Solar Eclipses in Texas, Then and Now

Sam Wassink, Metadata Librarian

Photo of large book open to title page with text: Report of the Observations of the Total Solar Eclipse, July 29, 1878, Made at Fort Worth, Texas, edited by Leanord, assistant at the observatory at Harvard College, Cambridge, Press of John Wilson and son, 1879. the page is stamped with the words, This book not for circulation. On the opposite side of the book is a frontispiece featuring an albumen print situated sideways, with seven people lined up with telescopes of various sizes and other equipment.
Frontispiece and title page, Report of the Observations of the Total Solar Eclipse, July 29, 1878, Made at Fort Worth, Texas, edited by Leonard Waldo, published by Press of John Wilson and Son: Cambridge, MA, 1879. Call no. 523.78 W147r OVER-T, TSLAC Main. [Click on image for larger version.]

On July 29, 1878, a group of astronomers from around the country gathered at the S.W. Lomax Farm outside of Fort Worth to study and photograph a total solar eclipse. Reporters from the Fort Worth Daily Democrat wrote that citizens were encouraged to observe the eclipse using a piece of “lightly smoked” glass as a viewing protector and then report their findings. Their results were recorded in several publications.

Closer view of albumen print plate from book Report of Observations of the Total Solar Eclipse, with seven men lined up outdoors with telescopes on tri-pods and other equipment.
Astronomers and their equipment, frontispiece of Report of the Observations of the Total Solar Eclipse July 29, 1878, Made at Fort Worth, Texas, edited by Leonard Waldo, published by Press of John Wilson and Son: Cambridge, MA, 1879. Call no. 523.78 W147r OVER-T, TSLAC Main. [Click on image for larger version.]

Leonard B. Waldo of Harvard College (now University) Observatory coordinated the “Fort Worth Eclipse Party” and invited astronomers R. W. Willson, J. K. Rees, W. H. Pulsifer, and F. E. Seagrave to particpate. Waldo then published in 1879, Report of the Observations of the Total Solar Eclipse July 29, 1878, Made at Fort Worth, Texas. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) has in its holdings an original copy of the text, which includes a photograph of the five astronomers and their equipment in a plate at the front of the book.(According to the article, History Was Made in the Shade When “Scientists Scooped Old Sol in Pantherville,” also featured in the photo were Dallas photographer Alfred Freeman and vice president of City National Bank, Alfred M. Britton.) The Report contains detailed explanations of their aims in the introduction and reports from each astronomer as individual chapters. The publication concludes with a summary of observations from others who experienced the event and four more plates with images from the eclipse.

photo of large book open to a page with a drawing of an eclipse that appears as a black circle surrounded by white etched in a circle around it all centered in a black square.
“Plate III, Naked-eye view of the corona. Drawn by Professor S. H. Lockett,” Report of the Observations of the Total Solar Eclipse July 29, 1878, Made at Fort Worth, Texas, edited by Leonard Waldo, published by Press of John Wilson and Son: Cambridge, MA, 1879. Call no. 523.78 W147r OVER-T, TSLAC Main. [Click image for larger version.]
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What’s in Your Constitution: A Prohibition Retrospective

By Rachel Union, Library Assistant

The United States Congress first proposed the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1917. This amendment was ratified in January of 1919 and later that year became the subject of federal legislation, called the Volstead Act, prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcohol. Congress passed this legislation, which was then vetoed by President Woodrow Wilson and later overridden by Congress in that same year. The era of American history where the federal government banned alcohol (1920-1933) became known as Prohibition. Texas amended the state constitution and instituted “dry laws.”

Edward McLandish’s Bootlegger’s Map of the United States, 1926. Richard Niles Graham Collection, 1846-1958.

Originally, limiting the use of grains for the manufacture of alcoholic beverages began during WWI in an attempt to ensure food security in the United States and for other purposes such as the production of medicine and fuel. Post WWI, the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcohol became the rallying cry for those in the temperance movement who felt that the consumption of alcohol poisoned people and lead to ills in society.

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Explore 100 Years of Texas State Parks with TSLAC Resources

By Alec Head, Reference Librarian

In 2023, Texas celebrates 100 years of its State Parks program. Governor Pat Neff encouraged the state legislature to create the State Parks Board in 1923, something he later said was his proudest achievement. The board worked to develop better infrastructure, allowing for camping by Texans who were by then commonly driving modern automobiles and able to travel hundreds of miles into the great wilderness. What better way to celebrate a century of Texas State Parks than to pack up and embark on an age-old Texan tradition: camping! 

Black & white photo two individuals in a small row boat landing on the shore near a tent, picnic table, and car in the background.
Possum Kingdom_14. 2011/434 (TX005320) Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. Photos and negatives (Parks and Wildlife), 1938-about 1979.

From its humble beginnings in 1923, the Texas State Parks Board has grown enormously to designate 76 separate State Parks. Encompassing more than 580,000 acres, the possibility for adventure is endless. Each year, more than 8 million people visit Texas parks. To celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Texas State Park system, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission—formed by a 1968 merger of the Texas State Parks Board and the Game and Fish Commission—is hosting a series of events each week through the end of the year. More information about where and when these events take place can be found on the Parks and Wildlife Commission Website.

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Texas Governors: Indelible Ann

By Traci Reece, Reference Librarian

As legislators and staff return to the Texas State Capitol for the start of the 88th Texas Legislature, we’re looking back at the legendary Texas Governor Ann W. Richards. Thirty-two years ago this month, Governor Richards was inaugurated as the 45th Governor of Texas. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission has in our collections papers, photographs, and publications connected to Texas governors dating back to the first chief executive of the state, including Richards.

