2004 News Releases
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September 8, 2004
Texas State Library mounts new online database of Texas military records
Austin - Students, educators, scholars, genealogists, and community members
have a new research tool available to learn more about those who served
in Texas military organizations. The Texas State Library and Archives
Commission now has an online searchable database of digitized items from
its Adjutant General Service Records collection.
This free resource combines both official service record files from the
Adjutant General's Office and alphabetical files created by other government
agencies, which contain records related to an individual's service in
a military unit. The records help researchers document an individual's
service in fifteen different military organizations, from the Army and
Navy of the Republic of Texas to Texas Rangers to frontier defense organizations.
The records range over a one hundred year period, from the 1830s to the
1930s.
Eight of these series are now available in their entirety in digital
format, and the work is ongoing. The database currently contains 17,000
images. The documents are varied. Some files contain only small strips
of paper with one or two brief sentences. Others contain several lengthy,
detailed records. Information can include measurements of uniforms, payments
for mustering-in, warrants of authority, individual equipment records,
general orders, oaths of allegiance, pay vouchers, powers of attorney,
and discharge verifications.
State Archivist Chris LaPlante said, "Public demand for these primary
source documents is very high, and we're very pleased to be able to offer
genealogists and other researchers the ability to access these unique
records from the Internet. Our commitment to serving the public through
online access to our treasures is strong, and this project, joined with
our previous Republic of Texas Claims database, is another indication
of that."
Learn
more about and search the Adjutant General Service Records database
Contact the Public
Information Office
512-463-5514
September 8, 2004
Texas State Library hosts free genealogy event, Thursday, Sep. 9, 2004
Library welcomes hundreds of genealogists from around the country attending
the Federation of Genealogical Societies national conference
Austin - The Texas State Library and Archives Commission hosts a reception
and lecture on Thursday, Sep. 9, 2004, to orient visitors to the genealogy
resources available within their collections. The event is hosted in conjunction
with the annual conference of the Federation of Genealogical Societies,
taking place at the Austin Convention Center this week.
Genealogists from throughout the United States are in Austin this week
to learn new techniques, methods and resources to help them fill in more
of the blanks in their family's histories. The Texas State Library and
Archives Commission has an extensive collection of materials of interest
to genealogists, including federal census records, Confederate Pension
Applications and military records, county tax rolls, family histories,
Texas Convict Record Ledgers and Indexes, and more.
Notes State Librarian Peggy D. Rudd, "It's very exciting to welcome so
many genealogists to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Many of our resources are available from our Web site, so genealogists
don't have to come to Austin to do their research. However, other resources
here are both unique and rare, and we're pleased to help visitors get
acquainted with our facility, our collection, and our knowledgeable staff."
The Genealogy collection of the state library will have extended hours,
from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., on Thursday, Sep. 9, 2004. State Librarian
Rudd will be on hand to welcome visitors from across the nation. Staff
will conduct three tours of the Genealogy department, at 4:00, 6:00, and
7:30 p.m. Senior Research Assistant Donaly Brice will deliver a presentation
at 6:30 p.m. regarding the rich array of genealogical resources available
within the Texas State Archives. The event is free and open to the public.
Learn
more about the genealogy resources available at the Texas State Library
and Archives Commission
Contact the Public
Information Office
512-463-5514
June 10, 2004
Texas State Library to distribute $15,000 to Texas public libraries
Libraries encouraged to submit grant proposals by Aug. 20, 2004
Austin - The Texas State Library and Archives Commission will distribute
$15,000 to Texas public libraries from a new grant program, Texas Reads.
State Librarian Peggy D. Rudd encourages all Texas public libraries to
submit grant proposals by Aug. 20, 2004.
The emphasis of the grant program is supporting local initiatives that
instill a love of reading and improve literacy within Texas communities.
According to Rudd, illiteracy is a major concern in Texas. She notes,
"According to the most recent statistics available, more than one-fifth
of our adult population is illiterate. Many more are functionally illiterate.
Our public libraries have been part of the solution, providing story hours,
ESL and GED classes, tutoring and other programs for their communities'
residents. Texas Reads grants will help libraries do even more to fight
this problem."
The grant program is funded from proceeds of the sale of the Texas Reads
special license plate offered by the Texas Department of Transportation.
The plate costs $30 per year more than a standard license plate, and $22
of the fee goes directly into the grant fund for libraries.
"What makes this program so exciting is that libraries win twice, first
when Texans buy the plate and advertise their support of reading and literacy,
and again when grant funds come back to their communities," says Rudd.
Texas Reads Special License
Plate Overview
How can I purchase
my own Texas Reads plate?
