FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Austin, TX – In recognition of Electronic Records Day on October 10, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Texas Digital Archive (www.tsl.texas.gov/texasdigitalarchive).

Established in 2015, the first electronic records added to the Texas Digital Archive (TDA) were from Texas Governor Rick Perry, who served as governor from 2000 to 2015. In addition to 4,000 cubic feet of paper records, TSLAC received seven terabytes of electronic records from the governor’s office, plus financial support for the new digital archive. The TDA was initially created to preserve and provide access to this 21st century collection. TSLAC opened the archive to the public the following year and has steadily built a substantial resource filled with historical documents, film, audio, photographs, artifacts and publications dating back decades and sometimes hundreds of years. 

The TDA currently holds more than 12 million records, with more being added on a regular basis. The digital archive is more than a repository of files. State Archives staff have worked to enhance ease of use and created tools to assist with navigation. Researchers will find portals to records by category, such as the 42 state agencies and papers from 11 governors, newspapers, and even photos of TSLAC’s extensive artifact collection. Custom search pages simplify locating materials in Texas Republic claims, Texas Supreme Court case files, Texas Senate recordings, State Fire Marshal fire insurance maps and more. 

As the TDA has grown, so have opportunities to collaborate and innovate. TSLAC coordinated with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) on a major project to digitize records from their Right of Way Division and include them in the TDA. TDA staff also developed a mechanism for capturing and making available social media records as part of the offerings in the digital archive. 

Archives are always evolving to preserve new and old technologies, and the TDA has provided the infrastructure to offer to the public digitized versions of records of all sorts. Behind the scenes, staff are working to transfer the material from the past onto the formats of the day for future access. Happy Anniversary to the TDA!

www.tsl.texas.gov/texasdigitalarchive

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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.