playing shows around town; come see us! I also practice yoga regularly and occasionally try to lift weights with my husband, a guaranteed good time. My kind of fun involves eating breakfast tacos, drinking coffee, reading, jamming, and hanging out with my crazy cow-dog, Dingo.

Meet the Staff: Caroline Jones

Posted on November 17, 2017 by ARIS Staff

Meet the Staff is a Q&A series on Out of the Stacks that highlights the Archives and Information Services staff of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

In 50 words or less, describe what you do.

I assist patrons in the Reference, Genealogy, and Archives Reading Rooms in conjunction with the Reference Librarians and Reference Archivists. This includes helping patrons with searching our catalog or using our microfilm readers, and other tasks like pulling and refiling materials and processing both US and Texas documents.

Why did you choose your profession?

When I was a sophomore in college, I went to a presentation my history professors were hosting concerning professions you could pursue with a BA in history. One speaker was an archivist (who I realized when I started at TSLAC was Jelain Chubb, the current State Archivist). Prior to her talk I didn’t know much about archives and wasn’t sure what I’d do after graduation, but the possibility of handling historic documents and making them accessible for research sounded like the perfect way to use my history degree in a hands on way. I loved the idea of being able to handle historical artifacts and not just read about them second hand. After volunteering in my high school’s archive back in Dallas and working in the St. Edward’s University Munday Library, I was determined to get into this field.

What is your favorite document, photo, or artifact in TSLAC’s collection?

I don’t think I could ever choose just one! At the moment, one of my favorites is this photograph from the Graham (R. Niles) collection. I really enjoy this image because of the humor this woman has in posing with her dog. I enjoy finding these more candid images of people where they are clearly having a good time and not taking themselves too seriously. I also love animals, so I feel this woman is a kindred spirit.

1964/306-1675, Photographs, Graham (R. Niles) collection. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

When you’re not busy what do you like to do for fun?

I’m big into adult coloring books, Pilates and Barre classes, learning calligraphy, reading and writing, and binge watching shows on Netflix.

Meet the Staff: Steven Kantner

Posted on September 6, 2017 by ARIS Staff

Meet the Staff is a Q&A series on Out of the Stacks that highlights the Archives and Information Services staff of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Photo of Steven Kantner at a light table between two film reels.

In 50 words or less, describe what you do.

I oversee digitization projects for various formats in TSLAC’s holdings including photographs, documents, sound and video recordings, and motion picture film. I also prepare metadata for digitized items and manage our local file storage. In addition, I package metadata and files together for ingest into the Texas Digital Archive.

Why did you choose your profession?

The digital preservation of archival materials, especially audiovisual formats, combines my interest in media history, and history in general, with my technical skills from my previous experiences as a recording engineer and audiovisual media educator.

What is your favorite document, photo, or artifact in TSLAC’s collection?

It’s hard to choose just one. We had an interesting find recently while digitizing the original laws of Texas. We knew we were approaching the Civil War era, and upon opening the next volume in line to be digitized, the first document in the volume was the Ordinance of Secession from 1861. That pivotal moment in Texas and American history, done behind the back of Sam Houston, is documented on that one sheet of paper and was very interesting to read and handle.

Page one of the 1861 Ordiance of Secession from the Texas 8th Legislature, 1st Called Session.

An Ordinance to Dissolve the Union between the State of Texas and the Other States United Under the Compact Styled “The Constitution of the United States of America” Identifier: 08_leg_extra_ord_001

I suppose some favorites include old films we have digitized from collections such as the Texas Highway Department films and Governor Allan Shivers films. These aren’t available just yet online, but should be soon. Keep your eyes peeled.

When you’re not busy, what do you like to do for fun?

Smoking brisket or ribs; Movies; Travel; Long distance cycling.

Meet the Staff: Susan Floyd

Posted on August 8, 2017 by ARIS Staff

Meet the Staff is a Q&A series on Out of the Stacks that highlights the Archives and Information Services staff of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Photo of Susan Floyd.

In 50 words or less, describe what you do.

As an archivist, I spend most of my time processing—that is, arranging and describing—state records, along with some historical manuscript collections. I also serve as the accessions archivist and legislative records specialist, responsible for working with donors and legislators who transfer records to the state archives.

Why did you choose your profession?

I have always been interested in history; I also have a master’s in English, and I’d considered going back to get a PhD in one of those two subjects. However, after working at UT-Austin for a few years and taking a bibliography and textual studies class there with Professor Michael Winship that met at the Harry Ransom Center, I realized my calling was to work in archives to preserve records and make them accessible. So I went back to graduate school at the iSchool at UT. I’m kind of stunned that I hadn’t considered this career path earlier—I got my MSIS and first archivist job (this one!) at age 36.

What is your favorite document, photo, or artifact in TSLAC’s collection?

This is an impossible question! The two photo-engraved panoramic postcards showing the downtown square in Paris, Texas, taken after the devastating fire of 1916 are definitely special. These photos were displayed in TSLAC’s lobby gallery last year in the East Texas section of our exhibit, Wish You Were Here: Historic Postcards From Texas.

