Category Archives: Events & Exhibits

Interview with Chianta Dorsey, University Archivist

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University Archivist Chianta Dorsey

In honor of American Archives Month, we are interviewing UT Southwestern’s University Archivist, Chianta Dorsey.

What are your principal duties as Archivist, and in which of these duties do you invest the majority of your energy?

My main mission is to collect, preserve, and provide access to the institutional history of UT Southwestern Medical Center. Most of my duties are devoted to physically preserving these materials but also to making them available to the UTSW community and external researchers. Accessibility is so important because, for all the work we put in to preserve materials, we want people to use them for education, instruction, and research.

What do you enjoy most about being an Archivist?

I enjoy the many people that I get to meet and the stories that they tell. There is this misconception that archivists only spend time with the materials, but I spend a lot of time engaging with people across UTSW’s campus and outside of it.

What are some unique or interesting items that you have in the UTSW Archives?

There are many, but I’ve found Edward Cary’s patient book, from his residency at Bellevue Hospital in New York during the 1890s, to be pretty interesting. Cary meticulously described his patient’s habits and symptoms and even drew charts and data that must have taken a lot of time to write. We have a book related to biomedical research performed during the Voskhod space flight that was led by the Soviet Union from 1964-1965. We have the only known copy since the others were ordered to be destroyed. Lastly, we have essays written by Donald Seldin during his time studying at New York University. It’s very interesting to see his interpretation on some classic works of literature.

What are some projects that the Archives is working on now?

We’re working to roll out our first archives management system. This will be an online portal where people will be able to search, find, and request our materials more easily. I’m also working to organize the Dean of the Medical School records, which provides a nuanced look into the first 40 years of UTSW’s history. While the records detail our immense growth in the fields of medicine and science, it also provides insight into how broader social issues penetrated the campus.

Are there any new directions in which you would like the Archives to go?

I hope to work more with instructors who teach medical humanities electives on campus. I’ve partnered with two medical humanities classes to present materials from the Archives related to the history of medicine, so I would like our role to expand in that area.

We’ve also been working to build our digital preservation program. Much of the materials being generated is born-digital so we want to ensure that we are able to preserve records and documents being created in various digital formats. Our COVID-19 collection, which documents the institution’s response to the pandemic, is our first complete born-digital collection. As of today, none of it consists of physical documents or materials.

How can materials in the Archives be accessed?

If someone would like to view materials in the Archives, they can make an appointment to access them. You can contact us through our email at archives@utsouthwestern.edu to set up an appointment or inquire about any of our materials.

A Year in Review: UT Southwestern Library’s Response to COVID-19

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As we welcome our UT Southwestern community back to the Health Sciences Digital Library & Learning Center space in May 2021, we’d like to reflect on what we have done to make it safer for you to come back over the last year. The Library Staff of 16 spent a combined total of over 2,250 hours on COVID-19 related projects in the past year. Our list of contributions is as follows:

  • Created the comprehensive COVID-19 Library Guide.
  • Conducted COVID-19 mediated searches with related clinical, research, and administrative purposes.
  • Created, maintained, and performed daily searches to maintain the Campus’s COVID-19 Funding Opportunities directory.
  • Selected and created the Library Reservation System for safe studying and contact tracing.
  • Instructed CME class related to searching for COVID-19 topics.
  • Processed Interlibrary Loan requests with safety precautions.
  • Planned and implemented the closing of the physical North and South Libraries and then the opening of South Campus Library, including publishing the UT Southwestern Library Re-Opening Guide.
  • Planned and made necessary changes to workflows and staff remote set-ups to allow full continuation of research and instructional services.
  • Had multiple discussions and made decisions for additional resources related to COVID-19 for inclusion the Library Guide.
  • Learned and networked about handling COVID-19 in medical libraries via professional organizations, webinars, and conferences.

Bitty Babu, the Library’s Database Analyst, complied our COVID-19 service hours and provided the following visualizations for our efforts.

