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#3 | SEPTEMBER 2026

WELCOME TO THE

Archivists of the Houston Area Quarterly Newsletter Notes from the President

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Hi Hi! AHA President here I’m Ely Jasso, your 2026 AHA President. By day, I’m a Technical Librarian at the Lunar and Planetary Institute, working with everything from cataloging and special collections to digitization and library operations. Outside of archives, you can usually find me doing aerial arts, riding my motorcycle, or at home with my six cats. One thing I’ve loved seeing this year is AHA members showing up beyond Houston. We had a great Houston presence at SSA in Waco this spring, and more recently, several of our members made their way to SAA in New Orleans. Staying active in the profession outside of our own city gives us the opportunity to learn from other communities, build relationships with colleagues and institutions, and bring new ideas and perspectives back home. It also reminds me how valuable it is to have such an active professional community waiting for us here in Houston. And that community is only as strong as the people who choose to participate in it! We are always looking for new people and new perspectives to help shape what AHA can be. Whether that means joining a committee, suggesting a program, volunteering at an event, sharing your expertise, or finding your own passion for service within our archival community, there is room for you here. Please feel free to reach out to me directly on Discord or at houstonarchives@gmail.com, if you would like to chat about anything AHA. Thank you for continuing to show up for AHA, for one another, and for Houston’s archival community. I’m excited to see what we accomplish together through the rest of the year.

Ely Jasso President, Archivists of the Houston Area

#3 | SEPTEMBER 2026

AHA! Fall 2026 Calendar SEPTEMBER AUTUMN AHA! SOCIAL FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 @ 6:30 PM | TRUCK YARD (2118 LAMAR ST) Catch up with other AHA! members at our autumn social! Feel free to grab a bite, have a drink, or just chill!

RSVP HERE

OCTOBER: ARCHIVES MONTH! Each October, AHA! joins the national archival community in celebrating American Archives Month by hosting a slate of events designed to support, promote, & celebrate archival work in Houston.

SEE THE FULL EVENT LINEUP ON THE NEXT PAGE

DECEMBER END OF YEAR PARTY SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5 @ 12 PM | PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY Celebrate everything AHA! has accomplished in 2026 and enjoy a visit to PVAMU’s John B. Coleman Library!

RSVP COMING SOON

END OF YEAR BUSINESS MEETING & ELECTIONS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9 @ 12 PM | ZOOM All members are encouraged to join this meeting to vote for AHA! Board members for the 2027 term.

ZOOM LINK

#3 | SEPTEMBER 2026

ARCHIVES MONTH SAT

OCTOBER 2026

ARCHIVES BLITZ 10 AM-2 PM | Lunar and Planetary Institute Library Help us digitize and inventory maps held by the Galveston County Historical Museum.

SAT

COLLECTION HIGHLIGHT AT THE MENIL 11 AM-12:30 PM | The Menil Collection Associate Librarian Donna Török-Oberholtzer will highlight some of the rare and unique treasures at the Menil Collection.

THU

ARCHIVES ON TAP: DOCUMENTING TEXAS CRAFT BREWING 6-7:30 PM | Saint Arnold Brewing Company Enjoy a brew at the oldest craft brewery in Texas while hearing from Travis Williams, archivist of the Texas Craft Brewing Collection at St. Edward’s University.

FRI

SPOOKY STORIES FROM THE STACKS 12-1 PM | Zoom Get into the Halloween spirit as we share paranormal experiences and haunted histories we’ve gathered from our repositories.

SUBMIT A STORY

ZOOM LINK

#3 | SEPTEMBER 2026

Board News UPCOMING VOTE ON BY-LAWS AMENDMENT The Board of the Archivists of the Houston Area (AHA!) proposes to amend the organization’s by-laws by appending Article X: Administration and Governance and its subsequent sections. In accordance with Article VII of the by-laws, the by-laws may be amended only at the End-of-Year member meeting by a two-thirds majority vote of those members present, provided that the membership is notified of the proposed amendment(s) at least three weeks prior to the End-of-Year member meeting. This notice, being shared with the general membership via newsletter, email, and website on September 1, 2026, serves as the official notification of the proposed amendment. All AHA! members are invited to vote on the proposed amendment during the End-of-Year member meeting, which is scheduled on Wednesday, December 9, 2026.

START OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT Article X: Administration and Governance Section 1: Professional Standards and Continuity Planning A. Authority to Establish Rules and Regulations. The Board of the Archivists of the Houston Area (the “Board”) shall have the authority to establish, maintain, and amend a set of supplemental Rules and Regulations. These rules shall govern the professional operations of the Organization, ensuring the long-term sustainability of its mission. The purpose of the Rules and Regulations is to enable the AHA Board to make governance decisions on an expedited timeline. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

#3 | SEPTEMBER 2026

Board News B. Continuity and Succession Planning. The Board shall develop and execute a comprehensive Continuity and Succession Plan to be included in the Rules and Regulations. This plan must address, at a minimum: • Emergency Succession: Procedures for the immediate appointment of interim leadership in the event of a vacancy in any elected or appointed position. • Planned Transition: A formal process for identifying, recruiting, and onboarding successors for any elected or appointed position. • Operational Continuity: Protocols to ensure the uninterrupted programming and maintenance of administrative, legal, and financial obligations during periods of transition. C. Review and Execution. The Continuity and Succession Plan shall be reviewed and updated by the Board as needed to ensure it reflects current organizational needs. The Board is authorized to delegate the development of these standards to a standing or ad hoc committee, or a sole individual, provided the final execution is approved by a majority vote of the Board. END OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT

CLICK HERE TO VIEW A REVIEW COPY OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS DOCUMENT THAT THE PROPOSED BY-LAW AMENDMENT WOULD AUTHORIZE, IF PASSED.

#3 | SEPTEMBER 2026

Board News NOMINATIONS FOR AHA! BOARD OFFICERS NOW OPEN Nominate yourself or someone you know to serve as an Officer on the AHA! Board in 2027! Serving with the Board offers a low barrier of entry for archives professionals at any stage in their career to: Boost your resume with professional service Build community and network Develop leadership and collaboration skills We’re seeking nominations for Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Learn more about each role and its responsibilities on the next page! Don’t want to run for an Officer position but still want to get a bit more involved? Consider joining one of our committees as a member or Chair! With the exception of the Membership Chair/Treasurer, Committee Chairs are appointed by the President rather than elected, and they can begin their term at any time during the year. However, they are expected to finish serving in their position until the end of the calendar year. If you’re interested in serving on a committee as a Chair or member, please reach out to houstonarchives@gmail.com. All AHA! members are invited to vote for Board officer positions during the Endof-Year Business Meeting, which will be held virtually on Zoom on Wednesday, December 16, 2026.

ACCESS THE NOMINATION FORM HERE

#3 | SEPTEMBER 2026

Board News

VICEPRESIDENT/ PRESIDENT ELECT

Assumes presidential duties in the absence of the President Offers assistance to President as needed Coordinates Archives Month activities The Vice-President is the President-Elect for the next calendar year

SECRETARY

Takes meeting minutes Maintains current by-laws Responsible for depositing AHA! records at the Woodson Research Center at Rice University

TREASURER

Chair of the Membership Committee Oversees funds and receives dues Maintains the membership rolls Prepares financial report for general membership meetings

OLD, WEIRD, HOUSTON ARCHIVES BAZAAR STEERING COMMITTEE

Plans and organizes the biennial Archives Bazaar by coordinating logistics, outreach, and programming; collaborates to create an engaging public event that highlights the diversity and importance of archival collections and professionals in AHA’s service area

#3 | SEPTEMBER 2026

Exhibit Highlight WE THE PEOPLE: EXAMINING THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE UH LGBT HISTORY RESEARCH COLLECTION

Written by Joyce Gabiola, University of Houston Libraries, Special Collections Since this past January, hundreds of University of Houston students, faculty, staff, donors, visiting researchers, community organizations, and members of the public have engaged with an exhibit of LGBTQ history at UH titled, We the People: Exploring the American Experience through the UH Libraries LGBT History Research Collection. The “We the People” theme was inspired by that of Houston’s 1981 Gay Pride Week, along with a quote from Larry Bagneris, Jr., the planning committee chairperson, in his letter published in the Pride Guide 1981: “In times like these, it is necessary to examine the American Experience, see what it means to each of us, work to [ensure] that it continues; and live that experience to the fullest.“

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#3 | SEPTEMBER 2026

Exhibit Highlight The exhibit showcases unique or rare materials from the 1940s through the 2000s. It represents just a sliver of the LGBT History Research Collection through eight “panels” covering different topics: LGBTQ history on campus, the historic Town Meeting I, privacy, family, under-documented organizations, addressing gaps in the collection through publications, non-paper items, and student research engagement. The exhibit was developed with affect (or emotions) in mind; specifically considering the role and impact of affect on the research experience, knowledge production, archival work, and curatorial decisions. A particular highlight of the exhibit is a small set of Polaroid photographs from the JAG Photographic Collection that features candid and posed moments from the social lives and relationship of Jay Hollenburger, Art Slaughter, and Gary Grether. There is also an “interactive” part of the exhibit, which is the Community Libraries Reading Nook with two seats, ottomans and a short bookcase featuring selections from the UH LGBT Resource Center Lending Library Collection. The We the People exhibit is located on the UH Central Campus, on the first floor of the MD Anderson Library. It runs through December 2026.

