Jelain Chubb joined the Texas State Library and Archives Commission in June 2010 as director of the Archives and Information Services Division and Texas state archivist. She oversees the commission’s public service areas: the Texas State Archives, the Reference and Information Center, the Texas Family Heritage Research Center, and the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center. As state archivist, she is responsible for ensuring that permanent records documenting Texas’ history as a colony, province, republic and state are preserved for future generations. She also is charged with leading efforts to expand public access to historical documents, photographs, maps and other materials and integrating primary source materials into educational curricula.

Jelain came to Austin after serving as state archivist of Ohio for the Ohio Historical Society, based in Columbus. She also served as administrative archivist for the Missouri State Archives, and held positions with the Kansas and South Carolina historical societies. A South Carolina native, she earned her bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the College of Charleston, and master’s degrees in library and information science and applied history with a specialization in archival administration, both from the University of South Carolina at Columbia. She is a Certified Archivist and Certified Records Manager. In 2015 she was named an SAA Fellow.