I’m from Paris, and I grew up seeing prints of these photos in people’s homes and offices; because of the fire, almost all of the buildings in our historic town center date to 1916 and still bear witness today—almost every one prominently declaring the year on its cornice or upper facade. Two of the four New Deal-funded murals by Paris native Jerry Bywaters on display in the Paris Public Library depict the fire and its aftermath. Memory of the event persists in Lamar County; last year, Paris commemorated the one hundredth anniversary of the fire.

When you’re not busy, what do you like to do for fun?

Since going back to school in 2013, I find I’m somehow always busy! In my “free” time, I’m usually watching soccer, especially Liverpool FC; studying Welsh, which I’ve been learning for the past nine months or so; cooking and trying new foods; walking or hiking, both around downtown and on Austin’s amazing trails; volunteering with the Junior League of Austin; planning my next trip; or, of course, reading—mostly nonfiction, especially history.

Meet the Staff: Andrew Glass

Posted on July 11, 2017 by ARIS Staff

Meet the Staff is a Q&A series on Out of the Stacks that highlights the Archives and Information Services staff of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Photo of library assistant Andrew Glass.

In 50 words or less, describe what you do.

I dabble in a little bit of everything that the Information Services division within ARIS has to offer. I perform stacks maintenance activities, provide patron assistance in all three of our public reading rooms, collect statistics, process incoming items, write procedures, rehouse and inventory archival items and more!

Why did you choose your profession?

As an undergraduate at the University of Texas, I worked at the now defunct Audio Visual Library. It was a great job and I loved it, but I thought I had more pressing passions. After graduating college, I moved to Washington D.C. to muck it up in politics and realized within 6 months that policy work was not for me. Falling back on my undergraduate degree, history, I crawled back to my hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas and became a high school teacher. I did this for two years. All the while eying the school librarians. Pestering them with questions. Flickers of my past life as a library employee keeping me up at night. I realized after trying my hand at other things, libraries are the place for me. I love research, patrons, collections, organization, access, preservation, digitization, older forms of media, co-workers. I like arriving to a place everyday with the goal of making it easier for a person off the street to access the wonders of the world.

What is your favorite document, photo, or artifact in TSLAC’s collection?

The items in our collection that I have the most fun perusing would have to be the City Directories. My family arrived in East Texas from Baton Rouge in the 1840s. The first appearance of my Great-Grandfather and namesake Anthony Montana Glass occurs in the Houston City Directory for 1882. He is listed as a County Cattle Inspector: Excerpt from a 1882 Houston city directory for an Anthony M. Glass.

Skipping to 1912, we find my great, great-grandfather and great uncle as neighbors on historic Hardy Street.

Excerpt from a 1912 Houston city directory showing two entries for Anthony M. Glass.

In a cruel bit of fate, the Texas and New Orleans Railroad company which my great uncle is listed as being a towerman for, would be responsible for my Great Great Grandpa’s death.

Using one of our subscription newspaper databases, I can read all about the grisly scene when an iron rod from a T. & N. O. locomotive nearly decapitated my namesake! News article titled A.M. Glass Died Result of Injurey.

When you’re not busy, what do you like to do for fun?

I watch an incredible amount of movies. I am never without a book. I ride my bicycle everywhere. I like exploring, hiking, eating. My ideal weekend would be sweating it out in the Chisos Mountains with friends enjoying cold drinks and eating meat and potatoes.

Meet the Staff: Caitlin Burhans

Posted on June 6, 2017 by ARIS Staff

Meet the Staff is a Q&A series on Out of the Stacks that highlights the Archives and Information Services (ARIS) staff of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Photo of ARIS staffer Caitlin Burhans

In 50 words or less, describe what you do.

As an Archivist I, I preserve, arrange, describe, and provide access to archival state records and manuscript collections. Since I started working at TSLAC, part of my time has been devoted to a project to humidify, flatten, index, and eventually digitize the early Texas Supreme Court case files.

Why did you choose your profession?

Archivists sometimes describe themselves as information professionals. In preserving the records of our state, I see my job as ensuring that the public has access to information about its own government and history. For me, archives are an important part of a community, and I think it’s important to work to make them more visible to all members of the community

What is your favorite document, photo, or artifact in TSLAC’s collection?

My favorite item in our collection is always whatever I’ve just found out about in the course of my processing. I’ve been working on a finding aid for the Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar papers, and I learned that we have a set of Lamar’s dueling pistols in our artifacts collection that were used at the battle of San Jacinto.

Two antique wooden and metal dueling pistols.

When you’re not busy what do you like to do for fun?

I like to explore the city—try new restaurants, walk new trails…there’s always something interesting going on in Austin. I’m also always midway through some kind of renovation project on my house, but I don’t know if I would call that fun!

Meet the Staff: Sandra Bailey

Posted on May 3, 2017 by ARIS Staff

Meet the Staff is a Q&A series on Out of the Stacks that highlights the Archives and Information Services (ARIS) staff of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

In 50 words or less, describe what you do.

