Commission on Archives and History Begins Work

Freda Barrington, C.D. Barrington: Volunteers; Jean Traster: Former Archivist, South Central Jurisdiction and Central Texas Conference Archivist, Texas United Methodist Historical Society and Polytechnic UMC; Patty Chebultz: Rio Texas Conference Database Administrator & Building Manager; Rev. Valli Blair: Chair, Rio Texas Conference Commission on Archives and History (RTCCAH) Elizabeth Jimenez: Secretary, RTCCAH Frances Long: Archivist of South Central Jurisdiction and North Texas Conference Penny Robbins: Member, RTCCAH Tim Binkley: Archivist, Bridwell Library at Southern Methodist University 

A whirlwind of activity lead by Tim Binkley, Frances Long and Jean Traster guided a team of Rio Texas Conference Commission on Archives and History members and Conference staff in organizing the long dormant Conference Archives. After three days and over 200 work-hours the room was transformed from an unorganized “dumping-ground” to a functioning archives. 

Following the untimely departure of Archivist/Historian, Marta Rose due to health issues, and in the midst of the unification of the Rio Grande and Southwest Texas Annual Conferences, the room became a collection of assorted materials from various donors, closed churches and “space-seekers." This intensive pre-sort effort revealed a considerable amount of duplication as well as items that were not appropriate for an archive - their removal reclaimed much valuable shelf space. It also set the stage for future efforts for more extensive sorting, cataloging and filing of the myriad vital historic documents and artifacts. 

Among the primary goals of the Commission on Archives & History is to make the information available to Conference staff, historians and researchers while preserving Conference history.