This week's #WFHArchives features Robert Weaver, Southwest Collection Manuscript Archivist, and details his harrowing escape from our archive back in March.
“I was one of the last people in the building in March before campus closed. Our Registrar and Associate Dean didn't want me to leave the exhibit case we were cleaning out. Not for quarantine reasons, but because that's long been the dream of every single one of my co-workers. I'd like to say I overpowered the Registrar and made my escape, but I'm not sure that's humanly possible. Using only a spoon and a transcript of that one documentary about Andy Dufresne, I dug my way out. Now I perch in a quiet, secluded Bat Cave full of guitars, a mouse pad facsimile of The Dude's Rug, and my favorite thing on this Earth: whiteboards.
If the world must know what real, legitimate work I'm doing, then by all means imagine me daily plugging away at updating the XML in our many outdated finding aids, as well as creating new finding aids for long-hidden collections. This is in between conference calls with Texas Archival Resources Online and other archival entities, all of whom are helping me make sure that patrons still know what research materials we have...even if they can't get their hands on them for a few more weeks.
Oh, also, I'm thrilled beyond measure that Dr. Elissa Stroman has taken over social media duties for the duration of these strange days. Send her all your appreciation. Encourage her to take on the responsibility full-time. If she does so, I'll personally buy all of you a calzone for lunch.”
** note from Elissa: I'd like to keep One Guy in business for as long as possible. So I do plan to continue with the social medias for the foreseeable future. Please form an orderly six-feet-apart queue and contact Robert for your calzone. **