These are exciting times in the archives as we count down to the final days of construction on the new addition space! The main structure is nearly complete and the work remaining is focusing in on the details; making sure all of the finishing touches are correct and clean. The Caldwell Family building, which was made possible by a generous gift from Clifton and Shirley Caldwell, will house both the Robert E. Nail, Jr. Archives and the Sallie Reynolds Matthews Collection.
The large stacks area and collapsible shelving units will provide the Archives with at least four times more shelving room than it currently has, giving us plenty of room to grow into the future. In addition, it will allow the archives to expand its collection policy, which originally limited the historical materials to those concerning only Shackelford County history. Now the archives will be able to also accept materials from Stephens, Throckmorton and Young counties.
The exhibition space will feature historical items from the Sallie Reynolds Matthews Collection, with new case displays and exhibit label text which will help provide information and context to our many out of town visitors. There will also be space for other, smaller rotating exhibits which will highlight materials, photographs, and other historical documents found in the Archives collections.
Be sure to come see the new space later this fall!
Molly Sauder, Archivist