Mission Statement

The Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library is dedicated to advancing the understanding of the unique history of the Alamo and Texas and of the lives of those who experienced it.

In order to accomplish this mission, the Library Committee and staff support:

·         the selection and acquisition of materials about Texas focusing on the period of the Republic of Texas, 1836-1846.

·         the conservation and restoration of the library's holdings.

·         educational initiatives that promote the study of Texas history at all levels.

·         the accessibility of the collections to the general public.

·         research by lay and professional historians.

·         the publication of current research.

Library History

The Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library is part of the Alamo complex and has been developed and is supported and maintained by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas for the use of all researchers.

The need to encourage the study of Texas history and to preserve its documents was important to the founders of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, who stipulated that purpose in their charter in 1893. When Dr. William Eager Howard donated his private library of Texana in 1943, this purpose began to be fully realized.

The necessary funds for a building to house the Howard gift were provided by Mrs. John King Beretta as a memorial to her husband, a close friend of Dr. Howard's. In 1950 the DRT Library building was opened, and further acquisitions for it were sought. The growth of the collections was rapid, requiring building expansions and improvements over the years. The library continues to collect and serve increasing numbers of patrons who become acquainted with its unique resources.