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Apply SAN ANTONIO (October 17, 2017)—Following an October 27 grand opening event, Texas A&M University-San Antonio (A&M-SA) will open the doors to its one-of-a-kind Archives and Special Collections for 
professional scholars, amateur historians, secondary school teachers and students, media and the general public. A&M-SA will host special exhibits in Presidio Gallery while maintaining thousands of historic manuscripts, maps, photographs, paintings and other artifacts in a vault, all located in the Bexar County Archives Building downtown. The University will showcase the historic Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) Library Collection in Presidio Gallery; future exhibits will feature a broad range of archival collections, including items from the Robert Thonhoff Collection, the Harry Mazal Holocaust Book Collection and the La Prensa Archives.
“The new facility housing Texas A&M-San Antonio’s Archives and Special Collections is designed for people of all backgrounds to explore the history of our great city and state, to learn more about the many cultures that make us such a unique place and to gain an appreciation for our common heritage,” said Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, president of A&M-SA. “It is inspiring to be in a place like San Antonio—where the University, the city, the county and the Daughters of the Republic of Texas could come together to make our community an even better place to live. By providing these educational opportunities for our current students, our future students and the people who come to explore the Alamo and all the history that exists in Texas, we hope to shed a light on the past that will illuminate the way to a brighter future.”
Presidio Gallery is located in the Bexar County Archives Building (formerly the Federal Reserve Bank Building) in the heart of the city’s downtown area at 126 E. Nueva, San Antonio, TX 78204. The venue was created through an agreement between A&M-SA and Bexar County that designates the 10,000-square-foot gallery and vault for the University’s use. The effort was led by Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff and Matson and was ratified by a unanimous vote from the county commissioners court.
“There is no limit to whom can be served by the many historic collections and narratives housed under this one roof,” said Wolff. “You will not be able to see anything like this collection anywhere else in the city of San Antonio or, for that matter, in the state. We hope it will help people understand how this assimilation of unique cultures have come together to build a great city.”
Media are invited to the grand opening of Presidio Gallery on Friday, October 27, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wolff, Teniente-Matson and Barbara Stevens, president general of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, will give remarks. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will follow the formal remarks, and then tours of the gallery and vault will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Presidio Gallery is open for research projects, school field trips and small-group tours Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5.p.m. To schedule a field trip or tour or to make a research appointment, please contact A&M-SA Archives and Special Collections Manager Leslie Stapleton at 210-784-1512 or leslie.stapleton@tamusa.edu.
To learn more about the grand opening and the Presidio Gallery, please contact Cavett McCrary at 210-784-1103 or cavett.mccrary@tamusa.edu.
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About Texas A&M University-San Antonio
With a nearly 700-acre campus to expand into, the Military Embracing™ university welcomed its inaugural freshman class in August 2016 and is now a comprehensive four-year university. Currently enrolling approximately 6,500 students, Texas A&M University-San Antonio is one of the fastest growing universities in the state. To learn more, visit tamusa.edu.