ARUBA/LAGO ARCHIVES HAVE A NEW HOME

Personal memorabilia, such as photographs, copies of the Pan Aruban, The Aruba Esso News, and other such items that were collected by people who lived in Lago Colony and worked for Lago, now has a permanent home.  This material was donated over the years for the purpose of preserving the history of Lago Colony (later known as Seroe Colorado) and of Aruba.  Our gratitude goes out to Ginger Bassett for being the keeper of this material and who over the years has cataloged, cared for, and stored the material in her home in California.  Now thanks to the efforts of Ginger, Dan Jansen, and Frank Binetti, the archives have found a permanent home.

Frank Binetti has coordinated through Mr. Matthew Darby, C.A. the Archivist for the ExxonMobil Historical Collection which is housed at The Center for American History at The University of Texas in Austin, to make the Aruba collection a part of our "heritage on display" in a secure and protected environment for the viewing pleasure of all.

In Mr. Darby’s words; “We look forward to receiving this material and ensuring that it is preserved for many years to come.”

Ginger is reviewing and packing the archives in boxes and has begun sending them to Mr. Darby. Ginger estimates that by the end of September to early October all the archives will be delivered. It is estimated that around the beginning of 2007 the Aruba collection will be organized and available to the public.”

Mr. Darby said, “To give you an idea of how the process works, when members of the ex-Aruba community, and anyone interested in this history, come to see the material, we will sign them in as registered researchers and we will provide them with an inventory of the collection, what we call a finding aid. They will then be able to request the material and view it in our reading room.   We don't require an appointment, but it's always a good idea to contact me beforehand so I can meet them.”

People interested in donating Aruba material to the collection can do so easily as follows:

   1) Read the “Deed of Gift Explanation” form. (See Attachments)

   2) Fill out the “Deed of Gift” form and email it to Frank Binetti. 

       fkbinetti@beecreek.net   I will notify Mr. Darby of the contents of the gift.

   3) Once approval is given I will notify you of shipping instructions.

        Mr. Darby will add your material to the Aruba archives.

CLICK ON THIS LINE TO SEE THE EXPLANATION OF THE DEED OF GIFT.
CLICK ON THIS LINE TO SEE THE DEED OF GIFT.
CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN HISTORY

 

FIRST REPORT ON THE ARUBA ARCHIVES

Yesterday, 8/5/2007,  I received this email from Frank Binetti

Hi. Yesterday I was in Austin and visited Mathew Darby at the LBJ Library. He is quite a gentleman and spent the better part of an hour with me and the Aruba archives. You would be most impressed by how well the archives are organized and well taken care. Ginger, I'm sure that the way you shipped the boxes facilitated his job. Mathew was quite fascinated about our Aruba culture and Lago's importance on the world scene. He would love to some day attend an Aruba reunion and give a presentation on our archives and his impressions. I think that was what I heard Mathew! Ginger, could you please give me an idea about how many more boxes will be shipped to Mathew? Dan, I would definitely visit the library and take a look at the process so far. I wish we could have visited together but I had an archeological meeting down the street for the entire day. Next time. Thanks again Mathew...it was a pleasure finally meeting you. Frank

REMEMBER - THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS AND NOT COMPLETED.  IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ARCHIVES PLEASE DO SO AND USE THE DONATION FORMS PROVIDED AT THE ARCHIVED LAGO COLLECTION AT U OF TEXAS PAGE.
 
 

GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE ARCHIVED COLLECTION
First let me say a very heart felt thanks to Ginger Bassett for beginning the collection and then storing the material for many years until a permanent home could be found for the material.

Next Frank Benetti who began the search for a permanent home and when it was found followed through to completion.

Both of you, thank you so very much from everyone who ever lived in  Lago Colony.
 

HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS
 
I received the following e-mail from Frank yesterday, 10/26/2007.
Larry, Ginger and Dan,
     Attached is the list of the Lago Colony Archives located at the University of Texas. Hopefully this will address how the archives can be viewed for any one interested. Please publish this information on your websites as you see fit. Thank you.
A copy of an e-mail sent to Frank by Mat Darby was attached.
Frank:
 
Sorry it's taken me so long to get this inventory to you.  You'll find it attached as a Word document.  Right now, the materials are arranged based on the various shipments that I have received.  As I receive more material, the inventory will likely change.
 
In terms of folks coming to do research, they should contact me ahead of time so I can meet with them. If folks are interested in looking at a specific box, the box number is located on the left-hand side of the inventory. We would pull that box for them, and they could spend as much time researching as they'd like during our research hours, which are M-F, 10-5 and some Saturdays 9-2.  I will note that some of the items I've received arrived being a bit musty, and may require special handling, though folks would still be allowed to look at this material.
 
If you, or anyone else, has any questions about the inventory, feel free to contact me.
 
Have a great weekend.

Mat
_______________________________
Matthew Darby, CA
Archivist, ExxonMobil Historical Collection
The Center for American History
The University of Texas at Austin
Sid Richardson Hall 2.101
1 University Station D1100
Austin, Texas 78712-0335

512.495.4691 (phone)
512.495.4542 (fax)
msdarby@mail.utexas.edu
http://www.cah.utexas.edu
http://www.cah.utexas.edu/feature/exxonmobil

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LIST OF ARCHIVED MATERIAL
Please, read over the list and if any of you who lived or worked for Lago have anything to add. please contact Frank or Matthew Darby and sent the material.  It could not be in better hands and I hope someday in the future it will provides a little insight into the life and times of the people in an oil camp known as Lago Colony and worked in what was then the largest refinery in the world in one of the most wonderful places in the world, the little island of Aruba.  Dan Jensen

REQUEST FOR MATERIAL MADE TO THE 2008 ASHVILLE REUNION
This was handed out to all those who attended the Aruba Reunion in Ashville this year.  Those of you who did not attended may want to read this over and think about things you may want to donate to the University of Texas Archives for Lago Colony.