Meeting Jim Conrad

Wednesday October 7, 2009

Today I finally met with Jim Conrad, the TAMU-C Archivist who works in the Special Collections Dept. in the library. I brought up some of my 4X5 portraits from my 210 final to give him an idea of what I enjoy photographing. We talked a bit about methodology and then I asked him to explain the Special Collections project he and some other faculty and students are currently working on. The project started a little over a year ago, digitalizing black historical records in the libraries of various East Texas small towns. The project is continuing this Sunday at the East Caney Baptist Church, which is east of Sulphur Springs, Texas. LaVelle Hendricks, a pastor at the church and a counseling professor at TAMU-C, is allowing Conrad’s group and myself to work on our projects at the reunion. Conrad mentioned that LaVelle could be helpful in finding other potential subjects for my project. LaVelle seems very involved in the Collections Project and will be someone I keep in contact with for further black historical events. There is an upcoming ‘Black Panel’ at the University (on the 21st of October) where I may find some more subjects to photograph, and LaVelle knows many other black elderly people in Commerce. The Collections Project will be scanning historical objects, photographs, letters, etc. that the black community brings in, and will be documenting them on film for oral histories concerning their life growing up and after their education. After Vaughn and I talked about our alternative to the questionnaire I’m surprised these people are willing to be interviewed at the reunion, but it will be interesting to see how everything plays out.

Conrad told me the location surrounding the church is very interesting- overgrown trees next to the driving lane, and a cemetery next to the church. He thought it might be interesting to photograph people there. I explained that I envision photographing the people under natural light, either window lit or outside, preferably sitting down. He isn’t sure of where I will have access to shoot on Sunday, but seemed confident that I could find a place during the set-up time Sunday morning. I will probably photograph each person several different ways, so when it comes time to edit the images I can pick the sitting or standing position which best enhances the feel I’m conveying. I will also shoot full-body, torso and up, and head shots so that I have choices to work with. I don’t really want to shoot environmental portraits for the project, but I may for other personal work or to potentially give to Conrad for the Digital Collections. He mentioned that he would like to have some of the images if I was willing, and I think it would be a good idea. He also said there are a few African American Historical museums he knows of that I could potentially exhibit my work at after my Thesis Defense. We are both excited about the possibilities. We aren’t sure how many people I will be able to photograph on Sunday but if I was able to photograph only 8 or 9, that would still be about halfway to my goal of 15-20 different people. We are setting up at the church around 11 on Sunday, and then people will be available to photograph between 1 and 4 p.m. There is a lunch being served and a church service in the afternoon, so I don’t entirely see how this is going to work. Hopefully it isn’t too awkward. I don’t want to be in the way of the fellowship happening at the reunion. Conrad seems confidant that these people are very interested in the projects and says that I may attract a lot of subjects; if one lady is photographed and tells her friends maybe they will want to be photographed as well. That wouldn’t be a bad thing but I don’t want any attention on me to take away from the reunion. I’m excited that Vaughn is coming along for the party because he usually knows how to alleviate the potential awkwardness of most situations, and he will be a guide for me- especially since this will be my first Thesis shoot.