Book cover with illustration of Ann Richards in profile with bluebonnets decorating the bottom portion
Cover: Indelible Ann: The Larger-Than-Life Story of Governor Ann Richards by Meghan P. Brown and Carlynn Whitt

Last fall, TSLAC’s Texas Center for the Book selected as the Texas Great Read for 2022 the new picture book biography about Governor Richards, Indelible Ann: The Larger-Than-Life Story of Governor Ann Richards by Meghan P. Browne and illustrator Carlynn Whitt. The author spoke about her work and the importance of the TSLAC collections in supporting her research in the promotional video for the Texas Great Read, which also includes images of Richards from our State Archives.

Texas Center for the Book interview with Meghan P. Browne for the 2022 Texas Great Read, Indelible Ann.

Browne is not the first author to publish a book on Richards. Our library stacks contain numerous titles focusing on the governor, some of which are currently on display in the Reference Reading Room. See below for a list of featured titles.

Title

Author

Call Number

Collection

A love letter to Texas women

Bird, Sarah

Z UA380.8 B532Lo

Texas Documents,

e-Book online

Ann Richards : “a woman’s place is in the dome”

Stumpff, April D.

920.7 R390a YALL

Reference Reading Room Collection

Capitol women : Texas female legislators, 1923-1999

Jones, Nancy Baker

328.764 J722c

Main

Claytie and the lady : Ann Richards, gender, and politics in Texas

Tolleson-Rinehart, Sue.

976.4063 T578C

Main

Indelible Ann : the larger-than-life story of Governor Ann Richards

Browne, Meghan P.

976.4063 B814in YALL

Reference Reading Room Collection

Let me tell you what I’ve learned : Texas wisewomen speak

Pierce, Paula Jo

920.72 P611L

Main, e-Book online

Let the people in : the life and times of Ann Richards

Reid, Jan.

Z UA380.8 R272LE

Texas Documents, e-Book online

Molly Ivins can’t say that, can she?

Ivins, Molly

070.92 Iv5m

Main

Storming the statehouse : running for governor with Ann Richards and Dianne Feinstein

Morris, Celia.

923.2764 R39M

Main

Straight from the heart : my life in politics and other places

Richards, Ann.

973.927 R39S

Main

The great Texas wind rush : how George Bush, Ann Richards, and a bunch of tinkerers helped the oil and gas state win the race to wind power 1st ed.

Galbraith, Kate

Z UA380.8 G131gr

Texas Documents, e-Book online

The thorny rose of Texas : an intimate portrait of Governor Ann Richards

Shropshire, Mike.

976.4063 R39S

Main

Where is Sam Houston Buried? : A Tour of the Graves of the Governors of Texas

Swearingen, John

923.2764 SW31w

Main

With Ann : a journey across Texas with a candidate for Governor

Bonar, Ave.

923.2764 R39B

Main

Women and Texas history : selected essays

Downs, Fane

305.4 W8423

Main

To search for these books and more, visit our library catalog. If you are interested in checking out a title from this post, please visit the Reference Desk or contact your local library about borrowing books through the interlibrary loan program. Call us at 512-463-5455 or send an email to ref@tsl.texas.gov with your questions about our collections.

Governor Richards, press conference with Harley Davidson, May 21, 1992. Governor’s activities, 1991-1995, 1992/095-2-1, TSLAC Current Events Photographic Documentation Program Collection. TSLAC.
I did not want my tombstone to read, ”She kept a really clean house. I think I’d like them to remember me by saying, “She opened government to everyone.” Ann Richards, from Indelible Ann: The Larger-Than-Life Story of Governor Ann Richards by Meghan P. Browne and Carlynn Whitt.

Explore Our Collections

Visit us online or at our library to see documents and images from the first century of Texas governors in Texas Governors and their Times, 1846-1946 on exhibit at TSLAC through May 15, 2023.

Sign up for our research webinar, “Researching Texas Governors at TSLAC” scheduled for January 27 at 3:00 p.m.

See more Featured Collections blog posts for additional women’s history topics:

Women’s History Month 2022: Agents of Change

Traci Reece, Reference Librarian


The 2022 Women’s History Month themeWomen Providing Healing, Promoting Hope” honors the incredible impact and sacrifice of women in public and private roles throughout history.

Photo of an Austin Fire Department firefighter. Public relations committee files, 1978/032-7-TWU images-10, Texas International Women’s Year Coordinating Committee Records. TSLAC. View in the TDA.

As we enter the third year under the cloud of the COVID-19 global pandemic, we can look back at the collective sacrifice of caregivers and frontline responders as agents of healing and hope. We invite you to explore inspiring stories from our publications and online collections by and about Texas women as agents of change.

Publications

Titles from the Texas State Library collections related to Women’s History Month.

Agent of change : Adela Sloss-Vento, Mexican American Civil Rights Activist and Texas Feminist by Cynthia E. Orozco, 2021. Texas Documents collection, Z UA380.8 OR68ag
Biography of essayist Adela Sloss-Vento (1901-1998) documents her rise from Jim Crow/Juan Crow era to prominent pioneer of the Mexican American civil rights movement.

On Juneteenth by AnnetteGordon-Reed, 2021. Main collection, 394.263 G658o
Texas native and Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Gordon-Reed knits history, family, and memoir to create a compelling yet intimate portrait of Juneteenth and its unique impact on the narrative of Texas history.

