The J.E. and L.E. Mabee Library
Special Collections Suite:
The Living Heritage of the University

Cached on the second floor of the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Library on the university’s campus lies a trove of books, art and paintings that is the history of University of the Incarnate Word: the John and Dolores Mitchell Special Collections Suite.

Containing rare, limited, first and special editions and signed copies of books unique to the library’s collection, the Special Collections Suite offers a glimpse into the university’s past, as well as the past of the region and those who settled it.

“The special collections room represents the heritage of the institution from its very beginning,” said Dean of Library Services Mendell Morgan.

The room itself is austere, with its dark wood walls, display cases, and flooring. The architectural inspiration for the room came from the campus’ storied Brackenridge Villa, visible through the bank of windows on the room’s north side, Morgan said.

The links to the Villa are many: the size and design of the panes of glass in the book cabinets are taken from the conservatory windows of the Villa, and the distinctive chevron pattern of the wall paneling matches that of the Villa’s library, where parts of the collection were originally housed.

The story of the special collections of the library actually paralells that of the campus, itself: the original books forming the nucleus of the library’s current holdings were the personal collection of Col. George W. Brackenridge, from whom the Sisters of Charity purchased the estate in 1897, and which would become the main campus.

“George Brackenridge’s library was that of a gentleman’s library from his day,” Morgan said, containing tomes on science, the arts, and the standard reference works of the period.

Many of the original works were re-bound by Brackenridge in matching leather calfskin, adding to their durability, in their day, and their impressiveness, today.

Among the works in the Special Collections Suite are:

• Brackenridge’s Antiquities of Mexico, published in London between 1821-1848 by Viscount Edward Kingsborough, and which the Colonel purchased from Sir Thomas Phillipps. One of the few hand-colored sets in existence, the works contain facsimiles of Pre-conquest and 16th Century native codices showing ancient Mexican painting and hieroglyphics.
• Sam Houston’s twice autographed copy of The Constitution of the United States of America.
• The Loch Texana Collection, given by Elizabeth B. Loch, and including the complete publications of the Yanaguana society of San Antonio on the history of the region and its peoples.
  

The art works of the special collections suite are also impressive, including, among other things, five original oil paintings of the Missions of San Antonio by Sr. Maria del Socorro, former head of he Incarnate Word College Art department; a painting of Adina De Zavala, herione of the Alamo; and a silver crucifix which hung in the reference lobby of the original library.

The suite also includes special air conditioning and dehumidification to preserve the life of the materials, ensuring that they will continue to be a part of the university’s heritage.

Those wishing to visit the suite may make arrangements in advance by calling the Library Office at (210) 829-3838.