Special Collections and Lamar University Archives

The Mary and John Gray Library Special Collections and the Lamar University Archives, located in the Mary and John Gray Library, were established in 1980 to preserve, collect, and provide access to rare books, historical collections of Southeast Texas and official permanent records of Lamar University.

Mary and John Gray Library Special Collections

Special Collections houses and provides access to the library’s collection of rare books and manuscripts in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, as well as the Jack Brooks Center for Public Service. Special Collections holdings consist of the Peter Wells Texana Collection, the Dishman/Justice Cookbook Collection, rare book holdings, extensive manuscript collections of regional Southeast Texas literature and history, papers of the Big Thicket Association, as well as photographs and negatives, ephemera, maps, works of art, architectural drawings, film and other graphic arts material. We also house the congressional papers of Congressman Nick Lampson.

Lamar University Archives

The archives represent the evolution of Lamar University from the time South Park College was founded in 1923, the years from 1932 when it was renamed Lamar College, 1941 when it became Lamar Union Junior College, 1949 again renamed to Lamar State College of Technology, and finally known as Lamar University in 1971. In addition to the official papers of the presidents and administrators of the university, there are catalogs, annual reports, newsletters, university newspapers, student yearbooks, literary and scholarly journals, handbooks, and bulletins. Also books and articles by faculty, staff, students, alumni, and trustees, and publications describe the history and development of the colleges and personal papers, published and unpublished manuscripts, clippings, and extensive files of photographs, scrapbooks, audio-visual materials, artifacts, and miscellaneous ephemera.

Contact the Special Collections and Lamar University Archives Department.