History of UTSA Libraries Special Collections

Special Collections at UTSA have grown exponentially over the last 40+ years. Today, an average of 320 patrons per month use our collections for their research. Below are just a few highlights of the evolution of archival collections at UTSA.

1974 UTSA Special Collections Rare Books Library formally established with donation of John Peace Texana Collection and the hiring of Special Collections Librarian Carmen Perry.
1991 UTSA’s Hispanic Research Center (HRC), in conjunction with UTSA Library Special Collections, creates the Mexican American Archives Collection.
1994 In conjunction with UTSA Special Collections, the UTSA Center for the Study of Women and Gender establishes the Archives on Research for Women and Gender (ARWG).
1999 The Center for the Study of Women and Gender and the Hispanic Research Center close. The ARWG and Mexican American Archives transfer to the UTSA Archives.
2000 Collections continue to grow, building on the archival collections acquired by the ARWG and the HRC. New collecting areas identified, such as urban development and San Antonio literature.
2004 The independent departments of Special Collections Rare Books Library and UTSA Archives merge to become one department: UTSA Special Collections & Archives.
2009 First University Archivist hired, establishing a University Archives unit within UTSA Special Collections & Archives.
2010 Name changes to UTSA Special Collections.
2011 UTSA Special Collections merges with the ITC Library/Photo Archives. Name remains UTSA Special Collections.
2012 Special Collections establishes formal collecting strategy, naming 15 subject areas as collecting priorities for archival collections and five subject areas for the rare book collection.