texana

Texana is a term used by libraries, archives, and museums to designate materials related to the state of Texas and its history, culture, and people. It encompasses items created in Texas as well as works about Texas, its regions, and Texan communities. Texana collections can include books, manuscripts, maps, newspapers, photographs, audiovisual materials, prints, ephemera, artifacts, and art.

The scope generally covers broad historical periods—from the colonial era and the founding of Texas through the state’s incorporation into the United States, its frontier and ranching eras, the oil boom, civil rights movements, and up to contemporary times. Materials may be produced by Texans or by outsiders who document Texas life. Common topics include settlement, government, law and land use, military history, commerce, migration, and everyday life.

In libraries and archives, Texana is often arranged as a distinct collection or subject area and may be described with specific cataloging terms or local access points. Access policies, preservation needs, and digitization efforts vary by institution; many Texana items are fragile and require special handling. Digitization projects increasingly provide remote access to photographs, maps, newspapers, and manuscripts.

Texana collections are valuable resources for researchers, educators, genealogists, and curators seeking insight into Texas’s past and present. They document regional diversity, state development, and the cultural identities that shape Texas today.