Voice Lessons by Alice Embree, 2021. Texas Documents collection, Z UA380.8 EM12vo
Austin activist and feminist Alice Embree recounts her evolution through the women’s liberation movement of the 1960s and 1970s. 

See our Featured Collections blog posts for additional women’s history topics:

Online Exhibits

Panoramic photograph of nurses at “Nurses Base Hospital, Camp Travis, March 27, 1918. Prints and Photographs Collection, 1/142-L345. TSLAC.

Hear Laura Bush read the 1919 broadside “Handicapped” on our Voices of Texas History online exhibit.

Explore documents and images of “Texas Women in World War I” in our Texans Take to the Trenches online exhibit.

Watch the video introducing our exhibit Women’s Power, Women’s Vote.

Photo of Susan Cunningham, Denton Police Department officer. Public relations committee files,1978/032-7-TWU images 7, Texas International Women’s Year Coordinating Committee Records. TSLAC. View in the TDA.

Related Resources

Visit the National Women’s History Alliance website for more information about the2022 Women’s History Month theme “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope”.

The Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) Handbook of Texas Women features articles on a variety of women’s history topics, with related links and bibliographies for further reading. The project website includes additional resources for educators, enthusiasts, and students.

Additional women’s history resources are available on the Women in Texas History and Peoples History in Texas websites.


New Year, New Titles and More at the Texas State Library and Archives

Traci Reece, Reference Librarian

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) Archives and Reference staff are pleased to welcome researchers back to our research rooms on Second Saturdays and throughout the week at our Lorenzo de Zavala building in Austin! We have exciting changes to share and look forward to helping with your research needs.

Home of the Texas State Library and Archives at 1201 Brazos St. in Austin.

New Titles at the Library

Our staff have been busy processing new books and adding them to the catalog and the shelves at TSLAC. While many may know us for our historical collections of original documents in the State Archives, we are also home to the Texas State Library’s book collections. We regularly acquire titles about Texas, family history, US government documents, periodicals, and more through state and federal depository programs, librarian selections, and donations. The books in our library collections are available for on-site research, with many titles also available for checkout from our library and through interlibrary loan (ILL). Contact your local library about ILL or contact the Reference Desk for availability. Typically, books that are not available for check-out will have a note in the catalog record that reads “non-circulating.” Our staff is happy to provide information about circulation procedures and other library services.

So, what’s new? Here’s a brief sample of some of the recently added titles currently on display in our Reference Reading Room:

Display of recent titles added to the Texas State Library collections.

Title

Author

Call number

Collection

African American lawmen, 1867-1877. Volume 1

Mboma, Lievin Kambamba

363.23089 M459a

Main

The art of Texas : 250 years

Tyler, Ronnie C.

709.764 AR75 ARTS OVER-T

Reference

Bluffing Texas style : the arsons, forgeries, and high-stakes poker capers of rare book dealer Johnny Jenkins

Vinson, Michael

381.45 V786BL

Main

Cult of glory : the bold and brutal history of the Texas Rangers

Swanson, Doug J.

363.209 SW24c

Main

Don’t count the tortillas : the art of Texas Mexican cooking

Medrano, Adán

Z TT422.8 M469do

Texas Documents

Friday night lives : photos from the town, the team, and after

Clark, Robert

Z UA380.8 C549fi

Texas Documents

Gone at 3:17 : the untold story of the worst school disaster in American history

Brown, David M.

373.764 B812g

Main

The heartbeat of Wounded Knee : native America from 1890 to the present

Treuer, David

970.004 T726h

Main

How Myth Became History: Texas exceptionalism in the borderlands

Dean, John Emory

810.9 D345h

Main

Let the Lord sort them : the rise and fall of the death penalty

Chammah, Maurice

364.66 C357L

Main

Lone star vistas : Travel writing on Texas, 1821-1861

Haas, Astrid

Z UA380.8 H111Lo

Texas Documents

Reverberations of racial violence : critical reflections on the history of the border

Hernández, Sonia

Z UA380.8 R323

Texas Documents

The southern exodus to Mexico : migration across the borderlands after the American Civil War

Wahlstrom, Todd W.

Z TA475.8 W127so

Texas Documents

Explore more new titles at TSLAC by browsing our online library catalog. The catalog includes a link to Newly Added Titles with a list of recent additions to the collections.

The TSLAC library catalog links to a list of newly added titles.

Second Saturdays

Beginning in January, TSLAC will welcome patrons into the Reference and State Archives reading rooms each second Saturday in 2022. Second Saturdays are a great opportunity to catch up on your genealogy or research projects, and our staff are here to help. Both reading rooms will be open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the following days:

2022 Second Saturday Dates

January 8

April 9  

July 9

October 8

February 12

May 14

August 13

November 12

March 12

June 11

September 10

December 10


Reading Rooms

The State Archives and Reference reading rooms are open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and for our Second Saturday hours. Library materials and public computers with internet access are available in the Reference Reading Room. No registration or appointments are required, but we do appreciate advance notice and scheduling an appointment if you will be accessing archival materials. We have an FAQ on our website for standard questions about research at TSLAC and the Before You Visit page contains a lot of helpful information.

New Topics and Time for the Friday Research Webinars in 2022

Our Research Webinar series continues every fourth Friday of the month, with a new slate of topics for 2022 and a new time. Research webinars on newspapers, African American genealogy, maps, the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center, the Texas Digital Archive, and the Republic of Texas will take place via Zoom at 3:00 p.m. on scheduled Fridays. The first webinar of 2022 will take place on January 28 on the subject of newspapers. Join our Reference staff as they present these 20-minute live webinars or view recorded sessions on our webpage and YouTube channel. Sign up in advance and come with your questions! Visit our Research Webinars page to preview the schedule, register to attend, or to watch past recorded sessions.

