In collaboration with Dr. Lisa Novak, Assistant Professor of Art Education at the University of Texas at El Paso, and the Border Heritage Center, a dedicated class of art students from the UTEP visited the library archives on multiple occasions to research and review archival and literary materials, seeking information on the history of the Main Library, Colegio Palmore, Turtle House, and Douglass School.
The project aimed to weave art and history together. The class explored each site firsthand, reviewed every archival resource, and ultimately brought their discoveries to life in a mini scrapbook, or zine, that blended images, notes, and reflections.
The students were impressed by the wealth of hidden history within each building’s walls. They recognized the importance of preserving documents, photographs, newspaper clippings, and other materials to capture the life and legacy of a historical entity.