Howdy! My name is Memphis Mallory and I interned at Shumla during the Spring semester of 2025. Under the supervision of the Curator and Data Manager, Kelsie Hart, I have helped to update Shumla’s collections management to better preserve photographic and cartographic materials that benefit Shumla’s mission of documenting the rock art of the Lower Pecos Canyonlands. I have also continued the digitization of the Curt Harrell Legacy Collection.

About me

I am a junior at Texas State University, double majoring in Anthropology and German. Archaeology has been a life-long passion of mine, and I am grateful to Shumla for giving me the opportunity to become immersed in archaeological and curatorial research.

I started off as a volunteer, working with Kelsie Hart to digitize the photographic materials of the Curt Harrell Legacy Collection. This experience introduced me to the world of curation and archives, which inspired me to continue working with Shumla as an intern.

My Experience with Shumla

As an intern, my primary responsibility was assisting Kelsie Hart in updating the curatorial infrastructure and management systems of Shumla. With Ms. Hart’s guidance, I helped to set up Shumla’s environmental monitoring system, which tracks the temperature and humidity of the collections space to ensure optimal conditions for Shumla’s archived materials. I also rehoused Shumla’s photographs, maps, and field notes using archival-grade materials, built new shelving to prevent pest and flooding damage, and worked with Ms. Hart to update Shumla’s collections management procedures. This work was supported by a grant from the Texas Historical Foundation.

Two collections I focused on over the course of my internship are the Curt Harrell Legacy Collection and the Terry Sayther Collection. The Curt Harrell Collection is composed of a series of binders full of photos from the 80s and 90s, taken during fieldwork expeditions in the Lower Pecos region. In addition to rehousing and cataloguing these photographs, I continued the digitization that other interns and volunteers, such as Robert Stein, have worked on during their time here.

The Terry Sayther Collection is comprised of photographs, maps, research notes, and manuscripts that provide invaluable information about the rock art sites of Southwestern Texas and Northern Mexico. While I rehoused these materials, I have not been able to begin their digitization (although Shumla is always looking for volunteers interested in archives and digital cultural heritage). Throughout this internship, I was provided with supplementary readings that have enriched my understanding of prehistoric archaeology, curation, art history, and mythology.

Conclusion

My time as an intern at Shumla has been absolutely wonderful. Due to my experiences at Shumla and the connections I have built with their amazing team, my love for the ancient world– and my decision to pursue archaeology as a career– have been reaffirmed in every possible way. I would like to thank Kelsie Hart for her support and guidance throughout this internship; Ms. Hart’s dedication to her work as a Curator, as well as the interns and volunteers in her charge, is truly inspiring.