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. |
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| 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. |