Connor, Seymour V Seminar 1969-06-18
R. Sylvan Dunn, then director of the Southwest Collection, explains the functions of an archives, and particularly those of the Southwest Collection, to a graduate seminar conducted by Dr. Seymour V. Connor. The students are then given a tour by David Gracy, who afterwards explains some of the Collection’s finding aids and resources. The following day, Dr. Connor lectures on handling and restoring documents and types of paper used through the years. He has the class examine examples of old newspapers and cites a case of forged documents before explaining the operation of a letterpress.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Seymour V. Connor
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: June 18-20, 1969
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: None
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Researching historical documents discussed,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
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Access Information
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Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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