In this issue: Digital Archives FAQ, Part 2; Preservation Processes – Rehousing the Houston Forward Times Newspapers; Adinkra Symbols: Sankofa; The Power of Memory & History: Why Our Stories Must Be Preserved Now More Than Ever
Digital Archives FAQ, Part 2
Emmalee Miller l Digitization Technician
One of my responsibilities is answering the reproduction requests that the African American History Research Center receives. Since my last article about the Houston Public Library Digital Archive (HPLDA) there have been some changes to the website. Here are some answers to some additional common questions I’ve received, along with updated information about how to access this valuable resource.
1. The website changed; how can I access the digital archive now?
a. You can access the digital archive by going to www.houstonlibrary.org, typing in your search topic, selecting Digital Archive from the drop-down menu, and then clicking the search button.
b. If you want to browse by collection, go to www.houstonlibrary.org. Click on Research and select Digital Archives, then scroll down and select African American History.
2. I cannot access the Reproduction and Permission form as the Reproduction/Copyright page no longer exists. How can I access it from the Houston Public Library website?
a. You can access the form directly at this hyperlink.
b. Or select Get Help at the top of the Houston Public Library website. Click on the drop-down arrow next to “Collections, Archives & Research.”
i. Select “Historical Photograph Reproductions.”
3. When I do a search, I am mostly seeing funeral programs, newspapers, and newsletters. How can I filter those out of my results?
a. On the left side of the screen, there is a box titled “Collections.”
i. Uncheck the boxes next to: African American Funeral Programs, Antioch Baptist Church Way Collection, Houston Forward Times Collection, and Houston Informer.
ii. Then click on the “Update” button at the bottom of the Collections box.
4. What is the email for the African American History Research Center?
a. All reference questions should be sent to: hpl.gregoryschool@houstontx.gov.
b. All reproduction requests and photo reference questions should be sent to: hpl.gregoryphoto@houstontx.gov.
Have fun exploring HPLDA and learning more about Houston’s wealth of Black History!
Preservation Processes – Rehousing the Houston Forward Times Newspapers
Victoria Alvarenga | Archivist I/Processing Archivist
One of our major long-term projects at AAHRC is the digitization of the Houston Forward Times newspaper. While we do have a selection of microfilm reels of this and other newspapers, having a format that can reach a wider audience is essential to share our mission of preserving and showcasing the history of Black Houstonians. As one team diligently edits files and makes the text readable, the last step in the process isn’t uploading items to the digital archive, but rather when we rehouse and preserve the original copies.
Like our other newspaper collections, the Houston Forward Times was a weekly serial rather than a daily publication, and each issue is dated on Saturdays. It was established by Julius P. Carter in 1960 and succeeded by his wife, Lenora Carter, upon his death in 1971. At that point, the newspaper was the third most popular publication in Houston and reported on both local and national news.
We have thirty-four bound volumes of the Houston Forward Times, spanning from 1961 to 1979, with a few duplicates, and several boxes of unbound issues from the 1980s. We don’t have scales to get the exact weights, but I would say the volumes generally weigh about thirty pounds or more, before the rehousing process adds an extra two to three pounds. These books are so thick that the issues are screwed together, in addition to the normal bookbinding process.
Even with the best preservation efforts, newspaper materials are extremely sensitive to damage, and the paper itself is guaranteed to disintegrate over time. The edges of the newspapers would crumble even with gentle handling, and many volumes were exposed to water or liquid damage, which resulted in stains and even severe mold growth. One of the more unfortunate forms of damage is the holes in both the paper and volume covers, caused by insects eating away at the materials. With the compounding types of damage, we needed to ensure that any preservation methods would be enough to ensure these items wouldn’t decay further.
For each volume, I would wear gloves to prevent any oils from my hands transferring to the already delicate covers and papers, and to prevent any contamination between each book. I wrapped each volume in a few layers of tissue paper and ensured the open edges were tucked securely to avoid any fragments from spilling into the box. I then placed the books into individual boxes, and for the larger boxes, I added filler boards to prevent the volumes from shifting around in the open space.
