- University Libraries
- Cushing
- Collecting Areas
Collecting Areas
Cushing Memorial Library and Archives offers a wide range of unique non-circulating collections
Texas A&M University Archives
Established in 1950, the University Archives preserves and provides access to documents and artifacts that illuminate the history of Texas A&M. To search our Archival Collections please use ARCHON, our online database that includes finding aids to records, manuscripts, and more.
Language & Literature Collection
Cushing Library has strong holdings in a wide range of periods, genres, and collections of individual authors. Highlights include The Eduardo Urbina Cervantes Project Collection, Early Modern English poetry, Walt Whitman, the French Enlightenment, 20th Century English Fiction, and the Literature of Warfare.
Texas & Borderlands
These collections contain books, manuscripts, and artifacts from all periods of Texas history. The Colonial Mexican holdings include examples of the earliest printed books in the New World. Other strengths include cattle and ranching, Western exploration, and the Battle of San Jacinto.
Science Fiction & Fantasy Research Collection
One of the largest collections of its kind, the SFFRC houses the papers and manuscripts of significant genre authors and is the depository for the books and papers of George R.R. Martin. Among the monographs held in the collection are classic, foundational works, as well as recent titles. The periodical collection contains over ninety percent of the American science fiction pulp magazines published prior to 1980.
Book & Printing History
With its emphasis on the development of media technologies which have fueled intellectual, scientific, and political revolutions, these books and artifacts offer a valuable glimpse into the material products upon which this progress moved. Collections focusing upon book illustration, decorated papers, and 20th Century fine press production are other highlights. A working handpress studio containing period accurate printing equipment allows hands-on exploration in bookmaking technologies.
Gender & Ethnic Studies
These collections contain family papers, writings, correspondence, oral histories, extensive photographic collections, and archives from literary figures such as Lionel Garcia, Ernest Gaines, and Jayne Cortez, and from private collectors, including large LGBTQ collections. The collections represent various ethnic groups and their cultural experiences.
History of Ideas
The emphasis upon intellectual history in special collections includes materials related to Natural History (flora and fauna), Theology, Philosophy (with particular attention to the French Enlightenment), and Linguistics.
Exploration & Expansion
Among these collections are strong cartographic holdings reflecting exploration throughout the Americas, Central Africa, and elsewhere; maritime and nautical archaeology; and a major military history collection focusing on the armed forces from the Spanish-American war through the Gulf War.
