Comments for DRT Library Weblog

Comment on Volunteer Improves Access to German-Language Materials by Amanda Ross

Amanda Ross — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:17:10 +0000

Great entry! I was intrigued by the German script and the volunteer’s story. Would that every archives be so lucky as to have a volunteer with Mrs. Senseney’s dedication and valuable skills!

Comment on Fort Sam Houston’s Gift Chapel by drtlibrary

drtlibrary — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:28:46 +0000

Today's San Antonio Express-News included a story about yesterday's commemoration at Fort Sam Houston; it can be accessed online at http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/Keeping_the_faith_for_century.html

Comment on Christmas in San Antonio by Gil Venzer

Gil Venzer — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 07:09:17 +0000

I would be interested in purchasing a book like the one described above. I’m especially interest in pictures ONLY of downtown San Antone. I would like pictures of the Camilla Room that was once house on the fourth floor of the former Joske’s and of Neisners, Kresses, Wal-Greens, Gibson, Jack n Jill, the Manhattan Restaurant, Vougue,Grants, Stowers, Wolf & Marx, etc. Houston Street is where my interest lies.
If such a historical picture book exits, please inform me how I may procure one. Thank you.

Comment on DRT Library’s Archivist Passes Certification Exam by Amanda

Amanda — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:54:20 +0000

Congratulations, Caitlin! And congratulations to the DRT Library for snagging such a great (and now lettered!) archivist!

Comment on Processing Continues on the Joseph Elicson Photograph Collection by drtlibrary

drtlibrary — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:28:58 +0000

Thanks, Sarah, for better explaining your project with the Elicson collection. The library thanks all of the volunteers who have contributed to improving the arrangement, description, and preservation of the photographs and negatives!

Comment on Currency during the Texas Republic by drtlibrary

drtlibrary — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:25:15 +0000

An appraiser, ideally someone who specializes in historic currency, will be able to judge the current value of your document.

Comment on Processing Continues on the Joseph Elicson Photograph Collection by Sarah Tomka

Sarah Tomka — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:45:47 +0000

I like to see that this collection is being worked on again. I would like to add, however some of the negatives and photographs were added to the database by me. Also, I helped organize the negatives and photographs into smaller sections along with the help of a past intern that started the project.

Comment on Currency during the Texas Republic by eva

eva — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:36:53 +0000

i have a 3 dollar promicionary bill from 1840 i would like to know if it has any value? any collectionist that are interest in it?

Comment on 2009-2011 DRT Library Committee by Diana White

Diana White — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:36:30 +0000

Dear Elaine,

Congratulations on you appointment. Your great organizational skills will be a an asset to our organization.

Diana White

Comment on Henri Castro’s Société de Colonisation Europée-Américain au Texas by drtlibrary

drtlibrary — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:45:14 +0000

I haven’t seen such a list in my research. Preliminary indications suggest that scholars still do not have a completely accurate count of how many settlers came to Texas, a number that might vary slightly from the number of contracts signed in Europe (assuming some people signed contacts but decided not to immigrate to Texas).

In his work “Castro’s Colony: Empresario Development in Texas, 1842-1865,” Bobby D. Weaver writes that examples of contracts exist in several archival repositories in Texas (see page 27, footnote). These include the Blevin Papers, Witte Museum Library, San Antonio; Leinweber File, James Menke Collection, San Antonio; and Colonization Papers, Texas State Library, Austin. Weaver further writes that “perhaps the most detailed description of a Castro colonist contact” appears in Audrey Goldthorp’s work “Castro’s Colony” (Master’s thesis, University of Texas, 1928), pages 68-69, and in a letter from Castro to Anson Jones written on November 1, 1842, in the Colonization Papers. Additionally, Weaver’s work references additional sources – such as deed and church records, census records, and ships’ lists – that together provide information about early settlers in Castro’s colony. These can be found in various repositories in Texas.

The DRT Library also has a photocopy of a contract in the Keller family papers (Doc 1118) and a photocopy of an 1844 roster of colonists in the Charles S. DeMontel papers (Doc 5199).

You may also be able find additional information about the contracts and the names of settlers who signed them in the Henri Castro papers (finding aid or inventory available at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utcah/00396/cah-00396.html ) and/or the Ferdinand Louis Huth papers (finding aid or inventory available at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utcah/00001/cah-00001.html ), both at the Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin.