TAMIU Acquires Treviño Regional History Special Collection

After seven months of preparation and a life’s worth of work, the Rose Treviño Regional History Special Collection has found a permanent home at the Texas A&M International University Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library Special Collections and Archives. (photo)

Rose Ella Tarver Treviño, an award-winning photographer, published poet, historian, and a vocational archeologist, donated hundreds of books and photographs relating to archeological endeavors and historical interests she collected while taking part in many excavations in Texas, Central America and Mexico.

“Literature and history, both personal and community history are important to my mother. She has such a wealth of knowledge,” said Trevino’s daughter, Anna Laura Treviño, “which she has always wanted to share with others. This seemed the best way for everyone to benefit from it.”

University president, Dr. Ray M. Keck concurred.

 “The rich history of Laredo and this region now inspires much interest. Much of that interest is a direct result of the work of Rose Treviño. Through her research, her lectures, her photography, and her writings, she awakened in all of us an appreciation of this land — its art, its people and its past. Now, because she and her family created the Rose Tarver Treviño archive at TAMIU, this rich body of research, documents and photographs will be permanently available for scholars and students of the borderlands culture,” Dr. Keck said.

Unable to make the presentation herself due to illness, Treviño’s family presented the collection to the University in a ceremony at TAMIU.

The University received the donation in January 2005, but as Jeanette Hatcher, reference/special collections librarian explained, it took months to make an inventory of all the items.

“Mrs. Treviño’s granddaughters, Megean Treviño and Melissa Garcia made a partial inventory list, which worked as a good reference point. But we had to start from scratch and put together a list that includes every book, map, picture…there are thousands of photographs. Each item has to be accounted for and descriptive finding aids must be created for these materials. But with the help of my staff of student workers, we continue to work with this collection to make this information more easily accessible for our patrons,” added Hatcher.

Mrs. Treviño donated her personal library consisting of several hundred titles of books that cover various aspects of life in the U.S. Southwest and México. She donated notebooks, maps and her award-winning photo exhibit on Guerrero, Coahuila, México.

Rose Ella Tarver Treviño was born in Veracruz, México, to a Mexican mother and an American father. She attended American schools in Mexico and later boarding school at Ursuline Convent in Laredo and graduated from Martin High School. She married J.C. Treviño and had six children. She also dedicated her life to equal rights for women and has been recognized for her work in the U.S. and abroad, including being honored for her contributions to women’s poetry. In 1989 Treviño was named Poet Laureate of the Hispanic Women’s Conference. At the Maswa Boarding School for Girls in Maswa, Tanzania, Africa, a library wing is named after her in honor of the many books she has donated to the school.

The special collections area is open to the general public and patrons should sign in at the reference desk in order to gain access to the Special Collections Reading Room. Hours of operation are subject to change so please visit the Web site at http://library.tamiu.edu/depts/sparc/index.htm or call the reference desk at 326.2138.

For more information on the Treviño special collection or on making a donation to the Special Collections and Archives, please contact Jeanette Hatcher at 326.2404 or e-mail jhatcher@tamiu.edu.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu