The History of the Oral History Collection at
The Institute of Texan Cultures

The Institute of Texan Cultures originated as the Texas Pavilion for HemisFair '68. It now operates as a museum with supporting research facilities as part of The University of Texas at San Antonio.

The Research Library of the Institute is a specialized library focusing on the history and cultures of Texas for use by the Institute's researchers and the public. The library is a nonlending library and is available for research Monday through Friday from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. or by appointment. Appointments can be made by calling (210) 458-2228.

ITC volunteer Esther MacMillan initiated the Oral History Collection in 1977. Mrs. MacMillan recruited an all-volunteer group to seek out, record, transcribe, and catalog oral histories on the subjects of

Esther MacMillan

Texas history and culture. Special projects included:

• Small Town Texas—interviews with leading citizens from small towns
• Texas Folklife Festival—interviews with festival participants
• Institute of Texan Cultures—institutional history

Since Mrs. MacMillan's death in 1993, the Oral History Collection has become the repository of interviews collected by ITC researchers. The collection primarily reflects the population of South Texas and is rich in history and Tejano topics. Special projects include:

• History of San Antonio since 1968—interviews with San Antonio community leaders
• The Civil Rights movement in Texas—interviews with participants of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s

The collection holdings have increased to more than 500 oral histories. Copies of transcripts and tapes can be obtained for a fee by contacting the Research Library at (210) 458-2228.

It is the intent of the Institute, as part of its statewide mission, to serve the people of Texas through this site by putting selected oral histories online. Oral histories will be standardized for online presentation, and additions will be made periodically to this site.