Tales of the Dark Archivist: New Mexico Historical Society 2012

Today the paper I proposed to deliver at the upcoming Historical Society of New Mexico Conference was accepted. The Centennial Conference will take place at the Santa Fe Convention Center from May 3-5, 2012. New Mexico will be celebrating her 100th Anniversary of Statehood.

I was happy to receive the acceptance email from Program Chair, Bruce Gjeltema this afternoon. I was a little worried the review team would overlook me as my proposal gravitated toward a more contemporary approach. I was “tentatively” placed in a session panel which will likely consist of 3-4 other people. There will be a 20 minute window in which I will convey some documented and maybe oral histories from New Mexico’s darker side. I have asked who I will be presenting with, but have not yet heard back from the conference chair. My paper is titled Tales of the Dark Archivist.

Now that I have been accepted, I can start my research. I have preliminary ideas (and some fleshed). As my ideas start to solidify, I may post updates.

Statehood Timeline 1912-2012

http://www.hsnm.org/2012%20Items/Centennial%20Timeline%20Draft–1912_2012%20Rev%202%20%208_19_2011).pdf

To learn more about the 2012 events, see the New Mexico Centennial 1912-2012 website for more information

http://nmcentennial.org/

NMHS Conference Proposal 2012: Tales from a Dark Archivist

Last week, I answered a request from the New Mexico Historical Society (NMHS). The society put out the 2012 Conference Call for Papers, and Program Proposals. I look forward to hearing from the selection committee on my submission. With any luck, my paper will be selected to fill a void! 

The holocron (a storage device) was able to capture the appearance and cognitive networks of the holocron's owner, and transform this into a three-dimensional hologram. This gatekeeper acted as a guide through the holocron's store of information, as a search and recovery engine. These gatekeepers could relate stories from the holocron's archives to events in the life of the one who activated the holocron. Unlike their Jedi counterparts, the Sith holocron gatekeepers did not restrict information that might be too advanced and dangerous for a user.

I say that because I am the self proclaimed Dark Archivist! I have also been named The Darkivist by my associates. I have even been called the nemesis of the Jedi in Star Wars, a Sith by my director. All of this is due to the fact that I am interested in those parts of history which are on the darker side. Maybe those topics that most archivists, historians, authors, and scholars opt to stay away from. The title of the paper I proposed to research and deliver in 2012 is (of course) Tales from a Dark Archivist.

I’m still not sure which records I will highlight in the presentation if I am selected, however, following are some that come to mind: the opium overdose of a governor; the use of eminent domain to obtain the land used to build Dodger Stadium in Chavez Ravine (California); a murder case blamed on a werewolf; missing children; the theft of a barrel of wine; witch tales; and some stories I will save for the potential presentation. It should be an interesting conference, and it will be in Santa Fe this time around.

The 2012 Centennial Conference will be held at the Santa Fe Convention Center.  New Mexico will be celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Statehood.

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The Historical Society of New Mexico is an active group of New Mexico history enthusiasts. In addition to sponsoring an annual history conference and speakers bureau, the society is dedicated to: increasing the knowledge of New Mexico history; disseminating information on New Mexico history; and encouraging preservation of historic objects and property.

HSNM- http://www.hsnm.org
P.O. Box 1912
Santa Fe, New Mexico  87504
hsnminfo@hsnm.org