Handling sensitive materials in Special Collections and Archives

The purpose of The Compass Rose is to raise awareness of Special Collections' resources and to foster the use of these resources. The blog series also reports significant new programs, initiatives, and acquisitions of Special Collections. 

In April of this year, I joined the University of Texas at Arlington Libraries as a Metadata Librarian for Special Collections. The primary responsibility for this position is the creation of catalog records for the many rare materials that UTA owns. As a special collections’ cataloger, I have had the opportunity to work with a wide variety of materials, everything from 16^th century maps to 20^th century comic books. I enjoy that every day I discover something new and get to learn about each item that I handle.

Working in special collections, however, presents a unique set of challenges. For example, in my first month at UTA one of the items I cataloged was a pamphlet from the 1923 Texas State Fair, written by Dallas dentist Hiram Wesley Evans. Beneath the title, “The Menace of Modern Immigration,” is a description of the contents: “An address delivered on the occasion of Klan Day at the State Fair of Texas at Dallas October 24, 1923, outlining fully the policies of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan regarding the restriction of immigration and its program in this respect.” This item is one of several that UTA Special Collections holds that pertain to the history of the KKK in North Texas. These include letters between Klan members, a newsletter, the organization’s constitution and bylaws, and membership cards.

I must admit that I find it difficult to handle materials of this nature, items that are physical evidence of some of the most painful parts of history. I wish that I could say that this is an uncommon occurrence, but many historical objects are by nature problematic. As products of their era, they can overtly highlight the racism, bigotry, and misogyny of the past. I have grappled with how institutions should approach collecting and processing sensitive material, both as a librarian who recognizes the importance of all information and as an individual who struggles with the content of these items. In this post, I would like to share my perspective on handling sensitive material, both as a librarian and an individual.

Should institutions collect sensitive materials?

I can say without hesitancy that I believe libraries and museums should collect materials that relate to problematic issues of history, even if they make us uncomfortable. Preserving sensitive material assures against the whitewashing of history. When faced with an uncertain present, individuals often long for a simpler past. Yet, items like “The Menace of Modern Immigration” illustrate that such nostalgia is for a time that never truly existed. The past often proves to be just as problematic as the present.

How can librarians and institutions handle sensitive materials in a way that acknowledges their problematic nature?

First, we must recognize that collecting sensitive materials does not mean that an institution supports the views that those materials express. Libraries and museums stand as gatekeepers of knowledge, even the kinds of knowledge that many people might prefer to forget. Acknowledging the problematic nature of sensitive materials is a balancing act. Librarians value free speech and free thought. At the same time, however, we may struggle with the idea of presenting materials ahistorically. One of the ways in which catalogers in particular can address this issue is by being candid in assigning subject headings that describe more than just the people and places associated with items. Although it may go beyond simple descriptive cataloging, I think it is important that catalogers employ subject headings that unambiguously highlight the problematic nature of these items, terms such as “racism,” “colonialism,” and “domestic terrorism.”

When collecting sensitive materials, should we distance ourselves or embrace the feelings of anger and sadness that such items evoke?

While it might seem contradictory, I do not believe that it is impossible to do both. One can objectively describe an item while still feeling emotional about its subject matter. It is a process of recognizing the value in preserving sensitive materials and understanding the purpose of collecting them. By preserving materials like UTA’s KKK collection, librarians stand witness to the painful parts of history in the hope that they will never be forgotten or repeated.

If you would like to explore these or other items, please visit UTA’s Special Collections page at https://libraries.uta.edu/locations/special-collections to make an appointment.