About The Texas Collection

Founded in 1923 with an initial gift of Texas history volumes from Baylor alum and Waco physician Dr. Kenneth Hazen Aynesworth, The Texas Collection is now one of the largest Texana collections in the world. While the focus is on the Lone Star State, The Texas Collection holds information on the Southwest, Mexico, westward expansion, and beyond. Materials date from the 15th century to the present and tell the story of Texas from pre-Republic, Republic of Texas, and statehood. Scholars from all over the world come to the collection to research facets of Texas including history, agriculture, literature, religion, politics, and education.

The Texas Collection is also home to the University Archives, the official repository for Baylor University. These records include presidential papers, departmental and student organizational records, and university reports. Materials in the University Archive shine a light on the important decisions that have made Baylor the institution it is today, providing valuable insight into our storied past.

Appointments for research are highly recommended. The Texas Collection Reading Room hosts Baylor classes, special presentations, and programming and may occasionally be closed to researchers.

Submit requests using our visit request form.

Vision

As an embodiment of Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana, Pro Mundo (For Church, For Texas, For the World), we promote access and inquiry to foster teaching and learning.

Mission

We engage Baylor students, faculty, and the broader community in learning and discovery by collecting, preserving and sharing content that documents the stories of faith, Texas, and Baylor University.

Core Values – Service, Stewardship, Trust

Commits to Baylor’s Christian Mission & Vision
Pursues Excellence Through Continuous Self-Improvement
Serves Others Respectfully and with Empathy.
Accounts for Stewardship of Time, Resources, & Self
Seeks Learning & Applies Knowledge
Builds Relationships & Works Collaboratively

Learn More About The Texas Collection

Connect With Us On Social Media

Like Us On Facebook

Click here to connect with us on Facebook

Explore Our Flickr Photostream

Click here to see highlights from our photography collections on Flickr

Read Stories On Our Blog

Click here for in-depth stories, monthly features, and news updates

View Our Videos On YouTube

Click here to see video highlights from our collections and public events

See Texas Collection Highlights on @BaylorLibraries

Click here to follow @BaylorLibraries on Instagram and click here to follow @BaylorLibraries on Twitter. We'll post content on both of these platforms as part of the University Libraries' regular social media schedule.

Donate Materials

The Texas Collection appreciates your interest in donating in-kind gifts of manuscripts, books, personal or organizational papers, and similar materials. To determine if your gift meets the Collection Development Policy of The Texas Collection, please contact our Director, Jeff Pirtle.

Materials Outside The Collection Development Policy

The following items cannot be accepted at this time.

Baylor "Round-Ups"
Coins, clothes, and other 3-dimensional artifacts
Family Bibles (will accept copies of the genealogy page)
Newspaper clippings
Plaques, trophies, statues, flags, framed certificates, and ribbons

Employment and Internships

The Texas Collection offers a variety of employment opportunities. Apply today and become a part of the Baylor Libraries.

Faculty & Staff Positions

To find open faculty and staff positions at The Texas Collection, please visit Baylor Human Resources.

Graduate Student Positions

Applicants should email a letter of application, resume, writing sample (e.g., 4-5 pages of a research paper), and two letters of reference (preferably from current professors) to Jeff Pirtle, Director of The Texas Collection.

Undergraduate Student Positions

If you are a student interested in working at The Texas Collection, please visit Student Employment.

Baylor Libraries Summer Internship Programs

For Summer 2025, The Texas Collection & University Archives offers two, different summer internship opportunities to current or admitted Baylor graduate and undergraduate students through the Baylor Libraries Summer Internship program.

To apply, provide the following items:

A statement not exceeding 500 words explaining how an internship fits the applicant's educational program and career goals and lists any other summer obligations;
Current resume; and
*A letter of recommendation from a major professor.

The application deadline is April 7, 2025. Applications should be e-mailed to Janell Wellbaum at Janell_Wellbaum@baylor.edu or mailed to this address:

Summer Internship Program
Baylor University Libraries
One Bear Place #97148
Waco, Texas 76798-7148

*If the internship is to meet curriculum requirements, the letter of recommendation must be from the head of the program in which the applicant is enrolled. The letter should clearly state the program's internship obligations, including the number of hours required to successfully complete the internship.