During this project, we used acid-free tissue paper and boxes to improve preservation outcomes. Apart from limiting physical contact with the volumes, they also help minimize environmental damage, such as light and dust exposure. Once all of the volumes were rehoused, they were moved to the archives and placed on the shelves in pairs and organized by year. Even with unlimited space, I would not put more than three volumes on top of each other due to their sheer weight.
Now that these volumes are safely preserved, it’s unlikely that they will be removed for displays or direct use. Often in archival work, one of the best preservation strategies is to limit or outright restrict direct handling of materials, but that doesn’t mean access is denied. You can find these issues, along with other newspapers, scanned and uploaded to the Houston Public Library Digital Archive for easy reading and faster research in the Houston Forward Times Collection - Houston Public Library Digital Archives.
Adinkra Symbols: Sankofa
Tracey King | Sr. Library Assistant/Gift Shop Manager
Sankofa is one of the eight Ghanaian akansha symbol systems created by Africans to communicate with each other (SANKOFA – Learn from the past – African Burial Ground National Monument (U.S. National Park service), n.d.). The Sankofa bird is looking back with her feet planted forward while her head is facing backward, holding her precious egg in her mouth. It literally translates she is looking back in time to shape her future.
The Ghanaian people of Africa believe that there must be a steady rhythm of moving forward and new learning as time passes (The Sankofa bird teaches us about the future | Global Sisters Report, 2021). The Sankofa Bird inspires us to honor our ancestors and respect the collective journey they faced during a difficult time in American History. To continue our forward march, the knowledge of the past must never be forgotten, forgiven, or repeated. The past shall set you free.
After the enslaved Africans were freed in Texas on, June 19, 1865, they found their way to Houston and settled on uninhabited land on the outskirts of town. Their new settlement was called Freedman Town, now the Freedmen’s Town Historic District. This area is the oldest established African American community in Houston (Houston Public Library, 2019).
In traditional Akan art, the Sankofa symbol frequently appears, and has been adopted and used on many African American buildings and Diaspora communities to represent the need to contemplate on the past to build a successful future (Sankofa - Wikipedia. (2006). You can find this symbol and others at the front entrance of the African American History Research Center.
CITATIONS
African Americans in Texas: A Lasting Legacy. (2016). Texas Historical Commission.
Houston Public Library. (2019). Welcome to the African American Library at the Gregory School [Brochure].
SANKOFA – Learn from the past – African Burial Ground National Monument (U.S. National Park service). (n.d.). NPS.Gov Homepage (U.S. National Park Service). Retrieved January 26, 2022, from https://www.nps.gov/afbg/learn/historyculture/sankofa.htm.
The Power of Memory & History: Why Our Stories Must Be Preserved Now More Than Ever
Sheena Wilson | Manager
Archives are indispensable links serving as hallowed spaces where fragments of scattered stories of lives can be reassembled as documented evidence of history. Archival sources offer a tangible connection, pulling individuals out of a historical void and rooting them and their family in the community’s heritage and historical narrative. By providing access to these experiences, through letters, photographs, oral histories and more, the archive gives an unfiltered lens into past lived realities, habitually omitted from mainstream historical narratives. More importantly archiving allows cultural and ethnic groups to define themselves rather than be defined by others.
In recent years, there has been a surge of misinformation and revision history in marginalized communities. By preserving these communities’ histories, archives counteract false narratives and stand as irrefutable evidence by contributing primary sources to ensure historical accuracy and accountability. This is essential to maintaining the integrity of collective history. Archives are indispensable tools for education and for uncovering and preserving historical truth. The African American History Research Center (AAHRC) provides primary source materials for researchers and the general public. If you’ve visited, our exhibits offer a brief unfiltered lens of everyday life in Black Houston. But there are many more narratives preserved within the physical archives.
