#archivesoftumblr

"If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution." - Emma Goldman

Goldman (1869-1940) died on this day in Toronto, Canada. Goldman was an anarchist known for her political activism, writing, and speeches. She was born in the Russian Empire, and emigrated to the U.S. in 1885, she lived in New York City, where she joined the burgeoning anarchist movement in 1889.

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what real, legitimate work I'm doing, then by all means imagine me daily plugging away at updating the XML in our many outdated finding aids, as well as creating new finding aids for long-hidden collections.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.”

Today’s Found In The Archives is a 1978 exposé on union-busting tactics written by an undercover @1199seiu reporter!

Check out the Kheel Center’s guide to other anti-union campaign materials here:

A small United Farm Workers (UFW) banner!

The UFW was founded in 1962 by Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and other labor leaders. The flag was designed by Richard Chavez, Cesar’s brother. Remarking on the flag, Cesar Chavez stated, “A symbol is an important thing. That is why we chose an Aztec eagle. It gives pride. When people see it they know it means dignity.”

"We were nervous and we didn't know we could do it. Those machines had kept going as long as we could remember. When we finally pulled the switch and there was some quiet, I finally remembered something: that I was a human being, that I could stop those machines, that I was better than those machines anytime." - Sit-down striker 1936

Women of Hope: African Americans Who Made A Difference was a poster collection created by Local 1199's Bread and Roses Cultural Project. This project, founded in 1979 by Moe Foner, served to help workers have a chance to express their creativity and artistic talents that were put on the backburner by working.