I am a Reference Librarian who helps people find the information they need in person, by phone, and by letter or email. Assisting patrons can involve recommending resources and search strategies, providing instruction on using our collections including databases, and locating answers to factual questions.

Why did you choose your profession?

My Mom was working on her Bachelor’s degree in elementary education when I was a toddler, so I became her guinea pig for her early childhood development and children’s literature courses. She would read, sing, and perform finger plays for me, and she also used children’s literature to teach me science and math concepts. From my earliest memories I was always reading, singing, and learning, so naturally I developed a love of libraries. My local public library became a sanctuary for me growing up. I would spend many hours after school and on weekends browsing the stacks for books on whatever subject I was into at the time, and especially for music CDs as a teen. When I decided to pursue a career in librarianship my sophomore year in college, I learned that there is much more involved than just a love of books and reading.

What is your favorite document, photo, or artifact in TSLAC’s collection?

Right now my favorite Texas State Publication are the Department of Education (Texas Education Agency) bulletins which contain a wealth of historical information on education laws, subject curriculum, and financial and student enrollment statistics.

Photo of bound copies of Texas Department of Education bulletins on a shelf.

When you’re not busy what do you like to do for fun?

I enjoy nature and the outdoors; hiking, swimming, camping (even if I just set up our tent in the backyard), barbecuing. There are so many wonderful hiking trails and swimming holes in Austin. I do miss living close to an ocean though. I also enjoy all-day trips to parks with my husband and sons where we play games of freeze tag, sword fight, search for cloud animals and feed the ducks.

Meet the Staff: Michael Brown

Posted on April 12, 2017 by ARIS Staff

Meet the Staff is a Q&A series on Out of the Stacks that highlights the Archives and Information Services (ARIS) staff of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Photo of ARIS staffer Michael Brown.

In 50 words or less, describe what you do.

I catalog books, maps, videos, CDs, serials, and electronic publications for various collections within TSLAC. Most of what I catalog, however, are Texas Documents, which is anything published by a State agency, such as (but not limited to) the Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Historical Commission.

Why did you choose your profession?

I’ve always loved books, and in fact I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was old enough to read. I have written several novels, but I’ve never managed to conjure up the discipline to shop them around for publication. I hope that will change someday.

One of my first jobs out of high school was at Waldenbooks, where I sold books for 5 years. After that, I helped open and operate a science fiction and fantasy bookstore in Albuquerque called The Word Farm. After that, I got my first library job at the University of New Mexico opening mail for the Director of Acquisitions and Serials, Fran Wilkinson. It was Fran who eventually convinced me to go to library school, which is how I ended up in Austin.

Of all the different library divisions I could have chosen, cataloging is my favorite, not only for the deeply technical aspects of metadata and the decisions that go into making our material “discoverable” by the world, but also because of the proximity to the material itself. I touch and examine every single item that comes across my desk. It is that connection to the material that satisfies my love of the printed word.

What is your favorite document, photo, or artifact in TSLAC’s collection?

I think perhaps my favorite document that I’ve cataloged is from my early days here, and it is an archaeological excavation report called Relocation of the Craddock Cemetery, 41BP581, Three Oaks Mine, Bastrop County, Texas by Solveig A. Turpin and Leland C. Bement. (Call # H2000.8 B297CR 2002) The reason I find this report so interesting is because the man whose grave they relocated (William Craddock) was murdered in 1875 by cattle rustlers who were angry at him for identifying them to the local authorities. They ambushed him on his way home and shot him. When the grave was unearthed in 2002, the buckshot that killed him was still there in the grave with his bones. The archaeologists moved the buckshot along with Craddock’s remains to the new grave site.

My favorite non-book item in our collection, however, is probably the Journeay violin. I am a fan of violin in general, and I do love the story behind this one, which you can read on the TSLAC website: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/lobbyexhibits/mier

When you are not busy what do you like to do for fun?

I’m usually busy at home either writing, reading, undertaking household repairs, building things out of wood, playing guitar/piano, jogging, or trying to remember what I was taught in Tai Chi.

If I’m not trying to create something, then I am spending time with my amazing wife, Melissa and my incredible sons, Julien and Gabriel. I spend the rest of my time spoiling our 11-year-old Jack Russell terrier, Emma, or being mildly perturbed by the stray cat who has been hanging out on our porch for four years now. I don’t know why he’s still around, although perhaps it’s because I keep feeding him.

Out of the Stacks

A blog from the Archives and Information Services Division at TSLAC

Tag Archives: #meetthestaff

Meet the Staff: Brianna Cochran

Meet the Staff : Taylor Fox

Meet the Staff: Caroline Jones

Meet the Staff: Steven Kantner

Meet the Staff: Susan Floyd

Meet the Staff: Andrew Glass

Meet the Staff: Caitlin Burhans

Meet the Staff: Sandra Bailey

Meet the Staff: Michael Brown