Preserving our collective history is not merely an act of remembrance, rather an investment in protecting the historical accuracy of history for future generations. Certain historical documents and artifacts are truly irreplaceable. They are not just relics, but direct channels to the past offering singular insights that cannot be replicated. An original charter, a handwritten letter, a rare photograph of a building which no longer stands, or a scrapbook which documents an organizations events provide tangible evidence of how people lived, detailing a story that no secondary source can replicate. A loss of these sources is not simply a disappearance of an object, but a permanent erasure which may lead to irreparable gaps in the understanding of history.
Equally important, and possibly more valuable are the experiences held within the memories of our elders. These living repositories contain stories, traditions, and wisdom, which offer personal perspectives that written records seldom capture. The urgency of preserving these narratives cannot be overstated, as they are inherently tied to undocumented experiences. When an elder passes, a library of undocumented history vanishes forever. Safeguarding both the physical keepsakes and lingering echoes of these narratives is more important now than ever. As archivists, we are the custodians of our history for those who come after us. The testament of this history is documented with the collection at the AAHRC.
How YOU Can Be a Part of This Essential Work?
The AAHRC is only possible with community support. Over the past fifteen years, all the items in our 500 collections were donated by people like you. YOU can be a part of this important work by donating your personal, family, or organizational records. We are seeking photographs, videos, documents, scrapbooks that document everyday Black life in the Houston area. Not sure if you are ready to let go of your family photos? That’s normal and its okay, we are here to answer any questions and ensure you understand the benefits of archiving your history. If you have items, you would like to donate, or questions contact us https://houstonlibrary.org/contact-hrc. The most important thing you can do is to spread the word that we exist and share the archive's mission with your family and friends.
Scholar-In-Residence: The Chitlin' Circuit in Texas
The current Scholar-in-residence for AARHC and Rice University’s CERCL is researching the Chitlin’ Circuit in Texas—those legendary night clubs and juke joints where music, dance, food, and community come alive. She is seeking participants to share their memorable experiences of attending performances at Chitlin' Circuit venues in Texas (primarily the southeast portion of the state).
If you are interested in sharing your story as part of her oral history project, email chitlincircuittx@gmail.com or take the survey.
Centennial Celebration
Get ready to celebrate a century of learning! The iconic 1926 Gregory Elementary School building on Victor Street is turning a spectacular 100 next year. If you once walked these historic halls, we're looking for YOU to join our centennial celebration! Share your fabulous oral histories and treasured photos of your time there. Let's make this milestone unforgettable together! Want to be a part of history? Email us at hpl.gregoryschool@houstontx.gov to participate.
In this issue: Galveston Spiritualists in Print; The League of Women Voters of Houston; Migrant Stories: Continuing the Discourse through Exhibits and Public Programs
Galveston Spiritualists in Print
by Jo Collier, Collection Development Librarian
Yay, it’s the fall and I have an excuse to talk about spirits and stuff!
Although Galveston’s First Spiritualist Church wasn’t founded until May of 1895, it’s not surprising that many people were hosting home circles long before then. Of specific interest to me is Mrs. Susan “Sue” J. Finck, a medium who used slate-writing to communicate messages for gatherings in her home.
The experiences the family had are covered in the 1887 book Lifting the veil: or, interior experiences and manifestations. Susan, and her son Andrew A. Finck, wrote the book, with help from the spirits, of course.
If you're interested in seeing a hard copy, the HHRC has one in stacks. Or you may look at a digitized copy (from the Harry Houdini Collection at the Library of Congress) on the Internet Archive.
Photo of Susan Finck from the frontispiece of Lifting the veil, showing her with her slate.
The book starts with Susan recounting her youthful exploration of religion and philosophy. As she aged, she attended various denominations of Christian churches where disagreements over doctrine left her struggling to reconcile their teachings with a God of love. Her final break was with the Baptist church, not long after which she says (on page 41) her, “attention was attracted to the manifestation of Modern Spiritualism; and we began holding circles within our own home.”
The following chapters don’t tell a continuous story, per se, but include anecdotes about circles they took part in, messages received in daily life, visiting mediums, and even a message from Sam Houston received in 1885.
