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Library History

How did the John Peace Library Building get its name?
John Robert Peace (1917-1974) was a prominent lawyer and public official, credited with being a key figure in establishing the University of Texas at San Antonio. The UTSA Special Collections unit at the John Peace Library has his collection of more than 900 books and 500 documents of Texana. More information about John Robert Peace is available in The Handbook of Texas Online.

Tell me about the tapestry hanging in the John Peace Library.
The tapestry hanging in the stairwell between the second and third floors is a tapestry of historic San Antonio by Sandra Freeze Hulse, a native of San Angelo, Texas. It was completed in 1980 after 18 months of work. The tapestry was donated to the University of Texas at San Antonio by Guaranty Bank.

Hulse's tapestry was commissioned in 1979 for the lobby of the headquarters of First Federal Savings and Loan in San Antonio. Guaranty Bank acquired First Federal in 1994. Recognizing its regional significance and the need for it to be professionally maintained, Ron Murff, president of Guaranty Bank's retail division, donated the work to UTSA for its growing collection of Texas and Southwestern art.

The tapestry depicts 32 San Antonio landmarks including the Alamo, Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jose, the Governor's Palace and El Mercado.

A regionally renowned artist, Hulse has exhibited in one-artist shows at prominent galleries throughout the country and her works have been shown in museums in Texas and New Mexico. Hulse works in a broad range of media including watercolors, charcoal and oils, as well as tapestries.