Robust Remote Services

If you are unable to visit us on-site, our digital collections and databases are available online 24/7.  Reference staff are also available to provide remote reference services via phone at 512-463-5455 and email at ref@tsl.texas.gov. Many of the TSLAC resources available to you from home are listed on our website. An Out of the Stacks blog post from 2020 offers a closer look at our remote services with the article, Reference and Research Assistance at the Ready: Remote Services Are Here for You.

Visit our website for information about reference services at our library. Check our Agency Calendar for special events and dates our building will be closed.


We look forward to seeing our visitors in person!

ref@tsl.texas.gov / 512-463-5455 / www.tsl.texas.gov/reference


Balmorhea State Park Pool

After a two-year closure for a renovation project, the Balmorhea State Park pool in West Texas has reopened, offering visitors the opportunity for a refreshing dip into the spring-fed waters once again. In celebration of this Texas landmark, let’s dip into the collections at the State Archives for a look at historic images related to Balmorhea.

The popular summer swimming destination has been attracting travelers for decades. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built the park and its structures, including the pool, as part of the federal government’s effort to provide employment and a reliable paycheck for Americans suffering poverty during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Image: Swimming pool springs 4-miles out, Balmorhea, Texas, 1936. William Deming Hornaday Photograph Collection,1975/070-5412. TSLAC. View in TDA.

The State Archives has in its collections the CCC drawings for Balmorhea and other Texas State Parks. Explore the collection online through a searchable database specifically designed for these materials here: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/apps/arc/CCCDrawings/

An extensive gallery of archival images of the Balmorhea project is also available for easy browsing online through the State Archives’ Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/texasstatearchives/albums/72157623645126618

Balmorhea State Park – Master Plan Cover Sheet – SP47-100
https://www.flickr.com/photos/texasstatearchives/4443594888/in/album-72157623645126618/
Balmorhea State Park – Development Plan, Solomon Springs Area – SP47-100-3
https://www.flickr.com/photos/texasstatearchives/4520436989/in/album-72157623645126618/

Texas State Parks Board records housed at the State Archives include images, promotional materials, correspondence and other items connected to the Balmorhea project. Though most of these records have not been digitized, several images below offer a glimpse of the kinds of research materials one might discover in these files.

San Solomon Springs – #558 – Balmorhea, Texas, 1939. Acquisition and development files, 2005/041-11. Texas State Parks Board records. TSLAC.

In a 1944 letter, the district engineer for the Texas Highway Department seemed perplexed by a request from the Texas State Parks Board to “place a reflectorized sign at the entrance to Balmorhea State Park.” The sketch in the image below was provided as evidence of the work having been completed several years prior.

Letter to Quinn from Killner, March 4, 1944. Acquisition and development files, Texas State Parks Board records, 2005/041-11. TSLAC.
Sign design for Balmorhea State Park, September 28, 1940. Administrative subject files, 2005/041-11, Texas State Parks Board records. TSLAC.

Would you rent a bathing suit at a swimming pool? According to this “notice to the public” about Balmorhea, bathing suits for sale or rental were available on site.

Notice to the public, undated. Acquisition and development files, Texas State Parks Board records, 2005/041-11. TSLAC.

The State Archives library collections also have publications on Balmorhea State Park and related topics. Here are examples of titles with links to the records in the online catalog:

Balmorhea State Park activity book / P500 B215AC 1998 / Texas Documents Collection

Birds of Balmorhea State Park & vicinity : a field checklist / P500 B215B 1992 / Texas Documents Collection

General community profile on Balmorhea / I400.7 G286BALH 1978 / Texas Documents Collection

Rebirth of a desert wetland : the San Solomon Ciénega / P500 B215SA 2004 / Texas Documents Collection

For information on how to find these and other materials about Balmorhea State Park, please contact our reference staff at ref@tsl.texas.gov or call 512-463-5455.

Americans with Disabilities Act at 30

In recognition of the thirtieth anniversary of the American Disabilities Act (ADA) passed in July of 1990, we offer a sampling of our collections and publications related to disability history. As part of our mission to preserve records produced by state government and agencies, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) houses materials relevant to the historical efforts to provide services to Texans with disabilities. TSLAC also preserves materials from other entities and individuals that contains information related to this theme. Our reference library serves as a federal depository and therefore includes numerous US government publications on the ADA along with titles specific to Texas. All of the publications listed are also available online.

View of institute for the blind from the street, 1894.
Institute for the Blind, 1894 [Austin]. 1/2 26. Artwork of Austin (Chicago: W.H. Parish Pub. Co., 1894). Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Archival Collections Related to Disability History in Texas

Texas State Board of Control records, 1854, 1885-1890, 1909-1979, undated (agency with oversight of the state schools and hospitals, and schools for the deaf and blind from 1920-1949).

Texas Board for State Hospitals and Special Schools, Texas Confederate Woman’s Home resident files, about 1900-1965.

Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation

Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services

Texas Governor records

Texas Department of Criminal Justice

Texas Research and Oversight Council on Workers’ Compensation records, 1989-1999.

Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired meeting files, 1856-1919, 1979-2015.

Texas School for the Deaf minutes and agenda, 1982-1998.

View of school for the deaf, 1894.
School for the Deaf, 1894 [Austin]. 1/2 76. Artwork of Austin (Chicago: W.H. Parish Pub. Co., 1894). Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Texas Commission for the Blind records, 1932-2003, undated.

Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing records, 1972-2004.

Texas State Department of Health records, 1853, 1899-1901, 1910, 1921-1955, undated.

Texas Bureau of State Health Planning and Resource Development. Texas Medical Facilities Inventory and Utilization reports, 1973-1983.

Texas Department of Public Welfare Executive Office central files, 1943-1977.

Texas Board of Human Services

  • Meeting files, 1933-2004.
  • Records (copies of handbooks/manuals and some historical files), 1954-1981 (this finding aid is not available online)

Texas Department on Aging records, 1957-2002.

Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs records, 1972-2001.

Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services records, 1992-2000.

Texas Adjutant General’s Texas State Troops records, 1861-1865, undated.

Texas Comptroller Confederate pension application records, 1899-1979 (you had to be indigent and unable to support yourself, the applications note a number of diseases and disabilities).

Texas Veterans Commission records, 1918, 1935-1937, 1944, 1947-2006.

Texas Youth Commission Morales case files, 1949-1990 (health care and lack thereof was one of the issues in this landmark lawsuit).

Texas State Library and Archives Commission Director and Librarian’s records (include records of programs/services for blind and physically handicapped patrons).

Texas Library and Archives Commission chairman’s files (include records of programs/services for blind and physically handicapped patrons).

Texas State Library and Archives Commission, records (include records of programs/services for blind and physically handicapped patrons).

A one sheet piece of paper from circa 1953 with type writer written text and with heading text of Service for the Blind surrounded by a thick blue border. The text reads: 
For many years the State Library has been the depository of reading matter for the blind. Until 1934 the books were those printed in Braille or other kinds of raised type that could be read by touch. To read in this method it was necessary to learn a difficult art and so the number of borrowers was limited, and persons who became blind late in life were not always able to enjoy the books. 
But now that the Talking Books are available in quantity and machines with which to listen to the records are furnished without coast, the number of borrowers has grown enormously, until now the State Library has the names of over 900 blind borrowers in its list. 
Talking Books are one of the most dramatic developments in service to the blind, and they bring to these persons the great world of books, for either entertainment or study. Imagine the pleasure and satisfaction of being able to listen to a well-trained voice reading to you the type of book that holds your interest and attention.
In many households, members of the family literally do not have time to read aloud to their blind relatives, and these Talking Books can take their place in this respect.
The special machines on-which the records must be used are furnished by the State Commission for the Blind, and, since these are on deposit and not for sale, no cost except that of transportation from Austin, is involved. If you know of a person in your community whose vision is so impaired that he can no longer read print, he can write to the Commission for the Blind and find out the details of how he can obtain one of these machines. 
Once a borrower has obtained such a machine, his name is sent to the State Library and he becomes a borrower of Talking Books. 
Talking Books are records and are sent to the State Library from the Library of Congress without cost. These records of books are packed in stout containers and the Government carries them through the mails without cost. 
The selection of books is excellent and the Bible is included, as well as many of the classics. Some of the very latest books can be found recorded, and the Reader’s Digest and Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine are released almost as soon as the monthly issues in print are placed on newsstands.
By means of a unique system of charging these books the borrower is given a special service. Once he has indicated the type of reading in which he is interested, Talking Books are sent him, and as soon as he returns one book, another is mailed. This method keeps the flow of books moving without the need of correspondence. 
This is a joint operation of your Federal and State government, and it is something of which all of us can be proud. 
For information from the State Commission for the Blind write to Mr. Lon Alsup, the Director, in Austin. For this borrowing of the Talking Books write to either Miss Adele Mitchell or to Miss Emma Harrell, Texas State Library, Austin.
[Texas State Library Scrapbook] 1980/219-227-21, about 1953. Records, Texas State Library and Archives Commission. [Read Transcript]

Texas Rehabilitation Commission records, 1969-1996 (this finding aid is not available online).

Austin State Hospital bulletins, 1960-1964 (this finding aid is not available online)

Austin State School records, 1917-1919 (correspondence of J.W. Bradfield, superintendent of the school) (this finding aid is not available online).

Josephine Lamb collection, 1931, 1942-1969, undated (head of psychiatric nursing in the state hospitals in the 1950s-60s).

Anne Michel valedictory address (valedictory address made by Annie Michel at the Texas Institution for the Blind, dated 1884).

Zachary Taylor Fulmore biography (contains photographs, correspondence and biographical notes pertaining to his support for education in Texas including the Stuart Female Seminary; Austin Public School; State School for the Blind; Colored Deaf, Dumb and Blind School and others, dated 1954. Fulmore (1846–1923) was a lawyer, judge, author and charter member of the Texas State Historical Association).

“The Lone Star” Graduation Numbers (Graduation editions – referred to as numbers – of the “Lone Star,” a magazine produced by the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin, Texas. The magazines are dated 1933-1938).

Republic Claims, particularly pension claims, which may include claims by veterans injured while serving in the Republic of Texas:

Governor George W. Bush, Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities records

Texas Confederate Home Roster (available in Archives Reading Room Transcriptions of entries from the roster and the ledger are available by request, by emailing archinfo@tsl.texas.gov. The original records are not available to view).