Of course, there are things that don’t sit easily within our modern sensibilities. For instance, at the time it was common for Spiritualists to have spirit guides (benevolent spirits that assist a medium) that were Indigenous Americans, which are referred to as “the red man.” A phrase in common usage at the time, but a bit cringe to us now.
A Houston Chronicle obituary for Susan (who died at 77 years on age, April 20, 1907) says she, "wrote a number of books” on spiritualism, but I was unable to find anything in the time I spent looking. There may be reference to these other books in The Spiritual Reformer and Humanitarian, a Spiritualist periodical the family started publishing in 1902, and which ran (irregularly) into 1905. The International Association for the Preservation of Spiritualist and Occult Periodicals has digitized the Rosenberg Library's holdings, which may be seen here.
Photo of Andrew Finck, from page 45 of Lifting the veil.
Both the book and periodical are a mix of New Thought philosophy with Bible verses sprinkled throughout. Quotations of Scripture are common in Spiritualist material of the time, as people within the movement did not see themselves as forming a new religion. Of course, as time went by, the Spiritualist movement splintered into groups that saw themselves as being a harmonious part of an established religion, reformers of existing religious structure, or outside it all together. We are fortunate to have access to some primary source materials, from our own neck of the woods, highlighting one family’s experiences within this movement.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Finck, S.J., & Finck, A.A. (1887). Lifting the veil: or, interior experiences and manifestations. Colby & Rich.
The League of Women Voters of Houston
by Jennifer Southerland, Processing Archivist
In 1920, women were granted the right to vote with the ratification of the 19th amendment. That same year, the League of Women Voters (LWV) was established. The LWV is organized into three levels- local, state, and national- with each level following a program that relates to the needs of its community. When members join their local league, they also join the state and national leagues.
Today, I am highlighting our local chapter, the League of Women Voters of Houston. Also established in 1920, the Houston league seeks to engage all members of the Houston community in the political process. The examples below show how they further this goal through information sharing, civic engagement, and providing opportunities to participate in said political process.
Information Sharing
If you’ve been to the library during election season, you’ve probably seen educational papers explaining the ins and outs of the candidates and policies up for your vote. These papers, or voter guides, are one of the most valuable tools in the league’s information sharing toolkit. The league creates print and digital versions of their guides, with translations available in Spanish, Vietnamese, and Chinese.
Civic Engagement
Print copies of voter guides for the years 1950, 1970, 1990, and 2010
Many of the league’s activities fall under the scope of civic engagement, but one I find particularly interesting is their litigation efforts. For example, the Houston league submitted amicus briefs for the case Coalition to Preserve Houston and the Houston Independent School District vs. Interim Board of Trustees of the Westheimer Independent School District because they felt the formation of Westheimer Independent School District was a barrier to the continued integration of Houston schools.
Participation
The Houston League has also worked to support participation in local government. They register voters at different community events in the city and partner with other organizations like the Houston Public Library to spread information about elections and encourage voting. You can even learn how to become a voter registrar on their website!
This is just an introduction to the League of Women Voters of Houston. If you want to learn more about the organization, come down to the Houston History Research Center (HHRC). The HHRC holds a collection from Houston league documenting roughly 60 years of the organization’s activities. You can even find a guide on pursuing litigation for community groups! HHRC also makes sure to keep copies of their old voter guides, so swing by if you’re interested in finding out who was running for what in 1950s.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
“Mission.” League of Women Voters of Houston. Accessed June 24, 2025. https://www.lwvhouston.org/mission.
League of Women Voters of Texas State Program for 1968 – 1970. League of Women Voters of Houston (RG E 0013 Box 7, Folder 81). Houston History Research Center, Houston Public Library.
Voter Guides from the League of Women Voters. Houston History Research Center Vertical File: H – Elections – By Years. Houston History Research Center at the Houston Public Library.
The Courts and Desegregation. League of Women Voters of Houston (RG E 0013 Box 14, Folder 7). Houston History Research Center, Houston Public Library.
