Seymour V Connor Seminar 1969-06-18,20

In tape one, Mr. R. Sylvan Dunn, Director of the Southwest Collection, explains the functions of an archive, and particularly those of the Southwest Collection, to a graduate seminar conducted by Dr. Seymour Connor, following which the students are given a tour by David Gracy. In tape two, at the conclusion of the June 18 meeting, David Gracy explains some of the finding aids and resources of the Southwest Collection. The following day Dr. S. V. Connor lectures on handling and restoring documents and types of paper used through the years, after which the class examines examples of old newspapers. Dr. Connor also cites a case of forged documents and explains the operation of a letterpress. In the third tape, David Gracy explains some of the finding aids available in the Southwest Collection, and Dr. S. V. Connor lectures on researching historical documents. In the fourth tape, the class examines some letters of Sam Houston and Dr. S. V. Connor instructs them in the proper procedure for transcribing the letters.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Seymour V. Connor Seminar

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: June 18-20, 1969

Location: Lubbock, Texas

Interviewer: None Given

Length: 3 hours 30 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: (June 18, 1969) Functions of the Southwest Collection outlined, Difference between archives and historical manuscripts explained, Discussion of growing interest in and value of collecting trivia, Example of "Lum's letters" given, Cites advantages of laminating old documents, Changes in archival techniques discussed, Review of methods used by the Southwest Collection in processing materials.

Tape 1, Side 2: States definition of archives, Southwest Collection finding aids described, Inventorying process explained, Notes use of reference file, Cataloging process explained, Advantages of the National Union Catalog.

Tape 2, Side 1: (June 18-19, 1969) Advice given on using periodical indexes, Santa Fe Splinters index explained, Oral history tapes discussed, Outlines rules for handling documents, Incidents related to handling documents cited, Methods of repairing and restoring documents described.

Tape 2, Side 2: Methods of restoring documents (continued), Various types of paper used through the years, Old newspapers examined and discussed by the class, Case of the Ulster County Gazette related, Notes incident of forging documents, Operations of a letterpress demonstrated.

Tape 3, Side 1: (June 19-20, 1969) Lamination of manuscript material discussed, Index locater to the Southwest Collection manuscript, collection explained, Notes problems of indexing photographs, Importance of preserving original order in manuscript collections stressed, National Archives mentioned, Cites additional finding aids in the Southwest Collection.

Tape 3, Side 2: Reviews symbols used in identifying documents, Researching historical documents discussed, Letters examined by the class.

Tape 4, Side 1: (June 20, 1969) Sam Houston letters examined and discussed by the class, Dr. Connor explains the form for transcribing letters.

Tape 4, Side 2: Blank

Range Dates: None Given

Bulk Dates: None Given

Access Information

Original Recording Format:

Recording Format Notes:

Transcript:

---

Thank you for your interest in this oral history interview. Our oral history collection is available to patrons in the Southwest Collection's Reading Room, located on the campus of Texas Tech University. For reading room hours, visit our website. Please contact Reference Staff at least one week prior to your visit to ensure the oral history you are interested in will be available. Due to copyright issues, duplications of our oral histories can only be made for family members. If an oral history transcript has been made available online, the link will be provided on this page. More information on accessing our oral histories is located here. Preferred citation style can be found here.