The Austin History Center houses over 1,200 manuscript collections that contain the papers and records of City and County departments, local families, civic organizations, businesses, and institutions. These valuable primary research materials fill more than 3,000 linear feet of boxes. Detailed inventories for many of these collections are available to researchers in our Reading Room. Inventories of some collections can be found at Texas Archival Resources Online (TARO). Here is a guide to using our finding aids found on TARO.

The Archives & Manuscripts Index contains an alphabetical listing of all the archival collections housed at the History Center. The index includes the collection title, date ranges, and key names and subjects associated with the collections. When available, the collection title will link to a more detailed description and inventory of the collection. Most of the collections have a printed inventory available in the Reading Room. Please note that the index has not been updated since spring of 2012.  Contact Us if you would like to inquire about a particular collection.

Included amongst the personal and family archives are the papers of such notables as Texas Governor E.M. Pease, suffragist Jane Y. McCallum, and author O. Henry. Another important collection is the Austin Police Department Records of the Charles Whitman Mass Murder Case.

Examples of local government collections include the Travis County Public School Teachers' Daily Registers (1930s & '40s), City of Austin Sister City Program documents, the Travis County Poor Farm ledger, and many of the recent mayors' papers.

Local organizations, such as the W.H. Passon Society, Ramsey Park Mothers' Club, Deep Eddy Brackenridge Residents Association, and AIDS Services of Austin have chosen to preserve their records here at the History Center.

Some local businesses have deposited their records with us as well: Calcasieu Lumber Company, Walter Tips Company, Tracor, and the Austin Street Railroad are a few examples of local companies that have records in our archival stacks.

Jane Y. McCallum Papers, AR.E.004