Publications Related to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Disability History

From isolation to participation– : a history of disability in Texas, 1835-1999
G1001.8 F925 1999 OVER-T
Available online: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1204314/m1/

Disability history [electronic resource] : an important part of America’s heritage : defining the next generation
L 41.2:D 63/3 (electronic resource)
Available online: https://permanent.fdlp.gov/gpo12332/Disability%2520History_508%2520compliant_links.pdf

History of the provisions of old-age, survivors, disability, and health insurance, 1935-1996
SSA 1.2:OL 1
Available online: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/011325808

Beyond the cases: 26 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act : the lives, faces, and stories behind the ADA
J 1.2:D 63/10 (electronic resource)
Available online: https://permanent.fdlp.gov/gpo121018/beyond_cases_26yrs.pdf

An Act to Restore the Intent and Protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 [electronic resource]
AE 2.110:110-325 (electronic resource, also available in print)
Available online: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-110publ325/pdf/PLAW-110publ325.pdf

The impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act [electronic resource] : assessing the progress toward achieving the goals of the ADA
Y 3.D 63/3:2 IM 7/3 (electronic resource)
Available online: https://wayback.archive-it.org/3658/20160329060700/https://www.ncd.gov/publications/2007/07262007

Implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act [electronic resource] : challenges, best practices, and new opportunities for success
Y 3.D 63/3:2 IM 7/2 (electronic resource)
Available online: https://permanent.fdlp.gov/lps91121/implementation-07-26-07.pdf

NCD and the Americans with Disabilities Act [electronic resource] : 15 years of progress
Y 3.D 63/3:2 AM 3/4 (electronic resource)

Available online: https://permanent.fdlp.gov/lps97365/15yearprogress.pdf

Wilderness accessibility for people with disabilities [electronic resource] : a report to the President and the Congress of the United States on Section 507(a) of the Americans with Disabilities Act
Y 3.D 63/3:2 W 64
Available online: https://permanent.fdlp.gov/lps97467/wilderness.pdf

Legislative history of Public Law 101-336, the Americans with Disabilities Act : prepared for the Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred First Congress, second session
Y 4.ED 8/1:102-C
Available online: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/011336939

An Act to Establish a Clear and Comprehensive Prohibition of Discrimination on the Basis of Disability
AE 2.110:101-336
Available online: https://www.ada.gov/pubs/adastatute08.htm

The American with Disabilities Act Public Law 101-336 [electronic resource]
L 41.2:2004018154
Available online: https://www.webharvest.gov/peth04/20041108022736/http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/ada92fs.htm

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the health professional : an introduction to what health professionals need to know about employment of people with disabilities
PREX 1.10:H 34/2/BRAILLE
Available online: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/011416482

The Americans with Disabilities Act : how is Texas doing? : the initial report of the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities on the state’s implementation of the ADA
G1001.8 AM35
Available online: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1204507/m1/

Veterans with service-connected disabilities and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) [electronic resource] : a guide for employers
Y 3.EQ 2:8 V 64
Available online: http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS105556

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1989 : hearings before the Committee on Labor and Human Resources and the Subcommittee on the Handicapped, United States Senate, One Hundred First Congress, first session, on S. 933 … May 9, 10, and 16, and June 22, 1989
Y 4.L 11/4:S.HRG.101-156
Available online: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/008516709

Joint hearing on H.R. 2273, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1989 : joint hearing before the Subcommittees on Select Education and Employment Opportunities of the Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, One Hundred First Congress, first session, hearing held in Washington, DC, July 18, 1989
Y 4.ED 8/1:101-37
Available online: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/007605519

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1989 : hearings before the Committee on the Judiciary and the Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred First Congress, first session, on H.R. 2273 … August 3, October 11 and 12, 1989
Y 4.J 89/1:101/58
Available online: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/008516943

Americans with Disabilities Act : hearing before the Subcommittee on Transportation and Hazardous Materials of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred First Congress, first session, on H.R. 2273 and S. 933, bills to establish a clear and comprehensive prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability, September 28, 1989
Y 4.EN 2/3:101-95
Available online: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/007606121

Featured Collection: Census 2020

By Sean Wood, Library Assistant

Featured books currently on display highlight publications related to the U.S. Census from 1937 – present.

Every ten years, the United States Census Bureau conducts a census of population and housing. As the 2020 census begins, it is interesting to consider the variety of uses this accumulated data will have. The current Featured Collection focuses on the Census Bureau’s efforts over the years to retrieve, analyze, and distribute that data, as well as other institutions’ use of demographic information.

Our featured book display,”The U.S. Census,” includes questionnaires, signs, reports, guides, and maps from the Texas State Library and Archives collection. For information about the current census or pasts censuses, please visit www.census.gov.

U.S. Imports & Exports: Information Now Available on Compact Disks for Use on Your Personal Computer; TSLAC U.S. Document collection.

Although our reading room is currently closed to the public, a booklist of all featured titles is listed below. For more information about access to the titles on display, please contact TSLAC reference services at ref@tsl.texas.gov or call 512-436-5455.

Women-Owned Businesses 1972; TSLAC U.S. Document collection.

District profiles: congressional, state senate, and State Board of Education districts; TSLAC Texas Document collection

Title

Author

Call number

Collection

Census 2000 Island Areas Summary File

U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau

C 3.223/23-2:2000 PHC-4-08-USIA/CD

USD

LandView IV [electronic resource] ” the Federal geographic data viewer

U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Geography Division

C 3.301:L 23

USD

Making Indian Country Count: Native Americans and the 2020 Census

United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Indian Affairs

Y 4.IN 2/11:S.HRG.115-210

USD

Beyond the Citizenship Question: Repairing the Damage and Preparing to Count ‘We the People’ in 2020

United States. Congress. House. Committee on Oversight and Reform. Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Y 4.OV 2:116-52

USD

Getting Counted: the Importance of the Census to State and Local Communities Field Hearing

United States. Congress. House. Committee on Oversight and Reform. Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Y 4.OV 2:116-30

USD

Hearing with Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.

