How to Research UTEP History
As part of the Centennial Celebration we invite all campus divisions and units to explore their own histories. The advice here is intended as a launching point to help members of the Miner nation 1) find stuff from the past, 2) analyze what is found, and 3) tell a great story.
1. Find Stuff from the Past
Before history ever ends up in a book it has to be discovered. Sometimes history hides in libraries and archives, but more often it hides in places close to the people who lived it—in desk drawers, closets, or filing cabinets; in trunks, attics, or garages. The things that people from the past left behind become our sources in the present. Many of the sources on UTEP's history have recently been digitized:
- The Prospector - The student newspaper began in 1915 and every issue has been digitized and is fully text searchable at theprospector.newspaperarchive.com.
- Course Catalogs - What classes were available and who taught them? The Registrar's Office has digitized past catalogs, beginning with 1920. PDF copies are available at http://academics.utep.edu/catalogarchive.
- Year Books - The school sponsored yearbooks from 1921 through 1974. Full-text searchable digital copies are available at http://digitalcommons.utep.edu/yr_books.
- Alumni Magazines - For many years school administrators have reported the school's progress to its alumni. Issues of the Nova magazine from 1966 through 1990 have been digitized and placed online at http://digitalcommons.utep.edu/nova/; issues from 2006 and 2007 are online at http://ia.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=43956. In 2008 the publication was renamed UTEP Magazine and past issues are available in an electronic reader format at http://universitycommunications.utep.edu/utepmagazine/Default.aspx.
- Interviews - conducted with UTEP alumni, faculty, and students are archived online at http://digitalcommons.utep.edu/interviews/. Portions of some of them were published for the school's 75th anniversary. You could also conduct your own interviews with persons you know who have relevant memories.
- Minutes of the Meetings of the Board of Regents of the UT System - Because UTEP is part of the UT System, many important decisions are recorded in the minutes of the Regents' meetings. The System has placed all of the minutes since 1881 online in searchable pdf format at http://www.utsystem.edu/board-of-regents/meetings/meetings-archive.
- Fact Books - Beginning in the 1970s the University began maintaining increasingly detailed facts about students and programs. Fact Books published since 1979 are online at http://cierp2.utep.edu/pastfactbooks.html. An interactive Fact Book with current data is online at http://irp.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=29986. For a quick summary of current facts see the latest Fast Facts at http://universitycommunications.utep.edu/facts/index.html.
- Historical Data - About enrollment, degrees awarded, and graduates.
- Facts about Buildings - Extensive spatial data is maintained by the Space Information Resources Office.
- Libraries and Archives - The Special Collections Department in the University Library contains records of persons and of the institution. The archivists there have prepared a guide to help get started at http://libguides.utep.edu/utephistory.
- Museums - The Centennial Museum hosts an exhibit about UTEP history. The Heritage House contains memorabilia and artifacts. There is also an online museum about the 1966 championship team. The El Paso Museum of History has a stuffed bear and life-sized photograph of Don "The Bear" Haskins.
About the Region
- Newspapers - The El Paso Herald 1901-1931 has been digitized by the Library of Congress. The El Paso Herald Post 1931-1974 and the El Paso Times 1931-1957 have been digitized by NewspaperArchive.com (UTEP library login may be required to access them). Selections from the El Paso Times are republished on the Tales from the Morgue blog.
- City Directories - These annual publications contain names, addresses, occupational, and other information.
- Libraries and Archives - The Border Heritage Center at the Main Branch of the El Paso Public Library and the El Paso County Historical Society have sources about the history of the city and county.
- Texas Sources - The Portal to Texas History contains unique sources from Texas libraries, museums, archives, historical societies, genealogical societies, and private family collections.
2. Analyze the Stuff That You Found
Gathering all the old stuff is only the first step in preparing a history. And, the next steps may be even more important. After you collect your sources you need to analyze them. Some of the questions you should ask include: Who created the sources? When? Where? For what purpose? For what audience?
You should also verify that your sources are accurate. Can you confirm what you found in other newspapers, yearbooks, or other sources? What do other history books or articles say about your subject or your sources? Good places to look include:
- Layers of History - a pamphlet available online at http://centennial.utep.edu/reading.html.
- UTEP Encyclopedia - the reliable, documented, and up-to-date source of information about the history of The University of Texas at El Paso; available at http://encyclopedia.utep.edu. The encyclopedia also contains an extensive bibliography.
- Transformations Blog - The official blog about UTEP history and the Centennial Celebration, online at http://transformations.utep.edu.
You also need to understand how your sources fit into the bigger picture. What else was happening at the same time or in the same place? Who else was involved? What are your sources not telling you?
- UTEP Timeline - Check out this list of documented events from UTEP history.
- Borderlands Project - Published by the El Paso Community College, these articles treat the history and culture of the El Paso, Juárez, Las Cruces border region.
- Texas History - The Handbooks of Texas Online contains encyclopedia entries prepared under the direction of the Texas State Historical Association.
Finally, you want to think about why your findings matter. What do they tell us about the past? What do they tell us about the consequences of the past? Why might your findings be important to us, today? Why will someone want to know about the things you have discovered?
3. Tell a Great Story
You have collected your sources and asked tough questions about them, but you are not done yet. Whatever you may know about the past does not matter until you share it. You need to tell the story.
One part of storytelling comes from sticking to your evidence. You can’t invent things but do use your imagination to try to understand how people in the past felt and acted.
The other part of a good story comes from thinking about how you will tell it. Where do you begin? Where do you end? What is most interesting and relevant? Why should we care about it today?