Month: May 2018

As the digitization of the Sons of the Republic of Texas Mexican Manuscript Collection (SRT) in its entirety progresses, I continue to be amazed and pleasantly surprised by some of the hidden gems that are buried in the unassuming SRT filing cabinets in the Special Collections vault. One of those wonderful moments happened recently when I came upon document 5794, “Vocabulario de la lengua Totonaca.” The vague title featured in the metadata does not do this incredibly interesting document justice. Document 5794 is so much more than just a “vocabulary.” Its cover contains a striking  example of calligraphy, the contents are interesting, unique, and exciting. The document provides a glimpse into the diversity of eighteenth-century Mexico. It features one of the 68 indigenous languages officially recognized by the Mexican government that are still spoken today.

The name Totonac ecompasses a cluster of approximately 9 closely-related languages still spoken by…

“Synchronetic” by Fletcher Benton

UTSA Libraries Special Collections has partnered with the McNay Art Museum to present HemisFair ’68: San Antonio World’s Fair, an exhibit organized in celebration of the 50th anniversary of HemisFair ’68 and of San Antonio’s Tricentennial.  The exhibit primarily draws from the archival holdings of UTSA Special Collections.

Highlighting artists and designers who contributed to the Fair, HemisFair ’68: San Antonio’s World’s Fair features small selections of artworks, architectural drawings, conceptual site plans, costume and graphic designs, ephemera, souvenirs, and audiovisual materials, including film and sound recordings, that document the early planning for HemisFair ’68.

The exhibit runs from May 3, 2018 to July 29, 2018

The exhibition is organized by Heather Ferguson, former Archivist for the McNay Art Museum, with Amy Rushing, Head of Special Collections for UTSA Libraries.

Lead funding is most generously provided by the Elizabeth Huth Coates Exhibition Endowment and the Arthur and Jane…