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The Texana Collection of the San Antonio Public Library is housed on the sixth floor of the Central Library in the Texana/Genealogy Department. This general overview covers the main categories of materials in the Collection. It may be used as a place to begin your research plan. The Texana Collection collects, preserves, and offers research materials in subject areas relating to San Antonio and Texas. Using the Library’s computerized catalogue, finding guides, and specialized indices, a trained staff member is available during all hours of Library operation to help make your search easier and more pleasant. Because of the unique and fragile nature of many of the materials, items do not circulate and may not be taken from the Texana/Genealogy Department. BOOKS The book collection covers all fields, but is particularly strong in history, biography, social sciences, and natural sciences. Included are
PERIODICALS The Department houses many current and defunct magazines and newspapers published in San Antonio and across the State. Click on periodicals to reach the San Antonio Public Library’s complete holdings which include those in the Texana/Genealogy Department. Click on Texas newspapers for those titles in the Texana/Genealogy Department. GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS The Government Documents Department (second floor) is a depository for State and Federal materials. The Texana/Genealogy Department is a depository for selected City of San Antonio documents. These include annual reports, financial reports, transportation studies, environmental reports, and others. Examples of the documentary materials found in the Texana Collection follow.
MAPS Maps illustrate the development of an area through time. The Texana/Genealogy Department has maps of Texas and San Antonio, such as
NEWSPAPER CLIPPING FILES Since the mid-1960s extensive files from San Antonio newspapers (San Antonio Express, San Antonio News, and San Antonio Light). These are divided between San Antonio and Texas files and cover a wide range of topics: biographical, businesses, neighborhoods, elections, etc. Although the majority of the files begin in the 1960s, there is some information from earlier years. A general subject index to these files is maintained in the Department’s office. The index was begun in the 1920s and contains many valuable references. Other than the Department’s card file index to the San Antonio newspapers there are two recent indices. San Antonio College library staff have compiled selected indices covering the years 1988-1995. Both the Light (1989-1993) and Express (1989-present) are selectively indexed on-line at http://www.mysa.com/archives/search.shtml. CITY DIRECTORIES San Antonio’s first city directory is dated 1877. San Antonio city directories are available on microfilm from 1877 through 1970. Paper copies are available from 1954 to the present. Prior to 1903 the city directories listings are by personal or business names. Beginning with the 1903 directory there are listings by name (person and business), street, and type of business or occupation. At various times other information is given: spouse’s name, property ownership, officers at Fort Sam Houston, number of persons in the family, etc. The Texana/Genealogy Department also has city directories for the following cities on microfilm.
Updated: 09/23/2005
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