Preserving the Past While Embracing the Future

When we hear the terms "history" and "archival work," it typically invokes a certain kind of imagery. We might perhaps conjure a tweed-wearing, eccentric academic confining the secrets to the past within a labyrinth of shelves, where they are destined to remain disconnected from the modern era.

Yet, this summer, Lexi Clark '28 is determined to prove that we may not be as isolated from the past as we may think. She's shedding light on the active and ongoing process of history and archival work through her summer internship at the American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions organization (AIT-SCM).

"So far, my internship has been incredible," she says. "I've learned how to work with specific archival and recording equipment to add pieces of history to an online repository. I have also met members of the Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation, as well as other local families with ties to the missions, to hear their first-hand stories about their experiences and life as an Indigenous person."

Clark is working specifically on the Texas Heritage Project. Her work includes historical artifact inventory and preservation of history through both oral and physical collections.

A typical day for Clark involves tech programs, such as Epson scanners, Adobe Acrobat, and GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping systems. These tools allow her to process new images or artifacts and scan and digitize them in their records for preservation. Other days, Clark works on burial, marriage, and baptism records, organizing them into spreadsheets for further research.

In addition to learning technical skills, Clark's knowledge has also expanded through her interactions with local Indigenous communities and their history. "We receive images and artifacts from members of the nation, and sometimes I am able to sit down with those members and hear the story behind what they have brought," she says.

Clark's interactions with firsthand experiences and artifacts serve as a reminder that, although history is fixed in the past, it is a dynamic, evolving process. Through her role, Clark is making her mark as an actor in this ongoing process, bridging our memory and understanding of the past, present, and future.

Clark's connections at Trinity University helped her secure this opportunity to make connections across time. She still remembers the brisk, drizzly walk to the Storch Memorial building in the early spring semester to visit her adviser, Sociology and Anthropology Professor Jennifer P. Mathews, Ph.D.

"I went in to ask about internships related to my anthropology and sociology majors with my museum studies minor, and Dr. Mathews pointed me to the AIT-SCM and the Donahue Student Award Scholarship," she says. "She connected me with the direct supervisor at AIT-SCM, along with a recommendation for my work. I am forever grateful for her knowledge and help with securing this great opportunity for the summer."

After graduation, Clark wants to pursue a career in museum work. The hands-on experience with technologies, archival skills, and interpersonal connections that Clark has gained through her internship experience will support her career endeavors. "Having these skills in my repertoire will allow me to secure my dream positions, as well as understand and further future research in this field," she says.

Clark is confident that her personal and professional growth will help her make a lasting impact in the world of history and archival work, regardless of the lack of tweed jackets in her closet.