Anna Allbritton, BT天堂Archives’ Summer 2025 Intern, rehouses material from Silas D. Snow’s presidency.

This summer, I had the ultimately reflective opportunity to intern in the University of Central Arkansas Archives, working closely with unprocessed materials from the presidency of Silas D. Snow.聽 As I carefully opened each archival box, I expected to find straightforward administrative records about Snow鈥檚 presidency.聽 Instead, what I discovered was much more complex鈥揳 story
told as much through silence and absence as through words and documents.

Some folders were filled to the brim with official reports, correspondence, and detailed minutes from campus meetings.聽 But others, especially those that might have shed light on student life or dissent, were not nearly as robust.聽 This contrast was striking and forced me to confront a hard
truth about archives: they do more than preserve history鈥搕hey shape it.聽 The stories that survive often reflect power, while others fade into obscurity.聽 Working through the collection, I found myself making decisions that felt weighty鈥揹eciding how to title folders, which documents to group together, and how to describe materials for future
researchers.聽 These choices are not neutral.聽 Each label or organizational decision subtly guides how history is accessed and interpreted.聽 It was humbling to realize that even the seemingly small steps in archival processing carry profound consequences for the stories we tell about the
past.

Processing Snow鈥檚 records brought me closer not only to the man鈥揵ut to the practice of history itself.聽 At times, the job felt like detective work鈥損iecing together clues, reconstructing timelines, interpreting intent. But more often, it felt like storytelling.聽 And the story was, dauntingly, mine to
shape.

In many ways, I noticed a parallel between Snow鈥檚 work as president and my own as student archivist.聽 Both of us operated largely behind the scenes, shaping narratives in ways that go mostly unseen.聽 Snow worked to project order and stability during decades of rapid change, while I organized the traces of his labor, creating a narrative that appears seamless only because of the effort behind it.

We both made deliberate, though often invisible, choices about what to highlight and what to leave in the background.聽 His presidency and my archival work were acts of framing鈥揳rranging and interpreting complexity into something understandable.聽 Beneath the calm surface lies much
unseen effort.

There鈥檚 something deeply human in this parallel.聽 Most historical records don鈥檛 shout鈥搕hey whisper.聽 It takes quiet labor to hear them clearly.
Through this hands-on work, I gained a new appreciation for Silas Snow鈥檚 leadership and the campus climate during his time.聽 Yet, I was also keenly aware of what the records left out鈥搕he silences of student voices, protests, and moments of unrest.聽 These gaps are not mistakes but reflections of institutional power dynamics influencing which stories get preserved.

Beyond organizing papers, my internship culminated in creating a digital exhibit aimed at highlighting these tensions.聽 The project challenged me intellectually and emotionally鈥損rompting me to actively interpret and present not only what is there, but also what is missing in the
archival record.

I encourage you to explore archival collections with a critical eye鈥搉oticing not just what stories are told but also what鈥檚 absent.聽 Think about the choices archivists make and how those choices shape our understanding of history.聽 If you鈥檙e interested, you can visit to see how these silences and stories come to life.聽 Archives are not simply about preserving the past; they鈥檙e about engaging with power, memory, and the ongoing work of uncovering history.

I鈥檓 grateful for this experience, which has deepened my understanding of archival work as an active, ongoing conversation with history鈥搉ot a neutral or finished product.聽 I hope this exhibit invites others to see archives as dynamic sites of discovery and reflection.

Author:聽 Anna Allbritton, Intern, BT天堂Archives

I was in awe of the breadth of this collection (the section I was working on consisted of 38 boxes alone) which spanned both his personal and professional life. It included letters, photographs, and lecture materials, amongst other documents. Sorting through these documents was a very meaningful experience, as it allowed me to view tangible pieces of Norb鈥檚 legacy while helping me to understand the profound effect he had on his students and the Honors College as a whole. I have heard a lot about Norb鈥檚 character from alumni but, being able to read these documents provided insight into his values and confirmed the many stories I had heard about his sense of humor, compassion, intellect, etc.聽

As an aspiring archivist, this experience was invaluable, as I was able to learn many skills. Some of these skills include, how to process and organize archival materials, the steps to creating a finding aid, how to handle fragile materials, and how to identify preservation concerns for different materials. Over the summer I felt myself becoming more confident and slowly becoming more aware that I was able to think critically about organizing the collection. I enjoyed my time in the archives so much that I decided I would like to continue it in the fall semester. This was partially inspired by the wonderful relationships I made with the staff, the valuable skills I was learning, and the strong connection I had developed with the collection.聽

I am excited to say that I will be transforming my work this summer into my capstone project. Over the course of the fall semester, I will continue to work on organizing the collection with the hopes of making Norb鈥檚 legacy more accessible to the public. This will allow more people to meaningfully connect with the past and open up a host of new research opportunities for others while also serving as the final project I need to graduate. I am honored to be a part of preserving Norb鈥檚 memory and preserving the knowledge contained within his collection.

Author:聽 Ava DeVault, Norbert O. Schedler collection Intern, BT天堂Archives