News

Storytelling Through Space: UTSA Public History Students Reimagine Special Collections

In Fall 2024, students in Dr. Omar Valerio-Jimenez’s graduate seminar, “Intro to Public History,” completed a digital storytelling assignment using materials from Special Collections. Each student selected a set of primary source documents and created an ArcGIS StoryMaps project that visually mapped the locations referenced in their chosen collection, transforming archival materials into interactive, place‑based […]

How our small team prepared for a major reopening

The Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) is moving into a new space. But every inch of it is meant to reflect the work, creativity and shared determination of a UT San Antonio team that rebuilt a museum from the inside out.

100 Years Ago: A Selection from the San Antonio Light Photograph Collection (MS 359)

These photographs were taken by the San Antonio Light staff photographers, most of them by Jack Specht, full-time photographer, and appeared in their daily newspaper throughout 1926.  All were taken in San Antonio.    They show the progress and completion of various building projects begun the previous year. They record special events, including races, contests, […]

Diana Kennedy Foundation Donates $500K to UT San Antonio Libraries

Diana Kennedy Foundation donated $500K to UT San Antonio Libraries to preserve and digitize the Diana Kennedy Collection, supporting research on Mexican cuisine, sustainability, and women in food studies.

The Villarreal Family Photograph Collection

By Myown Sims, UTSA Special Collections Student Clerk. The Villarreal Family Photography studio is possibly the first Mexican-owned photography studio in the state of Texas. The studio operated in Laredo beginning in 1898. Their photography is a testament to the history and stories captured within each image. The collection of glass negatives acquired by the […]

Doug Sahm: The Texas Tornado Who Redefined American Music

Doug Sahm’s musical journey is a true Texas legend. Born in San Antonio in 1941, Sahm was a child prodigy who mastered multiple instruments and graced stages across the South before his teens. From early rockabilly roots to shaping the Tex-Mex sound with the Sir Douglas Quintet and later the Grammy-winning Texas Tornados, Sahm’s career spanned genres and generations. His ability to blend country, blues, rock, soul, and conjunto made him a musical chameleon and a cultural icon. More than 25 years after his passing, his influence still resonates, inspiring artists to embrace the rich,…

Tradition and Technology: Texan Cultures Go Digital

When the Institute of Texan Cultures opens in early 2026, visitors will experience Texas through immersive multimedia technology. Explore six regions of the state via stunning projections, interactive touch-screen stations, and digital storytelling that reveal the people, places, and traditions shaping Texas life. From artifacts like the Tigua Drum to evolving online content, ITC offers a dynamic journey into culture, history, and community—one story at a time.

Hands-On Texas History

The Institute of Texan Cultures has partnered with the UT San Antonio Youth Artist Program and San Antonio Independent School District’s Mark Twain Dual Language Academy to test a new traveling trunk. Part of the museum’s Texkit traveling trunk program, students in fourth-grade art classes explored fibers and textiles through touch, art, and experimentation right in their classrooms.

Special Collections November Book Highlight

With Dia de los Muertos being a huge part of early November in San Antonio, I wanted to take the time to showcase this wonderful children’s book that was recently donated to Special Collections. It is titled, The Invisible Parade by Leigh Bardugo and John Picacio. Leigh Bardugo is the best-selling author the Shadow and […]

Saturday Night in SE Texas

On any given Saturday night in Southeast Texas, you can still stumble upon a Cajun dance, and chances are a band will strike up “Jolie Blonde.” Often called the Cajun national anthem, Harry Choates’ 1946 recording helped push Cajun music into the American popular music spotlight. The Choates’ family like many others were part of a large migration of Cajuns from Louisiana seeking work during the oil boom in the Beaumont–Port Arthur–Orange region—better known as the Golden Triangle.

A Canvas of Community

As the Institute of Texan Cultures staff began preparing for the museum’s reopening in early 2026 at Frost Tower, they knew they wanted visitors to feel an instant sense of connection the moment they stepped through the doors. The new lobby offered the perfect opportunity—a spacious wall that seemed to call out for something bold, beautiful, and meaningful.

Curating a Framework for Connection

As we settle into our new home, one of the most noticeable changes—beyond the square footage—is the way our exhibitions are organized. Before you explore the exhibit floor yourself, I would like to share the thinking behind our new approach and how it is designed to shape your experience.