FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Austin, TX – The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) has announced new and revised finding aids recently made available online, along with fresh uploads to the Texas Digital Archive, its repository of electronic items.

The State Archives preserves and documents the heritage and culture of Texas by identifying, collecting and making available for research the permanently valuable official records of Texas government, as well as other significant historical resources. Finding aids are written guides to archival records, including descriptive information and a folder inventory, and help researchers in the use of holdings that have been prepared for research.

Researchers are invited to visit the State Archives in Austin during public service hours: 9 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month. The Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center is open for research Tuesday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Appointments to use archival materials are encouraged but not required. For more information, see www.tsl.texas.gov/arc/visit.

TSLAC provides access to finding aids online at www.tsl.texas.gov/arc. A comprehensive list of all recently added and updated finding aids can be found in TSLAC’s online catalog at https://bit.ly/TSLACnewcollections. Contact archives reference staff at 512-463-5455 or archinfo@tsl.texas.gov to learn more about finding aids. 

New Finding Aids

Manuscripts

George Willrich Spanish-American War papers

George Willrich served as captain of the Fayette Light Guard, first organized in 1886 as part of the Texas Volunteer Guard. On April 24, 1898, he joined for duty and enrolled at La Grange, Texas, to serve as captain of Company H, 1st Volunteer Infantry, during the Spanish-American War and was mustered into service the following month. The George Willrich Spanish-American War papers, 1898-1899, 1928, bulk 1898-1899, document his service and that of Company H in Havana, Cuba, during that military conflict and consist of quartermaster records; correspondence relating to personnel and military court matters; ordnance and ordnance stores records; infantry equipment inventories, schedules, and correspondence; muster rolls; an annual report of the Adjutant-General of the Army to the Secretary of War; and correspondence sent to Willrich in 1928 asking him to organize an encampment of Spanish-American War veterans. These papers have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive.

Hull-Daisetta Rotary Club collection (at Sam Houston Center)

The Hull-Daisetta Rotary Club was chartered on April 1, 1926, in Hull, Liberty County, Texas. Rotary clubs are local chapters of an international service organization that seeks to build fellowship and understanding between business and professional leaders. In 2006, several local individuals and organizations began working to support renovation of the Hull-Daisetta Rotary Club building and preserve its legacy. It was moved to the grounds of the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center in June 2010 and now houses an exhibit on the heritage of Rotary clubs and community service in Southeast Texas. The Hull-Daisetta Rotary Club collection documents some of the activities of the club, with records including attendance and program records, membership rosters, correspondence, financial records, newsletters, photographs, posters, and artifacts. Materials date 1926-1979, 2010, bulk 1949-1979

R.D. (Bob) Evans rice production slides (Sam Houston Center)

Robert Dawson (Bob) Evans was a prominent rice farmer in Devers, Liberty County, Texas. This collection consists of 275 color slides of photographs, maps, and statistical information pertaining to rice production in Southeast Texas, primarily Devers in Liberty County. Materials date 1961-1965.

State Records

Texas Constitutional Convention of 1974 audiovisual recordings

The Texas Constitutional Convention of 1974 was the culmination of a three-part process to revise and simplify the ninety-seven-year-old Texas constitution. These audiovisual materials date from 1974 and document the Constitutional Convention of that year (convened on Jan. 8 and closed on July 30), which failed to result in a revised constitution to submit to voters. Digital copies of the color slides, film footage of the convention, film productions about the convention and the original audio recordings regarding the convention, document its ceremonial aspects; selection of convention officers; committee appointments, assignments and meetings; floor debates; testimonies; press conferences; information prepared for the public; and the film productions The Making of the Texas Constitution A New Constitution for Texas. These digital copies were created TSLAC with grant funding provided by the Library Services and Technology Act, Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and are part of the Texas Digital Archive.

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles records  

These records include correspondence, minutes, organization charts and a draft of the agency’s sunset self-evaluation report, dating 1997-2022. Electronic records are part of the Texas Digital Archive.

Texas Guardianship Certification Board meeting agenda and minutes

These meeting agenda and minutes, 2006-2013, document aspects of the certification process, disciplinary proceedings against guardians and committee activities.

Revised Finding Aids

Texas State Archives Broadsides and printed ephemera collection

Sibley Cooley 36th Division Association audiovisual collection – the entire collection is part of the Texas Digital Archive

General John A. Hulen papers – select photographs have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Department of State Health Services organization charts

Texas Governor Allan Shivers lieutenant governor files

Texas 3rd Court of Appeals records – a portion of the Indexes and registers has been digitized and along with electronic selected case files are part of the Texas Digital Archive.

Texas Education Agency historical school district action files – card file indexes have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive.

Texas State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners records

Texas Board of Architectural Examiners records – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive.

Galveston County (Tex.) Justice of the Peace records – digitized records are part of the Texas Digital Archive.

Texas Animal Health Commission meeting records – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive.

Texas Attorney General’s Office Assistant for Information records

Texas Historical Commission History Programs Division records – oral history recordings, transcripts, and related photographs have been digitized and, along with electronic records received from the agency, are part of the Texas Digital Archive.

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The Texas State Library and Archives Commission provides Texans access to the information needed to be informed, productive citizens by preserving the archival record of Texas; enhancing the service capacity of public, academic and school libraries; assisting public agencies in the maintenance of their records; and meeting the reading needs of Texans with disabilities. For more information, visit www.tsl.texas.gov.