Phyllis Earles

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (February 12, 2020) – Phyllis Earles, archivist, and head of the Special Collections and Archives Department at Prairie View A&M University, recently began her three-year term on the Texas Historical Records Advisory Board (THRAB).

Earles is one of nine members on the THRAB to:

  • promote awareness of historically significant records through education and training;
  • support public access to records;
  • serve as a catalyst for improving storage conditions within the state;
  • support the preservation efforts of historical and genealogical societies, archives, museums, libraries, colleges, local governments, and other institutions;
  • and review grant requests submitted to the National Historical Publications and Records Commission for funding.

“My platform should provide great opportunities to the historically underrepresented and diverse populations that encompass the past and will enhance the future heritage of all Texans,” she said. “Statewide exposure for Prairie View A&M University should also encourage networking with other institutions and organizations, educate a broader audience of the historical significance of Texas’ second-oldest institution of higher learning and other HBCUs and their rich history and contributions to Texas, the United States, and global arena.”

The governor of Texas appoints three members on the THRAB. The remaining six members, which include Earles, must have recognized experience in the administration of government records, historical records, or archives. They are appointed by the director and librarian of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

According to the THRAB website, the organization’s vision is to ensure the future of Texas is one in which all Texans are knowledgeable about their colorful heritage, where the record of the past is preserved and universally accessible, and contemporary documentation is valued by citizens of the state.

Earles’ term with the THRAB runs through Feb. 2023.

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