After returning from a study abroad program in Israel, Grace Stewart joined the Houston Jewish History Archive (HJHA) intern team in early September, 2021. Grace is interested in Christian-Jewish relations, and she felt that working for the HJHA would be a great opportunity to learn more about the Jewish community and culture in Houston and at Rice. In her work, she has noted how much of an impact the Jewish community has had on Houston yet how little that impact is discussed.
Grace’s main role at the HJHA is to review interview transcripts for spelling and grammar mistakes so the text copies can be added to the archive. Through this experience she has been able to read many stories about Jewish History in Houston, and is proud to be part of archiving stories she worries could be forgotten.
After being asked what she would say to someone considering working for the HJHA, Grace said there is much to learn through the stories that people share. She noted that many people you might see on the street have stories to tell “if you take the time to listen.” To Grace, working at the HJHA is meaningful because she is helping give a voice to those who have not had a chance to tell their stories.