UTSW South Campus Library re-opens May 1st

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As the UT Southwestern campus transitions to Phase 3 on May 1, 2021, the Library is excited to welcome our UT Southwestern users back to the Health Sciences Digital Library & Learning Center!

Our ability to remain open depends on you – the users – following the new Phase 3 guidelines. These guidelines have been developed to protect the health and safety of you and others.

  • All Library spaces are individual study and by reservation only.
  • UT Southwestern continues to strongly encourage – but no longer require – the wearing of masks by students, faculty, staff, and guests in nonclinical areas of our campus.
  • Maintain the standard 6 feet of physical distance between yourself and others.
  • Practice hand hygiene.

Together we can safely transition to Phase 3 and remain open. Thank you for helping ensure the health and well-being of yourself and others.

To reserve your study space, go to the Library Reservation System.
A UT Southwestern Library Space Reservation Tutorial is available to walk you through the steps.

For more information, visit the UT Southwestern Library Re-Opening Guide.

UTSW Women & Allies BRG announces March Book Club title and virtual discussion sessions

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“Leadership is not about titles or the corner office. It’s about the willingness to step up, put yourself out there, and lean into courage. The world is desperate for braver leaders. It’s time for all of us to step up.”

—Brené Brown

The UT Southwestern Women & Allies BRG Book Club Subcommittee is excited to announce the Women’s Month Celebration Book Club pick! The book they will be discussing is Dare to Lead by Brené Brown. There will be two hosted book discussion date/time options:

Please click the links above to register in advance for the date/time of your choice. A copy of Dare to Lead can be found at several libraries in the Metroplex, and additional resources (podcast, assessment, workbooks, etc.) may be found on Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead website.

For questions regarding Book Club, please contact Whitley.Anders@UTSouthwestern.edu.

On My Own Time Virtual Exhibit open; vote for People’s Choice August 10-14

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The 2020 On My Own Time Virtual Exhibit is live! View the virtual exhibit and vote for your favorite visual work from August 10-14, 2020, at the People’s Choice Voting site.

More than 70 visual works from 53 UT Southwestern employees are on virtual display now.

Categories include color photography, black & white photography, works on paper, works on canvas, mixed media, digital and computer art, fiber and textiles, sculpture, corporate collaboration, and woodworking skills.

Artists could also select two additional UT Southwestern-specific categories for their artwork. Around half of all entries were made over the last few months and are included in the Stuck at Home category, and 13 works are in the Sustainable category.

For more information about On My Own Time or to view previous year’s winners works, go to utsouthwestern.edu/omot.

Spring Library EndNote training sessions announced

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The Library is pleased to announce three training sessions devoted to getting you started with EndNote.  EndNote is a bibliography and research tool provided to UT Southwestern community members through a site license and is available at no charge. Permission is granted to download to an on-campus machine and a laptop or home computer. Select a date below to register.

Wednesday, March 25th noon to 1:00 p.m.    
Getting Started with EndNote 
Online

Wednesday, April 8th noon to 1:00 p.m.    
Getting Started with EndNote   
Online

Wednesday, April 22nd noon to 1:00 p.m.    
Getting Started with EndNote   
Online

New photography exhibit featuring campus sculptures now on display in South Campus Library

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A new campus photography exhibit is now on display at the South Campus Library until March 27, 2020.

In 2019, UT Southwestern received three significant art donations, expanding the campus’s outdoor art holdings dramatically. In celebration of these additions to our campus, UTSW students and employees who have previously submitted photographs to the annual On My Own Time art show were invited to photograph works of art in the UTSW collection that are on display outdoors. Each photograph offers a unique perspective: some photos include people interacting with the art; some utilize digital filters or photography techniques to strike a dramatic tone; and others capture close-ups of the surface of the artwork, separating it from its setting and focusing the viewer on its surface treatment.

