By Wittliff intern Abigail Moon.
Analog cassette recordings from the collection.
As a student at Texas State University, I was pleased to join the Wittliff Collections team as a Digitization Assistant in Fall of 2023. My internship consisted of working with the unique archival materials found in the Texas Music Oral History project. This collection consists of interviews with a diverse range of Texan musicians, representing country, rock, blues, jazz, conjunto, Chicano, West Side Sound, and German. I was struck by the origins of these materials they are all student-created, conducted by Texas State graduate students in the early 2000s interviewing Texas musicians for their final projects. I felt a close connection to these interviews, as they were genuine, raw, and emotional. The students approached oral history not just as a project for their careers, but as a significant contribution to their education and the education of others. I’ve shared my favorite moments from the interviews in a Keystone blog post.
I digitized a diverse array of materials, including audio cassettes, CDs, and physical paper transcripts. I created summary abstracts for each file as well as descriptive metadata, so that these materials will be discoverable online. As an anthropology major focusing on history and international studies, the decision to work in the realm of museums and library collections was a very natural choice for me and allowed me to use this position as an internship.
CDs, cassettes and papers from the collection.
My position as the Wittliff’s Digitization Assistant has been transformative. I have furthered my skills in archival and project management, which comes with flexibility and time management. I’ve adeptly learned digital tools such as Microsoft Excel and the museum’s Archive-Space and Yuja, enhancing my proficiency in learning new technology – an asset for future endeavors post-graduation. By contributing my work to the Keystone Blog, I have developed new skills in professional and creative writing, which also presents a form of public education I hadn’t been exposed to until I began this position, which I’m grateful for.
I’m thankful for my time as an intern. It has clarified my aspirations for a career in museums and collections, and instilled in me a deep appreciation for archival work. I look forward to continuing to contribute to the mission of preserving the cultural heritage for the education and inspiration of the public.