Housing more than one million items, the Austin
History Center makes available to the public both
primary research materials and published items.
We have an extensive body of books, photographs,
maps, newspapers, personal and family archives,
and ephemera documenting Austin's history from
before its founding in 1839 to the present. All of
these items are organized into the following
collection units:
This collection encompasses more traditional library materials—books, local government documents, periodicals, and maps.
These files contain news clippings, pamphlets, ephemera, and other documents, and are a good place to begin your research on a person, place, or topic.
We have cataloged and made available for viewing more than one thousand maps of Austin and Travis County from the mid-1800s to the present.
Over two thousand titles of current and defunct magazines, newspapers, and government publications are available here at the Center.
Here are mostly primary research materials--records and papers of City and County departments, families, civic organizations, and businesses. These materials fill more than 3,000 linear feet of shelf space.
We have over 35,000 architectural drawings and documents from over 150 local architectural firms.
We have recordings of oral histories, music of local musicians, video tapes and DVDs of City Council and commission meetings, local news broadcasts, and much more.
More than one million photographic images visually document the people, events, architecture, topography, and social customs of the area.
Most of the Austin Public Library Internet databases are available here at the Austin History Center. In addition, we have demographic and news databases that are specific to the Austin area.
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