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Recovering History
Recovering History
In 2016 and 2017, just as the school name was being changed from Jefferson Davis High School to Northside High School, a major renovation of the school was underway. The project, which planned to remodel the school's interior while preserving the historical facade of the building, was the result of years of community planning, debate and discussion. This massive undertaking required that entire floors of the building be packed up and moved. In the process, the archival materials, which had been carefully organized and beautifully displayed in the library, also had to be moved. After the dust had settled, much of the archive had to be reorganized. In the summer of 2019, I set about organizing the archive room once again.[1]
It was in this process that I truly began to appreciate the rich history of Northside High and the seeds of this website were planted. The Northside archive is a rare gem that contains yearbooks, school newspapers, uniforms and so much more going back nearly 100 years.
Northside's archive is the product of decades of organizing, research and care. While several displays showcase notable alumni and athletic triumphs, much of this archive remains hidden and out of public view. Also missing has been a narrative that tells the story of the school’s history in all its complexity. The ultimate goal of this project has been to create an online, digital museum of the school’s history that gives the public access to the school’s archival materials and provides a compelling narrative of the history of Northside High School.
Footnotes
*Source: Archive images, Northside High School Archive.
[1] "Northside High School Performing Arts Addition and Comprehensive Renovations," IBI Group, Houston ISD, Houston, TX, accessed July 12, 2022, ibigrouptexas.com.
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