UH Libraries’ We the People Exhibition Reception Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2026 Time: 5:30 PM (doors open) | 6:00-7:30 PM (program) Venue: UH Central, MD Anderson Library, Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion, 2nd Floor Speaker: In conversation with Larry Bagneris, Jr., founder of Houston’s Pride Parade and author of Call Me Larry: A Creole Man’s Triumph over Racism and Homophobia Hors d’oeuvres will be served, including a few vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.

#3 | SEPTEMBER 2026

Collection Highlight JAG PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION

Written by Kevin Kinney and Joyce Gabiola, University of Houston Libraries, Special Collections University of Houston Libraries’ Special Collections is home to the JAG Photographic Collection, which contains approximately 10,000 Polaroid photographs and 192 slides documenting the personal and social lives of John “Jay” Hollenburger, Jr., Arthur “Art” Slaughter, and Gary Grether, a Houstonbased “throuple” who were in a relationship for more than 20 years, as well as their families, friends, and acquaintances. Within their social circle, Jay, Art, and Gary were collectively known as “JAG,” bringing together the initials of their first names. A logo displaying these letters is shown in many photographs in the collection.

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#3 | SEPTEMBER 2026

Collection Highlight: JAG PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION The collection begins in 1964, shortly after Jay and Art met at Rice University and became a couple soon after. Gary makes his first appearance in the collection in December 1969 during a Christmas party; he officially joined the relationship by spring 1970. The three stayed together from then on until January 1990, when Gary died from AIDS complications, followed by Art, who also died from AIDS complications in April 1995. The photographs and slides document a broad range of gatherings primarily held at JAG’s residences in Houston, including birthday and dinner parties, holiday celebrations, game nights, and family visits. Also shown are their vacations to places such as San Diego, New York, Vancouver, London, Acapulco, and Rio de Janeiro. The collection also documents LGBTQ+ events such as Houston’s Follyball and “fly-ins,” special biannual gatherings organized by Gamma Mu, a fraternity of gay professionals of which JAG were members. Almost every photograph contains dates, people’s names, and brief descriptions of events or locations on the reverse. The JAG Photographic Collection is a highlight of one of UH Special Collections’ key collecting areas: LGBT History. This unique collection could be a resource for numerous avenues of research, including the social lives and family dynamics among wealthy, educated, gay men in Houston before the AIDS crisis; the Cherryhurst Park area in Montrose; 1960s-1980s fashion; and the use of instant film. Through JAG’s extensive social network, we have already identified multiple social and historical connections within Houston’s broader community. UH Libraries’ Special Collections believes researchers from across the United States will find the JAG collection to be an abundant resource.

WANT TO HIGHLIGHT YOUR REPOSITORY OR COLLECTION IN THE NEXT AHA! NEWSLETTER?

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#3 | SEPTEMBER 2026

Professional Development Opportunities THE ROWING HISTORY PROJECT: A CASE STUDY IN DIGITIZING COLLECTIONS

SEPTEMBER 24 | VIRTUAL | FREE ARCHIVES & GENAI: NAVIGATING A CHANGING LANDSCAPE

LEARN MORE

NORTHEAST DOCUMENT CONSERVATION CENTER GRANT WRITING FOR COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION

OCTOBER 27 | VIRTUAL | FREE WET SALVAGE FOR HOME AND COMMUNITY COLLECTIONS

NOVEMBER 2 | VIRTUAL | FREE DIGITAL PRESERVATION IN THE CLOUD: STRATEGIES, COSTS AND GOOD PRACTICES NOVEMBER 11 & 18 | VIRTUAL

LEARN MORE

#3 | SEPTEMBER 2026

H-Town Trivia In December 1842, Sam Houston, President of the Republic of Texas, sent a military company to Austin to remove the then-national archives and bring them to the city of Houston. President Houston claimed that this was to protect the archives from Mexican capture, while others feared it was an attempt to make the city of Houston the nation’s capital. The Houston company were soon apprehended by Austin soldiers and the archives were returned to Austin on New Year’s Eve. Who was the woman who fired the first cannon at the Houston rangers as they were loading up the last of the archives into their wagons?

EMAIL US THE ANSWER TO GET A SHOUTOUT IN OUR NEXT ISSUE! Shoutout to Kevin Kinney at University of Houston Libraries Special Collections for answering our last trivia question correctly!

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thanks for reading!!