Abstract This article explores notions of amateurism in relation to story-gathering, primary source classification, and other archival practices. Particularly, the author’s path to his role as National Collector at the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art is traced from his familial, art historical and intellectual roots in West Texas. Arguing that cultures of West Texas place an exceptionally high value on retaining and generating stories particular to the region’s history, Franco points to examples from archaeology, Texas history, art history, and contemporary art. Substantial scholarly work has been committed to the complex relationships between professional fine artists and untrained outsiders. Franco takes methods from these explorations in order to approach the equally complex relationship between professional state-sponsored archival practices and similar endeavors undertaken by individuals and smaller, homegrown archival projects from a specific American region.

中文翻译：

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德克萨斯州西部没有业余爱好者

摘要 本文探讨了与故事收集、主要来源分类和其他档案实践相关的业余概念。特别是，作者在史密森尼美国艺术档案馆担任国家收藏家角色的道路可以追溯到他在西德克萨斯州的家族、艺术历史和知识渊源。佛朗哥认为西德克萨斯的文化非常重视保留和产生该地区历史特有的故事，佛朗哥指出了考古学、德克萨斯历史、艺术史和当代艺术的例子。大量的学术工作一直致力于研究专业优秀艺术家和未经训练的局外人之间的复杂关系。