The Sons of the Republic of Texas (SRT) recently received a grant to continue digitization of their archive of 16th - 20th century Mexican manuscripts, housed at UTSA Libraries.
The grant will support the hiring of a full-time digitization technician to scan and catalog the collection, making these valuable materials accessible to scholars world-wide.
The Sons of the Republic of Texas Kathryn Stoner O’Connor Mexican Manuscript Collection includes more than 5,400 items documenting social, political and religious life in central Mexico. Scholars will find information about individuals who influenced the country’s development, including Kings of Spain, two emperors of Mexico, Viceroys of Mexico, and Presidents of Mexico and the United States. Other items include financial records, personal and business correspondence, censuses and maps.
The collection is named in honor of Kathryn (Kate) Carlisle Stoner O'Connor, a preservationist, philanthropist and historian, best remembered for her role in the restoration of Nuestra Señora de Loreto Presidio in Goliad, Texas.
“This grant will enable us to greatly increase access to the SRT collection by presenting the entire collection in our digital portal,” said Amy Rushing, head of UTSA Special Collections. “We are grateful for the support from the SRT. We have a long-standing relationship with the SRT and we are honored to be the stewards of this important collection.”
Formed in 1893, The Sons of the Republic of Texas seeks to preserve the histories of the men and women who achieved the independence of Texas and secured its admission as a state of the United States, February 19, 1846.
UTSA Libraries’ Special Collections brings national recognition to the university for distinctive research materials documenting the diverse histories and development of San Antonio and South Texas.
- by Anne Peters
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