Specht, Alice 2022-05-16
In this interview, Alice Specht discusses her deep family roots in Texas. After describing her family history and living in California, she outlines her educational background, becoming a librarian, and meeting her husband Joe. She tells about her time at the libraries of the University of North Texas, Lubbock public library (including the move to the Mahon library), and her time as the director of the Hardin-Simmons University library in Abilene. Specht goes into details about building up the Abilene Library Consortium, collaborating with Amigos and OCLC early on, archival materials in Abilene and the digitization work done with UNT, and changes in librarianship. She also explains her various research and genealogical projects.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Alice Specht
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: May 16, 2022
Location: Abilene, Texas
Interviewer: Elissa Stroman
Length: 03:21:51 (3 hours 21 minutes)
Abstract
Introduction and family genealogy and background; Acquiring land in Texas; her parents; Segregation and integration; Abilene High school; Specht’s interested in high school; Living in California during the 1960s; Why she decided to pursue a MLS degree; Political Activism; managing archival collections, and digitizing collections; The book she wrote and published over Walter Martin; Working at UNT and meeting her husband; moving to and working in Lubbock; moving to and working in Abilene; Being in an administrator position at the Hardin-Simmons Abilene library; cataloging; The next step in the Hardin-Simmons library history; The consortium for digitizing collections; West Texas Digital Archives; Researching Gertrude Beasley; Projects she had when she was a librarian; Retirement; political stances; Her daughter; conservation and distribution; Advice and wisdom she would like to share
Access Information
Original Recording Format: born digital
Recording Format Notes: patrons may listen to audio in our reading room
Transcript: transcript available on dspace
Related Interview: Specht, Joe 2022-05-16
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