News
One day into the bombardment of the Alamo, the 26-year-old commander of the makeshift fortress, William Barret Travis, addressed a letter “To the People of Texas and All Americans in the world.” Dated February 24th 1836, “The Travis Letter” has become the single most revered and studied document in Texas history. The iconic letter will be on display for 12 days, symbolically representing the lengthy siege fought by the defenders of the Alamo, from Feb 23rd - March 6, 2015.
In less than 200 years Texas has evolved from a fledging republic to one of the most powerful states in the Union. Texans have witnessed and fought in the struggle for independence and peace on the frontier and continue to make strides in the contest toward racial and gender equality.
The Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center has re-opened following a series of renovations made to address critical safety and security issues at the historical resource depository in Liberty, TX. Repairs and upgrades were made possible in part by funds awarded from a $1 million appropriation by the 83rd Texas Legislature to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC).
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) announced today that it will acquire the records of outgoing Governor Rick Perry. The records held within this collection document the administration of the longest-serving governor in Texas history. Included in Governor Perry’s archives are policy files, appointments, correspondence, press releases, speeches, executive orders and memoranda documenting key policy issues pertaining to the Governor’s initiatives on economic development, education, workforce investment and improved quality of life for the people of Texas.
The Texas State Library and Archives announces the culmination of a digitization project that expands access to the Texas Senate audio recordings dating from 1972 to 2006. The project was made possible in part by funds awarded to TSLAC through the Library Services and Technology Act from the Institute of Museum and Library Services in February of 2013. Under guidelines set by IMLS, financial resources were applied to expand services for learning and public access to information and educational resources.
The Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center will be closed for renovations from November 3, 2014 through January 1, 2015 as part of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission’s (TSLAC) multi-year plan to address critical safety and security needs at the 127-acre museum complex in Liberty, TX.
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission is partnering with the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and LEGO Systems, Inc. to bring Junior Maker Spaces to local libraries. This initiative aims to provide children ages 4 to 6 with stimulating environments within their communities to promote motor skills and foster creative curiosity.
Texas In Focus:
Early Photographs from the State Archives
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission has won its appeal to keep its full allotment of federal funds awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Due to reductions in state funding in 2013, Texas was at risk of losing as much as $1.7 million in federal funds that is funneled to the state’s libraries through competitive grants, interlibrary loans, digital content and other statewide programs.
Peter Rogers, the artist of “Texas Moves Toward Statehood,” a dramatic mural of Texas history that has been a fixture in the lobby of the Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building for 50 years, will return to Austin for a public talk at the Zavala Building, Thursday, July 31, at 6 p.m.