Migrant Stories: Continuing the Discourse through Exhibits and Public Programs
by Elizabeth Lira, Archivist and Salima Bowaniya, Head Archivist of Hispanic Collections
Photojournalist Raquel Natalicchio’s exhibit, Al Otro Lado | The Other Side, is an emotionally moving and powerful exhibition that brings viewers face to face with the realities of migration. The exhibit features photographs and personal narratives of people from across many national backgrounds who wait at the Mexico-U.S. border for a chance of a better life for themselves and their families. Viewers will see and read stories of hope, desperation, survival, and community from people that have come from Mexico, Haiti, Romania, Guatemala, and beyond waiting at the border. Natalicchio’s photographs are paired with historical maps from the archival collections at the Houston History Research Center (HHRC), revealing the political and social complexities of migration in the context of a moving border throughout centuries. Also on display are items left behind by those making the journey across the border; intimate items ranging from journals, wallets, life jackets, and children’s shoes. The exhibition invites viewers to reflect on the human cost of migration and the enduring will to move, even as borders shift.
This exhibit has deeply inspired the Hispanic Collections archivist team at HHRC, and in response we have created a series of public programming focused on the topics of migration and immigration. We successfully kicked off the series in May with a special event in collaboration with Nuestra Palabra, who hosted an event as part of their book tour for the newly released Detained: A Boy’s Journal of Survival and Resilience by Dr. Esperanza and Gerardo Iván Morales. The book offers a powerful firsthand account of immigrating to the U.S. and being held in a detention center. Copies are available for checkout at multiple HPL branches. In July, we also hosted an artist walkthrough of the exhibition with Raquel Natalicchio, offering attendees an in-depth tour and personal insights into the stories behind her photographs. We hosted #JoinLaCharla: Immigration, Representation, and the Power of Language, in September. This three-part program featured a morning panel discussion followed by guided exhibit walkthroughs and a screening of the documentary Change the Subject + Discussion. We’re also excited to have partnered with FIEL (Familias Inmigrantes y Estudiantes en La Lucha), a local immigrant rights organization, to create a pop-up exhibit highlighting their history and grassroots organizing efforts. This pop-up exhibit will be on display in the Julia Ideson Building through December. Through these programs we have been able to elevate voices that continue the discourse of immigration.
We encourage everyone to view Al Otro Lado | The Other Side, on view until February 28, 2026 at the Houston Public Library's Dr. James and Betty Key Map Room in the Julia Ideson Building. This exhibit is free and open to the public during regular operating hours.
For more information about this exhibit and related programming, click here.
Photograph of Al Otro Lado | The Other Side exhibit wall at the Julia Ideson Building, The Dr. James and Betty Key Map Room, courtesy of HHRC.
Photograph featured in Al Otro Lado | The Other Side exhibit at the Julia Ideson Building, The Dr. James and Betty Key Map Room, courtesy of HHRC.
Photograph of a featured display in Al Otro Lado | The Other Side exhibit at the Julia Ideson Building, The Dr. James and Betty Key Map Room, courtesy of HHRC.
Screenshot image from @imgerardo_ivan, on Instagram, at the Saving Immigrant Voices event at the Julia Ideson Building, Auditorium.
Photograph from the Artist Walkthrough: Al Otro Lado | The Other Side at the Julia Ideson Building, The Dr. James and Betty Key Map Room, courtesy of HHRC.
Upcoming Events from Houston History Research Center
#JoinLaCharla: Crimmigration, Pol(ICE), and the Undocumented
Join us for a charla (community discussion) with authors Denise Gomez and Dr. Jesús Jesse Esparza as they share their research for the forthcoming book The Barrio and the Badge: A History of Latinos and Law Enforcement in Houston. In this program, Dr. Esparza will lead a conversation with Denise about her chapter, “La Polimigra: Policing and Caging Undocumented Latino Immigrants in Houston,” and the stories behind it.
Together, we’ll reflect on this history and its connections to the present. A Q&A session will invite participants to share thoughts, questions, and experiences.
Saturday, November 15
1 PM - 2:30 PM
Julia Ideson Building
Meldrum Room
REGISTER NOW