Three Questions is an initiative to share the value that our faculty, students, and external patrons derive from using the Portal to Texas History at UNT Libraries.
1. *How important are Unique Collections (or our services) in your
teaching, learning or research?*
As a student assistant for The Portal to Texas History, I found unique collections to be foundational to my professional education and understanding of digital access. Working directly with partner materials such as the military heritage collections from the National Museum of the Pacific War showed me how primary sources depict cultural experiences and the authenticity of Texan life. Digitizing these incredible collections allowed me to master metadata creation and understand how strategic discoverability efforts ensure that these stories reach a vast array of researchers. Without The Portal to Texas History’s unique collections, I would not have gained the hands-on skills needed to connect public audiences with diverse historical narratives.
2. *How have Unique Collections changed the way you approach your
research, teaching or learning?*
Working directly with the Portal’s unique collections ignited my passion for the digital archiving field and deepened my critical approach to history. Having direct access to primary sources for my own projects transformed how I evaluate historical depictions. It taught me that research goes far beyond analyzing the surface of a document; it requires understanding how an item was created, preserved, and described. Engaging with these materials behind the scenes allowed me to critically analyze how historical narratives are presented and represented.
3. *What do you want others to know about your research, teaching,
or learning?*
I want others to know that The Portal to Texas History is a vital, open-access resource designed to make history freely available to everyone, from academic scholars to local communities. Through the Rescuing Texas History program, the Portal actively rescues local history that might otherwise be lost or undocumented. What stays with me most from my time at the Portal is the care built into every upload. Behind every scanned and described document or photograph is a deliberate effort to handle historical primary sources with profound respect, translating physical items into accessible digital resources.
Haiden Scheffrin is a digital archivist and cultural heritage practitioner specializing in digital preservation and community access. He earned a B.A. in History and an M.S. in Library Science with an Archival Specialization from the University of North Texas, along with Graduate Academic Certificates in Cultural Heritage Stewardship and Archival Management. Through work on digitization and access projects for institutional repositories, national archives, and cultural foundations, he is dedicated to expanding equitable access to primary sources and preserving historical and cultural narratives with dignity.