United States. Congress. House. Committee on Oversight and Reform

Y 4.OV 2:116-11

USD

The Importance of Accurate Census Data to Small Business Formation and Growth

United States. Congress. House. Committee on Small Business. Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Capital Access, and Tax

Y 4.SM 1:116-029

USD

Demographic Trends in the 20th Century

Hobbs, Frank

C 3.205/8-3:4

USD

Portfolio of United States census maps, 1950 : a selection of maps used in the publications of the 1950 censuses of population and agriculture.

U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Geography Division

C 3.950/2: M 32

USD

Questionnaire : quarterly interview survey : consumer expenditure surveys

U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census; U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

C 3.272:CE-302/994

USD

¡Atencion! Se necesitan enumeradores para el censo de agricultura [picture]

Departamento de Comercio de los EE.UU., Negociado del Censo

C 3.270:EN 8/SPANISH OVER-X

USD

Current population survey. Income and poverty 1993

U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Data User Services Division

C 3.224/12-2:993

USD

United States census 2000 : making it count : address list review opportunity 1998.

U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

C 3.2:C 73/10

USD

U.S. Imports & Exports. Information Now Available on Compact Disks for Use on Your Personal Computer

U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

C 3.2:EX 7/6

USD

Estimates of population and per capita income compared with numbers from the 1980 census of population and housing for Texas counties and incorporated places : containing figures derived by the US Bureau of the Census

Texas State Data Center

I1150.7 D262 NO.85-3

TXD

Redistricting, Part One: The 1990 Census

Vargas, Tom

L1801.7 H816 NO.158

TXD

Redistricting, part 2 : the 1980 census

Texas. Legislature. House of Representatives. Study Group

L1801.7 H816 NO.49

TXD

Census 2010 : implications for Texas

Howe, Tom

L1801.7 H816SEF NO.81-10

TXD

Redistricting by the numbers : issues for census 2000

Graves, Patrick K.

L1801.7 H816SEF NO.76-20

TXD

The status of women and girls in Dallas County : a comparative analysis from the 2000 census

Weinstein, Bernard L.

Z N700.8 ST29WO

TXD

The demography of the Texas elderly population

Saenz, Rogelio

Z TA455.7 T226 NO.95-1

TXD

Patterns of ethnic change in Texas 1980 to 1990 : the 1990 census

Murdock, Steve H.

Z TA455.7 T226 NO.91-2 V.2

TXD

Patterns of ethnic change in Texas 1980 to 1990 : the 1990 census

Murdock, Steve H.

Z TA455.7 T226 NO.91-2 V.1

TXD

1980 Census Tracts. Austin. Tex., Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area

U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

C 3.223/11:980/80/MAPS

USD

1960 Census of Housing. Texas. State and Small Areas

U.S. Bureau of the Census

C 3.224/3:960/45

USD

District profiles : congressional, state senate, and State Board of Education districts

Texas. Legislature. Legislative Council

L1400.7 IN2 NO.88-5C

TXD

Your daily expenses : help us learn about the buying habits of people in the United States

U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau

C 3.272:CE-801/2005

USD


Statistics in Schools and the 2020 census (Administrator guide) [Administrator guide].

Statistics in Schools, [U.S. Census Bureau]

C 3.2:SCH 6/2

USD

Pocket Data Book. USA 1976

U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

C 3.134/3:

USD

U.S. Industrial Outlook 1977

U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of Industrial Economics

C 57.18:977

USD

Frozen Cooked Food Survey

U.S. Dept. of Commerce

C 57.2 : F 73

USD

Texas county population changes in the 1970’s

Skrabanek, R. L.

Z TA455.7 T226 81-5

TXD

Electronic Data Processing Equipment for Census ’70

U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

C 3.2:EL 2/2

USD

Women-Owned Businesses 1972

United States. Bureau of the Census

C 3.250:72

USD

Mastering census & military records 2nd edition.

Quillen, W. Daniel

929.10285 Q414m

GEN-ReadyRef

Religious Bodies: 1936 – Selected Statistics for the United States by Denominations and Geographic Divisions

U.S. Bureau of the Census

C 3.35:936 A

USD

Estimated impacts of the 2010 census on the Texas transit funding formula

Eschbach, Karl

T1311.7 R311 NO.6199-1

TXD


 A timeline of census history [2019 edition].

U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau

C 3.2:T 48/2019

USD

Red River County in 1890 : the year of the missing census

Lee, Johnie, compiler

976.4212 L513r

GEN

U.S. Census jobs opening in your area! : work for the U.S. Census Bureau and be part of the 1990 census : take a temporary job that counts for YOUR community

U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

C 3.2:J 57/3

USD

Households, Families, and Children: a 30-Year Perspective

Lugaila, Terry

C 3.186:P-23/181

USD

How We Live: Then and Now

Linden, Fabian

C 3.2:L 74

USD

Data.census.gov: Census Bureau’s new data dissemination platform : frequently asked questions and release notes

U.S. Census Bureau

C 3.2:D 26/14

USD

Your guide to the 2020 Census : how to respond to the 2020 Census paper questionnaire Large print.