Works on view in this photography exhibition include:

  • Joel Shapiro, Untitled, 2018-19, cast bronze, located on Seldin Plaza (© 2018 Joel Shapiro/Artist Rights Society (ARS), New York); gift of Joseph L. Goldstein, MD
  • Ursula von Rydingsvard, Dumna, 2015, cast bronze, ed. 3 of 3, located on Seldin Plaza; gift of Joseph L. Goldstein, MD
  • Tom Orr and Frances Bagley, Forest of Light, 2019, steel, acrylic, LED, located on the rooftop garden of West Campus Building 3; given anonymously “with heartfelt thanks to John Warner, MD, from a grateful patient, turned friend”
  • Isaac Witkin, Sabras, 1973, steel, located near Seldin Plaza; donated by Patsy and Ray Nasher, 1988, in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Eugene Frenkel
  • William Verhelst, Fountain, 1965, bronze, located on the grounds of the Bass Center
  • James Surls, Spiraling Flower, 1994, wood and steel, donated by Julie and George Tobolowsky in honor of Barbara and Donald Zale, 1997

“World War I: Lessons and Legacies” poster exhibit on display at South Campus Library

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The UT Southwestern Library has acquired World War I: Lessons and Legacies, a poster exhibit from the Smithsonian Institute that is currently on display at the South Campus Library.

This exhibit explores the history of the war and its lasting impact on American life. Sparked by the assassination of one man, the war eventually included the forces of the world’s major industrial powers (over 18 countries in all) and ended with millions dead. But beyond the countries involved and the people affected, World War I gave rise to significant and enduring changes in America. Wartime technologies and medical advances resulted in new industries and novel ways to both fight disease and treat disability. The critical roles that women and minorities played in the war led to the right to vote for women and a raised consciousness of civil rights issues throughout society.

From the Great Migration to the 1918 flu pandemic and from the unionization movement to women’s suffrage, World War I led to pivotal changes in America’s culture, technology, economy, and role in the world. It redefined how we saw ourselves as Americans and its legacy continues today.

Got talent? Contribute to this year’s On My Own Time Art Show

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Showcase your artistic skills in the 19th annual On My Own Time Art Show, a regional art competition hosted by the Business Council for the Arts that features the creative abilities of business professionals throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Winners of the UT Southwestern competition will be showcased alongside winners from other D/FW participating companies.

For the 2019 show, employees can enter works in two main art categories:

  • Visual Art: includes works on canvas or paper, photography, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, metalwork, mixed media, textiles, and fiber art.
  • Literary Art: includes short stories, poems, and creative non-fiction. In addition, UT Southwestern employees will have the opportunity to compete against other companies across the Metroplex. Selected literary works will appear in an On My Own Time journal and on the Business Council of the Arts website.

Submissions will also be accepted in a third, UTSW-only category: Sustainable Art. The items must contain materials that have had a prior use before they were incorporated into the art work. Entries will be judged by a separate group of UT Southwestern judges, Green Champion volunteers, and employees from UTSW’s Sustainability program. Note: works that need maintenance or items that may decay will not be accepted. Entrants must specify this category when artwork is dropped off in the South Campus Library.

Starting August 1, UT Southwestern entries will be on display in the Health Sciences Digital Library and Learning Center on the South Campus. Art professionals chosen by the Business Council for the Arts will judge the Visual Art category entries and select honorable mention and first place winners. From the first-place winners, judges will choose a “Best of Show” entry. UT Southwestern employees will have the opportunity to select a “People’s Choice” award in August.

First place winners from each category and the “Best of Show” selection will go to a region-wide show at NorthPark Center from October 3 – 20, 2019.

Registration ends for all categories July 19. Visit the On My Own Time website for further information and to complete registration. Click on the “2019 Registration” light blue button on the left and enter “creativity2019” as the password to gain access.

For questions, email OMOT@utsouthwestern.edu.