The Civil Rights Archive
Gwen Patton, Trenholm State Technical College
Montgomery, AL
Montgomery, AL
Overview:
Gwen Patton never imagined herself as an archivist until
her grandparents began giving her their memorabilia from the civil rights
movement. She then realized the need for a grassroots archive for local
students and community members. At Trenholm State Technical College, Patton
helped establish the only archive in the U.S. at a two-year community
college. Here she discusses the reasons why Trenholm State has this archive,
the problems she has overcome to establish the archive, and what the archive
has taught her and can teach the community.
Video:
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Dr. Gwen Patton (9:57 min.)
Patton introduces herself and the archive, explaining
her philosophies for building the archive and the struggle to create
an archive at Trenholm State.
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Dr. Gwen Patton (3:54 min.)
Gwen gives a tour of Trenholm State's Civil Rights
archive. She explains the layout and contents of collections and
addresses the practical dilemmas and hurdles she encountered while
establishing a working archive in small space with limited resources.
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