Fellowships

The Texas Collection offers fellowships to scholars pursuing significant research and advanced studies in the area of Texas history, culture, and literature. The research must be completed at The Texas Collection with a final report made to the director of The Texas Collection within six months of completing the fellowship.

Applicants for any of the fellowships must provide:
1. letter of application with a clear statement of purpose
2. an abstract of their research with a title and how The Texas Collection will support their research
3. a current resume
4. the expected outcome of their research

Applications should be emailed to Jeff Pirtle, Director of The Texas Collection.

Burney Parker Research Fellowship

The Burney Parker Research Fellowship is awarded annually to a visiting scholar to promote the study of Texas history. It provides up to $1,500 to help defray travel and research expenses. The fellowship was established by John E. and Richelle L. Parker of Canyon Lake, Texas, to honor Burney Parker, an avid Texas historian and father of John Parker.

Hillman Research Fellowship

The Hillman Research fellowship was established by Jimmye S. and Helen Smith Hillman of Tucson, Arizona, to promote research of Baptist missions and educational institutions in Latin America utilizing collections deposited in The Texas Collection. The Hillman Research Fellowship provides up to $1,000 to help defray travel and research expenses. More than one fellowship per year may be awarded.
Note: In addition to standard proposal requirements information, applicant proposals should describe the methodology to utilize Latin American archival holdings of The Texas Collection.

Wardlaw Fellowship Fund for Texas Studies

The Wardlaw Fellowship Fund for Texas Studies was established by William and Kathleen Wardlaw of Waco, Texas to promote and extend research on the history, culture and literature of Texas. The Wardlaw Fellowship Fund will provide up to $1,500 per year to a visiting scholar or researcher who wishes to use the holdings of The Texas Collection. The fund may be used to cover the cost of travel, housing expenses, or for other research expenses. More than one fellowship per year may be awarded.

Special Collections Teaching Fellowships

Each year, the Baylor Libraries offer teaching fellowships to support excellence in teaching and learning and provide opportunities for original research by encouraging the use of rare books, archives, and other special collections materials in Baylor graduate and undergraduate curricula. Applications not currently being accepted.

Frances C. Poage Map Room

Well lit photo of the Poage Map Room

The Frances C. Poage Map Room contains more than 14,000 maps with an emphasis on Waco, topographic, and historic Texas maps. A lifelong lover and collector of all kinds of maps, former Congressman W. R. 'Bob' Poage established the collection and the accompanying endowment in the 1980s in honor of his wife, Frances C. Poage. The endowment enables the continued growth and preservation of the map collection by providing funding for additional cartographic holdings and supplies.

Using the Collection

All patrons are welcome to use the map collection. If you wish to visit the collection, contact Jeff Pirtle at Jeff_Pirtle@baylor.edu. The map collection can be searched via Baylor's OneSearch catalog.

More than 300 of our historic Texas maps are available via Baylor University Libraries Digital Collections. For questions regarding copies and usage, please email Jeff Pirtle at Jeff_Pirtle@baylor.edu.

Give to The Texas Collection

wide angle photo of desks and tables and displays in the Texas Collection

The reading room at The Texas Collection

Your financial support for The Texas Collection ensures the materials in our collections are preserved, expanded, and connected to scholars locally and around the world. We welcome your financial investment in our work and encourage you to consider our current giving priorities when making your charitable giving decisions.

Texas Collection/Guy B. Harrison, Jr. Memorial Endowment
This endowment supports collection development through new acquisitions and general use of the collections to support scholarship.
S. D. Quay Conservatorship Endowment
This endowment supports the purchase and maintenance of archival and print materials.
Baylor University Libraries Athletics Archive
This fund supports the acquisition, digitization, and preservation of materials in the BU Libraries Athletics Archive.

If you would prefer for your gift to make an immediate impact at the discretion of our senior administration, consider at gift to the Pro Texana Society. Gives to this fund shall be used at the Director's discretion for any Texas Collection project or purchase.

For more information on how to give to The Texas Collection, please contact our Director, Jeff Pirtle, at jeff_pirtle@baylor.edu.