Texas: Photographs, Manuscripts, and Imprints

[Texas Centennial Celebrations:
Cowboy], reprinted 1986

World's Largest Oil Town,
Breckenridge, Texas., ca. 1921

Juneteenth, 54th anniversary
Emancipation Proclamation,
1865-1919

Colton's New Map of
the State of Texas, 1859

Part of the business section,
El Paso, Tex., ca. 1910s

The Routes of Santa Anna's
and Houston's Armies, 1855

Oil derricks appear everywhere,
1919, from Ranger, Texas and
the Ranger Oil Fields

About the Collection

Holding library: DeGolyer Library

Overview

The Texas: Photographs, Manuscripts, and Imprints digital collection contains hundreds of photographic images, real photographic postcards, books, historic documents, and maps of Texas held by SMU’s DeGolyer Library. Each item includes information about Texas and Texas history.

In particular, Texas: Photographs, Manuscripts, and Imprints reflects the state's rich history during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The digitized files in this online collection illustrate historical events such as the development of the Texas oil industry, relations with Mexico, the Texas Revolution, Mexican Revolution and Civil War. The collection also includes images of cultural experiences like the iconic State Fair of Texas and everyday life in the state. 

Holdings and Highlights

• A Brief History of Early Days in North Texas and the Indian Territory
• A City Plan for Dallas
• Album of views of Arizona, New Mexico and the Southwest, 1892: Mary Jacobson photographs of San Antonio
• Amateur stereos of Louisiana, Texas and Mexico, ca. 1895-1905, containing 15 views of Texas
• American border troops and the Mexican Revolution: snapshots, real photographic postcards and panoramas made in Texas during the Mexican Revolution
• Battle of San Jacinto: a variety of maps, illustrations, engravings, and images
• Brownsville, Texas: a collection of cartes-de-visite of Brownsville, Texas, ca, 1865, attributed to Louis DePlanque
• Collection of Adelsverein Documents. This collection includes 44 documents relating to the German colonization of Texas and the Adelsverein, also known as Society for the Protection of German Emigrants to Texas (Verein zum Schutze Deutscher Einwanderer in Texas). The Adelsverein brought thousands of German emigrants to Texas beginning in 1844. These documents include land grants, emigration contracts, promotional materials, and fiscal documents.

• Collection of African American Photographs
• Collection of Dallas morning news negatives and copy photographs
• Collection of Texas portraits: early Texas portraits from all walks of life, as well as a group from the Collection of African American portraits
• Collection of Texas postcards, Collection of real photographic postcards of Texas, and Eric Steinfeldt collection of maritime views: a growing number of rare, early photographic postcards showing Texas railroads, railroad depots, early oil fields and rigs, courthouses, military camps, parades, and events in small Texas towns from several collections of Texas postcards
• Collection of Texas stereographs: stereoviews that show various locations in/around Texas, ca. 1880s-1930s, including Galveston (during the 1900 hurricane), San Antonio, El Paso, Austin, Brownsville, King's Ranch, and more.
• Collection of Walter H. Horne photographs: Real photographic postcards made during the Mexican Revolution era in Texas
• Communication from Governor Pease of Texas, Relative to The troubles in that State. May 11, 1868
• The Decentralizer, a monthly socialist journal from Hallettsville, Texas
• Early Texas Town Views, by Louis de Planque
• Eric Steinfeldt collection of maritime views: a group of early images of shipping and the maritime industry in Texas
• El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico album
• El Paso, Texas and Paso del Norte, Mexico
• George A. McAfee photographs
• Henry A. Doerr Texas Stereographs depicting missions and everyday city life in San Antonio during the late 19th century
• Historic documents, such as the Texas constitution and the Confederate States of America constitution; A declaration of the causes which impel the state of Texas to secede from the federal union; and Texas Unanimous Declaration of Independence. 1836
• J. Allen Hansley photographs
• John N. Rowe III collection of Texas centennial and sesquicentennial posters. The Texas Sesquicentennial posters are re-creations of stamps designed for the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition held at Fair Park, Dallas, Texas. The event celebrated Texas' independence from Mexico in 1836.
• Lynn Lennon photographs of the State Fair of Texas: Photographs of the State Fair, ca. 1980s-1990s
• Love Field Air Corps Training Depot Album, Dallas, Texas, November 12-13, 1918
• Memorial on Behalf of the Citizens of Western Texas, Setting Forth the Grievances of the Loyal Union Men of that State..., 1866, a document referred to the Committee on Reconstruction, United States House of Representatives, petitioning for the creation of a separate state for Western Texas. This request is due to the area's pro-Union views during and after the Civil War and its mistreatment by the current state government.
• Pictorial Monogram of the State Government of Texas, 1873, H. B. Hillyer, Photographer. A composite photograph of the 1873 Texas legislators, including five African Americans, in the original frame.
• Ranger, Texas, and the Ranger oil fields: digitized book documenting the development of the Ranger oil fields in 1919
• San Antonio, Texas boudoir card photographs, ca. 1885-1889, by E. K. Sturdevant
• San Antonio, Texas stereos, ca. 1885-1889
• Texas Centennial stereo set

Grants

SMU Libraries has received funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services through a grant to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) as part of TSLAC’s TexTreasures program on multiple occasions. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas.

In FY2012, the grant funds were used to digitize early Texas postcards.

In FY2018, the funds were used for the digitization of pamphlets, brochures, and books of Texas promotional literature.

In FY 2020, the funds were used to digitize 411 historic Texas photographs and imprints.