Descriptive Summary
University of Texas at San Antonio
UTSA University Artifacts and Memorabilia Collection
1970s-2010Materials are in English.
UA 98
4.5 linear feet (1 Box + 3 oversize Boxes + 1 oversize folder)
University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections
The University of Texas at San Antonio was established in 1969. As of 2009, the University comprises three campuses: UTSA's Main Campus in northwest San Antonio, its Downtown Campus, and the HemisFair Park Campus, which includes the Institute of Texan Cultures museum.
The collection comprises artifacts and memorabilia of the University of Texas at San Antonio. Items include pins, buttons, stickers, ceramic letters, bookmarks, a luggage tag, a magnet, a handmade poster (media: paper and pastels), and a cut-out of an armadillo. Some items in the collection pertain to specific events, such as the election of a school mascot in 1977, Fiesta UTSA, the Institute of Texan Cultures' Texas Folklife Festival and Asian Festival, and others.
Historical Note The University of Texas at San Antonio was established in 1969. As of 2009, the University comprises three campuses: UTSA's Main Campus in northwest San Antonio, its Downtown Campus, and the HemisFair Park Campus, which includes the Institute of Texan Cultures museum.
Scope and Content NoteThe collection comprises artifacts and memorabilia, received and collected by the University Archives, of the University of Texas at San Antonio. The majority of items are three-dimensional objects. Items include pins, buttons, stickers, ceramic letters, bookmarks, a luggage tag, a magnet, a handmade poster (media: paper and pastels), and a cut-out of an armadillo.
Some items in the collection pertain to specific events. The 1977 election of a school mascot is documented through two representations of an alternate mascot, the armadillo (a cut-out of an armadillo and a poster for the UTSA Dillo's). Fiesta UTSA, an annual event that began in 1978, is represented by commemorative Fiesta pins dating 2002 through 2009. Institute of Texan Cultures events are represented as well, through Texas Folklife Festival pins and an Asian Festival button. The groundbreaking ceremony of the UTSA Downtown Campus was commemorated by a paperweight in 1995.
The memorabilia occasionally includes the various slogans of UTSA through the years, e.g., The Rising Star of Texas and Come Here. Go Far.
This collection is housed at UTSA's HemisFair Park Campus, though off-site access is also available at UTSA's John Peace Library.
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes,
and the collection is open to the public.
Usage Restrictions
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright,
property, and libel laws as they apply.
Related Materials
There are no known other archival collections of artifacts and memorabilia created by the University of Texas at San Antonio at the date of
accessioning.
Acquisition Information
The collection has been assembled by the UTSA Archives and Special Collections Department. Some material has been donated or transferred from university departments as noted below. The origin of most artifacts and memorabilia is unclear.
Donated to the University Archives from Thomas Greaves in July 1987, the UTSA Office of Transitional Student Advisement Services in September 2004, and the UTSA Library, 2005-2011 (Acc. 1998-028c, 2004-084, 2011-052, and unaccessioned).
Processing Information
Processed and encoded by Angela McClendon Ossar, University Archivist, May 2009.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], UTSA University Artifacts and Memorabilia Collection, UA 98, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
Index Terms
Organizations
University of Texas at San Antonio--History.
Subjects
Universities and colleges--History--20th century.
Universities and colleges--Texas--San Antonio.
Public universities and colleges--Texas.
Souvenirs (keepsakes).
Universities and colleges--School colors.
Locations
San Antonio (Tex.)--History--20th century.
Genres/Formats
Memorabilia.
Pins (jewelry).Buttons (information artifacts).
Bumper stickers.Pastels (visual works).Decals.Bookmarks.
Ceramics (objects).
Detailed Description of the Collection
University Artifacts and Memorabilia Collection
Arranged chronologically.
1
Decal sticker with logo,
1970s
OM2
Ceramic letters: U T S A
A note inside this Box, dated Jun 16, 1986, indicates that According to Dr. Kelly [Director of Libraries], these ceramic letters were the ones made (possibly by Martha Mood) for identifying the University Bldg. at the Koger Center, in 1972.
OM3
Diploma awarded to first graduate Susan Bolado [duplicate, framed],
August 18, 1974
1
Letter regarding school colors,
August 1975
This letter proposes Fiesta Red and Cactus Green for the school's colors and provides justifications.
OM1
UTSA button,
circa 1975
A letter from the button's donor, former division director Thomas C. Greaves, says that these buttons were issued to faculty during metings with the community to reinforce awareness of our impending, and delayed, move to the 1604 campus.
28Go Dillo's poster (media: paper and pastels),
1977
A letter from the poster's donor, former division director Thomas C. Greaves, says that the posterstem[s] from … when UTSA was deciding what to call its athletic team. There was a campus-wide vote between the Roadrunners, the Stars, and the Armadillos, and a vigorous campaign on behalf of each. The armadillos lost, but [this item was] part of the wall posters during the election.
1Cut-out of armadillo,
1977
A letter from the cut-out's donor, former division director Thomas C. Greaves, says that the cut-out stem[s] from … when UTSA was deciding what to call its athletic team. There was a campus-wide vote between the Roadrunners, the Stars, and the Armadillos, and a vigorous campaign on behalf of each. The armadillos lost, but [this item was] were part of the wall posters during the election.
OM1
UTSA Downtown groundbreaking ceremony commemorative paperweight,
1995
1
Waste not, watt not bookmark, circa
2001
1
Bumper sticker, UTSA: The Rising Star of Texas, circa 2003
OM1
Asian Festival button,
2005
OM1
Magnet depicting roadrunner in desert, distributed at the President's Scholarship and Awards Dinner, October 11, 2005
OM1
Fiesta UTSA pins,
2002-2010
Includes pins for 2002, 2004-2009.
1
Sticker, circular with Rowdy the Roadrunner mascot and UTSA's URL, undated
OM1
Institute of Texan Cultures Winter Wonderland button, undated
OM1
Luggage tag with slogan Come Here. Go Far. produced by UTSA Academic Advising, undated
OM1
Texas Folklife Festival button, undated
OM1
Women's Equality Day button, produced by the Women's Studies Institute, undated