Several factors influence the selection of items to be digitized from our special collections.
Preservation Considerations – Preservation of original documents is a primary concern of Logan Library. Creating digital surrogates significantly reduces the use of originals and so prevents damage from handling. Items that are fragile or that may not withstand normal handling are given digitizing priority.
Historical Significance and Value – Items of particular interest or uniqueness or those providing new information to the historical community are considered above others. Scanning these resources assists in their preservation and security.
Potential for Digitization – Good candidates for selection contain informational content that is adequately captured in digital format. Document attributes such as the level of contrast and physical composition are important.
Ownership – Ownership of the original document is critical. Property rights must belong to the organization or individual who donates the item. While donators may maintain copyright ownership, Logan Library must be the custodian of all items considered for digitization. Copyright restrictions may prohibit inclusion of materials in the LDL.
Texana and Genealogy Page – San Antonio Public Library – This page gives a list of programs offered by SAPL related to Texana, as well as PDF files of the South Texas Researcher, their departmental newsletter.
TARO – Texas Archival Resources Online. Start here. Searchable database of archival finding aids from a variety of archives across the state. Participating institutions include Texas State Library and Archives, Daughters of the Republic of Texas Archives (Alamo), Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, and San Antonio Municipal Archives.
Sophienburg Museum and Archives – Chronicles the German immigration movement to Texas and includes an extensive collection of over one million photographic images, newspapers, dating from 1852 to present day, over 2,000 oral history recordings, thousands of original written records, government and church records, and genealogical information. Located in New Braunfels, Texas.
UTSA Special Collections – Provides access to a rich array of primary source material documenting life and history in San Antonio and south Texas. The collections’ strengths include urban development and architecture, regional authors, Mexican cookery, women and women’s history, and the Texas-Mexico border region. An ongoing digitization project provides access to a number of photographs and oral histories.
Texas German Dialect Project – Offers resources and links to Texas German history in addition to its primary purpose of documenting speech research on German-speaking Texans.
Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library – Part of the Alamo complex in San Antonio, Texas, this library has been developed and is supported and maintained by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas for the use of all researchers. The catalog contains both book records and finding aids for archival collections.