XAVIER SCHOOL - Xavier Archives Open for Business

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HIGHLIGHTS

Xavier Archives Open for Business
Fr. Santos G. Mena, S.J., School Archivist

Posted Saturday, 20-Jan-2007 9:40 AM

The word “Archives” may sound as something cavernous, musty, and boring. This is not the case of Xavier Archives. In fact, the Archives Office is one of the most pleasant offices in the school. Located in the St. Joseph’s Garden Area, in the Administration Building, it is bright, cool, and full of fun. Entering the Exhibit Area any alumnus will recognize learning tools he handled during his school days, like a vintage typewriter of the famous and winning typing class, Fr. Pineau’s blackboard eraser, or the rosary beads that Fr. Cortina used daily for sixty years. Family memorabilia that will bring beautiful memories of a cherished past.

The Archives’ vision and mission are to preserve the school’s identity by keeping and making available the records of its history. Established by School Director, Fr. Johnny C. Go, S.J., only a year ago, the Archives is being organized by Fr. Santos G. Mena, S.J. and its staff. Even at this early stage the Archives has already something to offer. Although the more glamorous of its facilities is the Exhibit Area, the heart of the Archives is its Vault. This is a climate-controlled room where the processed documents are being stored in acid-free folders and containers. Paper acidity is one of the factors that shorten the life of historical records. Others are light, dust, heat, and humidity. To these we have to add the usual pests that feed on deliciously crunchy old paper; termites, cockroaches, ants, rodents, cats, and birds are unwelcome visitors at any Archives. To protect the documents from these agents, a special room was built last summer incorporating the latest technical specifications. The fire-proof room is spotlessly clean, with subdued light, at constant temperature and humidity, and so built that pests are effectively dissuaded from entering it. The Archives facilities include a Processing Area and a Restoration Lab, where precious documents in poor condition are treated to prolong their life.

The Golden Jubilee has been a busy year for the Archives. Everyone was in need of pictures, lists, names and other data for their publications, programs, and other events. We have been happy to be of service, for that’s one of the purposes of the Archives, to provide the community with material for research and publication. But we also hope to keep enriching our collections through the contributions of the community at large.

This is an appeal to the alumni and former faculty members – especially those who were students in the school’s early years -- to rummage through drawers and closets for old school-related items that can be donated to the Archives. No matter how insignificant things may look like – even something as trivial as an ice cream slip – may be of great interest for us. We also welcome books, theses, articles, and anything else published by our alumni. We are in dire need of pictures from the Echague era and the decade of the ‘60s. You do not have to part with your pictures; you can bring them to the Archives for scanning and take them home afterwards. Almost every day people walk into our office bringing pictures, memorabilia, learning packages, programs, posters, souvenirs, coffee mugs, ball pens, caps, and just about anything related to the school. You are most welcome.

This is also an open invitation to all to drop by the Archives Office any old time you happen to be at the school. You will be surprised what little collections of knick-knacks we are building up. Contact us if you have something to offer. Our telephones: 723-04-81 Locals 281 or 431 or 427. e-mail address: <mitch@xs.edu.ph> Thank you for your cooperation. At your service.