U.S. Census Bureau

C 3.6/2:R 31/LARGE

USD

Health insurance coverage by type of coverage and state : 2018

Conway, Douglas

C 3.297/3:18-03

USD

Explore Census Data

U.S. Census Bureau

C 3.300/2

USD

2020 Census : actions needed to address key risks to a successful enumeration

U.S. Government Accountability Office

GA 1.5/2:GAO-19-588 T

USD

2020 census: status update on early operations : a report to congressional requesters

U.S. Government Accountability Office

GA 1.41:GAO-20-111 R

USD

Privacy impact assessment for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) immigration-related information sharing with U.S. Census Bureau

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

HS 1.2:C 33

USD

The American Community Survey : development, implementation, and issues for Congress

Williams, Jennifer D.

LC 14.23:R 41532

USD

Striking a Balance: Preserving Delicate Documents while Providing Access

by Caroline Jones, Reference Archivist

An essential component of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission’s (TSLAC) mission of providing Texans access to the information needed to be informed, productive citizens is preserving the archival record of Texas. But what if archival materials are too fragile to be regularly handled? How do we balance preservation with access to the information? Efforts to both preserve records and maintain public access to them has changed over time as technology advances. In celebration of the American Library Association’s Preservation Week (April 26-May 2,2020) we are highlighting one of our collections that exemplifies this balance: Texas Adjutant General’s Department Civil War military rolls.

The Texas Adjutant General’s Department Civil War military rolls include muster rolls, payrolls, rosters, returns, and election returns of Confederate States Army, Texas State Troops, and Army of the United States units that were stationed in Texas during the Civil War. A typical military roll includes the soldiers’ names and ranks, their commanding officer, a description of the organization, enlistment and discharge data, descriptions of individuals, when and where they were stationed, and arms issued. Much of this information can be seen in the muster roll for Company C, 15th Brigade, Cavalry, Texas State Troops included below. Because of the level of individual information contained within the military rolls, researchers and genealogists consider this a highly valuable resource.

Figure 1: #101, Captain John W. Bone, Captain J.J. Harrison, Company C, 15th Brigade, Cavalry, Texas State Troops, July 24-August 6, 1863. Image accessed through the Texas Digital Archive (TDA).

Preserving Original Documents with Conservation Treatments
Many of the military rolls are extremely fragile. The more the paper is handled, the more likely it is to tear or curl. In addition, inks, like iron-gall ink, eat through paper and can make the rolls illegible, while also destroying the stability of the paper. In the early-to-mid 1900s many of these rolls underwent a common conservation treatment of the time called “silking.” Silking was a process of adhering a thin piece of silk to the front and back of the paper to support it. Despite best intentions, archivists and conservators now know that the silks’ acidity causes the paper to become more brittle and discolored over time. Between 2010 and 2019, TSLAC Conservation tackled this collection and addressed these issues in the military rolls. The oversized Confederate military rolls were conserved by removing the silk, deacidifying the paper, stabilizing the iron gall ink, and mending tears. This extensive project has allowed for more access to the physical rolls and prepared them for the digitization process.

Figure 2: A “de-silked” military roll in the conservation lab.

Enhancing Access through Digitization
These Civil War military rolls are currently being digitized to preserve the original records while still making them available to the public. Digitized military rolls are available online through our Texas Digital Archive (TDA) at: https://tsl.access.preservica.com/tda/texas-state-agencies-homepage/tmd/#civilWarRolls Researchers can view and download watermarked versions of these military rolls on the TDA.

Prior to the conservation and digitization of these military rolls, their information was only accessible through transcriptions. In the early 1900s almost all of the Civil War military rolls were transcribed onto three by five inch index cards. These cards provided researchers with a way to find the information included within the military rolls without having to pull the rolls out of archival storage. There are three different sets of index cards: “Abstracts of Muster Rolls,” “Captains,” and “Units.” The largest of these is the “Abstracts of Muster Rolls” which fills 65 drawers of the card catalog in the Archives Reading Room. An example of a typical abstract card is shown below.

Figure 3: Abstract card file for 2nd Sergeant Isaac Stewart, Civil War Index- Abstracts of Muster Rolls, Texas, Muster Roll Index Cards, 1838-1900. Image accessed through Ancestry.com

This abstract card is for 2nd Sergeant Isaac Stewart of Company C, 15th Brigade, Cavalry, Texas State Troops. Below is a closer look at the Texas State Troops muster roll from Figure 1, showing Stewart’s rank, age, and enlistment information.

Figure 4: Portion of roll #101, Captain John W. Bone, Captain J.J. Harrison, Company C, 15th Brigade, Cavalry, Texas State Troops, July 24-August 6, 1863.

Not only do these transcriptions help preserve the original rolls, they allow researchers to search by name without needing to know what unit an individual served in. These cards are regularly consulted instead of pulling the original military rolls. This has helped to preserve these documents for future generations of researchers. For those unable to visit our location in Austin, there has always been an option to contact our Reference team to have up to five names searched in the card index.

The Civil War military rolls index cards became accessible online through Ancestry.com within the database “Texas, Muster Roll Index Cards, 1838-1900.” The digitization of these cards not only preserves these heavily used reference materials for future use but allows for greater access to them. The database gives researchers the opportunity to browse the cards as well as search by name, date, location, or keyword. This database is accessible to all Texas residents through our website at: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/arc/ancestry

TSLAC continues to fulfill its mission to preserve archival records while maintaining public access to them. As shown by the history of our Civil War military rolls, methods of preservation and access evolve as new technologies become widely available.

More information on conservation at TSLAC can be found in our blog “TSLAC Conservation” at: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/conservation.

More information on our Civil War military rolls can be found in the online finding aid at: https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tslac/30073/tsl-30073.html.

Learn more about Preservation Week at www.ala.org/preservationweek.