Information
for Libraries: Texas Reads Grant Guidelines and Application Deadline
Contact
the Public Information Office
512-463-5514
February 17, 2004
The Texas State Library unveils the Library of Texas
Users can search 100 Texas library catalogs in one search session from
new Web-based state service
Austin - The Texas State Library and Archives Commission
is pleased to announce a new service, the Library of Texas. This Web-based
service at LibraryofTexas.org allows users to discover and retrieve information
from multiple library catalogs, research databases, and other knowledge
collections in one simple search session. Texans no longer need to use
a separate interface for each individual library or database. At present,
the Library of Texas searches through the catalogs of 63 public libraries,
26 academic libraries, and 40 TexShare commercial databases.
According to Network Services Librarian Kevin Marsh, who
coordinated the development of the Library of Texas, the service is easy
to use, yet very powerful and customizable. Notes Marsh, "Users can customize
the service to include specific libraries near their homes or offices,
and then create and save groups of 'favorites' for future searching."
Many search results from the TexShare research databases will include
the original full-text article, satisfying the information needs of the
user right away. For materials that are not immediately available online
or at the user's home library, customers can submit an interlibrary loan
request. Search results also include links to online bookstores where
the materials can be purchased.
Notes a University of North Texas student, "It was great
to find out which libraries actually had a resource, instead of searching
several library catalogs as I have done in the past. Since I live in Houston,
I consider several local libraries as possibilities."
Visit the Library of Texas at LibraryofTexas.org. Users
do not need a login ID or password to search library catalogs. To make
full use of the Library of Texas, including access to the TexShare databases
and interlibrary loan services, login to the service with a TexShare login
ID and password available from your local Texas library.
Marsh states, "The Library of Texas represents the future
of library services in the nation and is being used as a model for other
states. We're very excited to bring this service to Texans." For more
information about the Library of Texas, please contact Network Services
Librarian Kevin Marsh at (512) 463-5534 or KMarsh@tsl.state.tx.us.
Go
to the Library of Texas
Contact the Public
Information Office
512-463-5514
February 9, 2004
Two appointed to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Commission increases to seven members
Austin - The Texas State Library and Archives Commission
is pleased to announce the appointment of Martha Doty Freeman (Austin)
and Cruz G. Hernandez (Burleson) and the reappointment of Chairman Sandra
J. Pickett (Liberty) to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
All three were appointed to six-year terms. Governor Rick Perry made the
appointments in January. Pursuant to SB287 of the 78th Texas Legislature,
the number of commissioners for the agency has increased from six to seven
members.
Cruz Hernandez of Burleson is records manager for the Tarrant
County District Clerk's office. Hernandez has a long and distinguished
record of public service, including membership in several community organizations.
He was appointed by Governor Clements to the Job Training Partnership
Act and has just completed a six-year term on the Planning and Zoning
Commission for the City of Burleson. He has served as a Republican precinct
chairman for the past twenty-five years and was elected twice to the Electoral
College. Three hundred forty-eighth State District Judge Dana Womack administered
Hernandez' oath of office on Jan. 23, 2004.
Martha Doty Freeman of Austin is a self-employed historian
for archeological firms, government agencies, universities, and private
individuals and organizations. She is a member of the Texas State Historical
Association and recipient of the Texas Historical Commission's Award of
Excellence in Preserving History. A graduate of Lawrence University in
Appleton, WI, Freeman received her master's degree from the University
of Texas at Austin and was a graduate fellow of the Smithsonian Institution.
She has served since 1997 as a member of the Texas Historical Records
Advisory Board. Freeman replaces former Vice Chairman Kenneth R. Carr
(El Paso) on the commission, whose term expired Sep. 2003.
Chairman Sandra J. Pickett of Liberty is serving her second
term as commissioner. Originally appointed by Governor George W. Bush
in 1995, she was appointed chairman in 2002 by Governor Rick Perry. Pickett
is president of the Atascosito Historical Society, immediate past president
of Preservation Texas, and board member of several community and statewide
organizations. She served on the Liberty City Council 24 years. Pickett
holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and the University
of Houston.
Chairman Pickett notes of the appointments, "I am so very
pleased to have the opportunity to continue working with other commissioners
and the fine professional staff of the Texas State Library and Archives
Commission as well as the constituents we serve. We are grateful for Kenneth
Carr's significant contributions to the library and archives community
in Texas, and we look forward to beginning a new chapter of the commission
with the help of Ms. Freeman and Mr. Hernandez."
Other members of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission
include Chris A. Brisack (Edinburg); Diana Rae Hester Cox (Canyon); Sandra
G. Holland (Pleasanton); and Elizabeth A. Sanders (Arlington). Contact
the commission at commission@tsl.state.tx.us.
Contact
the Public Information Office
512-463-5514
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