Baylor Libraries name Jeff Pirtle Director of The Texas Collection and University Archives
After a nationwide search, the Baylor Libraries announced the appointment of Jeff Pirtle as director of its Texas Collection and University Archives. Pirtle comes to Baylor from NBCUniversal where he started as an archivist in 2002 and currently serves as director of Archives & Collections. In this role, he oversees a department that is the central reference source for historic information, and acts as the spokesperson on the history of NBCUniversal. Pirtle will assume his new role at Baylor on July 1, 2022.
The Texas Collection and University Archives at Baylor University is one of the largest collections of Texana in the world. Started in 1923 with an initial gift from Waco physician Dr. Kenneth Hazen Aynesworth, The Texas Collection has continued to collect print items, photos, and some three-dimensional objects that preserve the history and culture of Texas. Researchers from around the world come to Baylor to leverage the resources of this archive to research facets of Texas including history, agriculture, literature, religion, politics, and education. The Texas Collection also serves as the official archives for the university.
"We couldn't be more pleased to announce the appointment of Jeff Pirtle as director of our Texas Collection and University Archives," said Jeffry Archer, dean of university libraries. "He brings a wealth of experience that will define the next era of this vital research archive for the university, the state of Texas, and researchers everywhere."
Prior to NBCUniversal, Pirtle served as Museum and Archives Project Manager for the J.C. Penney Company, and also worked with the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth. He holds a BA in History and an MA in Museum Science, both from Texas Tech University, and is an active member of the Society of American Archivists. He and his wife, Eleanor, have one son.
“My wife and I are very excited to get back to Texas, closer to so many friends and family,” said Pirtle. “It’s truly an honor and blessing to oversee one of the leading collections of Texana in the world and become part of the Baylor family. I can’t wait to work with the team at The Texas Collection to build on this archive’s amazing foundation and to foster its growth and academic engagement.”