Austin Seminary Archives Newsletter
About the Archives
What are archives?
Archives are places for documents, artifacts, photos, and other materials to be stored, documented, and preserved for future research. Archives are places where you can access materials from events, places, and people from the past.
What is in the Austin Seminary Archives?
Our collection focuses on Austin Seminary and its history, alumni & related entities, and the history of the Presbyterian Church in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma
Who do the archives serve?
You! We are here to make collections accessible to the APTS community, researchers, and the public.
Keep reading to learn more & find out how you can utilize the Archives.
We hope you enjoy our debut newsletter & stay tuned for more interesting tidbits
Robyn PereiraArchives Assistant
in the stacks: 1950s, 1990s, and today
processed collections
Archives Contact Information
Email: archives@austinseminary edu
Website: www austinseminary edu/archives
Location: Wright Learning and Information Center, Room 303
Phone: 512-404-4874
Contribute to the Archives!
Are you part of the Austin Seminary community and have something you’d like to share with us?
If you have old photos, documents, flyers, or something else you’d like to contribute to the Archives, please contact us!
Throwback in the stacks: 1950s and today
By Robyn Pereira
We recently did a little dive into the photo archives and found some gems to share featuring the Stitt Library and Book Store (before the Wright Learning and Information Center was added on!) and some other fun details from the 1950s, 1990s, and today. Take a peek below to travel back in time at the seminary!
What is microfilm?
Microfilming is the process of copying documents, drawings, and other materials at a reduced scale for compact storage
Think of it as the precursor to USBs and Cloud storage!
Checking out at the APTS book store, featuring an analog register ca 1950
Students using a Microfilm machine to view miniaturized documents ca 1950
The Reading Room: 1950 to 2025
What has changed since the 1950s? Stitt Library expanded in 2020-2021 and is now the Wright Learning and Information Center, creating more space for books and people Some of the new additions include more student-friendly spaces like the Wardlaw Commons, study carrels, a larger reading room, conference rooms, an assembly space, the Digital Education Center, a Media Lab, and expanded Archives.
Reading room panorama 2025
What is your favorite spot to read in the library? We’d love to know!
Students reading periodicals ca 1950
Stitt Library Book Sale ca.1994-1995
Outside Stitt Library, ca.1994-1995
Did you know the Stitt Library used to host an annual book sale?
Patrons selecting books, ca 1994-1995
Recently Processed Collections
Hispanic American Presbyterian Ministries Collection, 1974-2022
The Mexican American Coordinating Council, the Hispanic American Ministries Council, and the Hispanic Ministries Mission Network, collectively represent concerted efforts to better understand and serve the needs of Hispanic American members of the Presbyterian church. This collection contains manuscript and digitized meeting minutes, correspondence, publications, presentations, and photographs.
Full inventory and collection description: txarchives org/apts/finding aids/00151 xml
The Servant Society & New Laity Records, 1964-1992
The Servant Society was an organization operating primarily from the mid-1970s to mid-1980s, comprising of Fellows who sought to spread the word of God through daily life, written materials, and lectures. The New Laity was a directional movement encouraging laypersons to discover what it means to be a Christian living and working in the world for Christ. The collection includes materials from individuals within the organization and movement, spanning from books, manuscripts, cassette tape recordings, and photographs.
Full inventory and collection description: txarchives org/apts/finding aids/00159 xml
To see descriptions of other collections in our archives: www.austinseminary.edu/archives
To view our digital collections: austinseminarydigital.org/
If you would like to access any of these collections, please email us at archives@austinseminary.edu or stop by the Wright Center, Room 303
Rare Books & Special Collections
Ever wonder what might be in an archives?
Here’s a peek into what we have at Austin Seminary:
King James Bible (1611)
Medieval Manuscript: Antiphonal & Liturgical Text (ca.1300-1500)
Antiphonals are Christian musical books intended for use by a liturgical choir Dating from medieval times, these texts were written by hand in Latin, and were often large in size to accommodate being used by a large group at the same time This manuscript is a combination of choral music in the form of a Gregorian chant and a liturgical text, both written in Latin script. The codex (bound pages, i.e. book) starts with a song and ends with a song, alluding to this text being used for a standard worship service. There is no clear provenance (history of the material) known at present beyond an estimate of its age to be from around 1300-1500
The King James Bible was the first early Modern English translation of the Latin text King James VI* of England commissioned it in 1604 and it was published in 1611 This translation became widely accepted from the 18th century, but was ultimately supplanted in popularity by the Jerusalem Bible in 1966. The edition at the Austin Seminary Archives is a facsimile (precise copy) of the original 1611 version, reprinted in Italy This edition includes the New Testament only The Archives also holds 1 leaf (page) from an original 1611 printing.
*James VI of England and Ireland, and James I of Scotland
Archives Staff
Rodrigo Leal
Learning Technologies Librarian and Archives & Records Manager rleal@austinseminary edu
Job responsibilities: By day I am the lead admin for MyLearning, Austin Seminary’s learning management system, by night* I manage the Austin Seminary Archives and the Seminary’s records management program
*I don’t actually do this at night
When should a student come see you?
Anytime you have issues or questions related to MyLearning, please do not hesitate to contact me for help! Alternatively, if you want to take a trip through the history of Austin Seminary or the Presbyterian Church in the Southwest, stop by the Archives!
Fun facts: I make collages from old magazines, am into film photography, and am actively looking for more ways of becoming a luddite.
Robyn Pereira
Archives Assistant rpereira@austinseminary.edu
Job Responsibilities: I process and arrange archive collections, create finding aids, pull collections and materials for researchers, and assist Rodrigo with other projects.
When should a student come see you?
If you need help understanding finding aids, have research or information-seeking questions, or want to learn more about what archives are for.
Fun facts: I’m a first-generation American from Canada, I sing soprano in a classical choir, and my hobbies include reading, crochet, and gardening.
Announcements
Physical Exhibit on the 3rd floor of the Wright Center
Like what you’ve learned here? Come check out some of the items in person!
The Library Through the Ages exhibit will be displayed on the 3rd floor in the two glass cases near the doors to the Terrace
Physical materials include:
Photo of seminary students using a 1950s microfilm machine
Photo of the Stitt Library Reading Room in the 1950s
Austin Seminary Bulletin Library Special Issue, 1962
Austin Seminary Bulletin Article on “The Ghetto” coffee shop, 1968
Photos of the library book sale, circa 1994
Have questions? Feel free to come by the archives office, room 303 in the Wright Center (same floor as the displays)
Digital Exhibits
New digital exhibit featuring the collection seen in this issue: bit.ly/library-through-the-ages
Have you enjoyed the throwback photos in this issue? More gems will be posted on our digital collections site this year! Future exhibits:
Animals on campus (and inside!) over the years
Campus life
Professors - then & now!
Influential alums
To view current collections and keep an eye out for new additions, visit https://www.austinseminary.edu/library/austin-seminary-archives/digitized-resources