Collections

Convento Benedictine flooring. Photograph Date: 1880 - 1884 ca.
Photograph type: Stereograph. This photograph is a view of the upper storied floor in the convento. The floor joists were built into the corridor by the Benedictines.
SAAN 38018

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Collection

Collections Overview

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park's Museum stewards collections of natural history specimens, archeology, art, historic objects, and archives. The park’s museum collection is a fundamental resource and value as stated in the park’s Foundation Document. The collection contains more than one million artifacts and historical documents. These objects and documents provide a tangible link to the missions and people before, during, and after the active mission period.

The collection is available to the public for research, exhibits, and educational purposes by appointment only. To learn how to access the collection and submit research requests or donation inquiries, please refer to the FAQ on this page.

Learn More About NPS Museums and Collections Management

• NPS Museum Program
• NPS Museum Handbook
• NPS Conserve O Grams
• Director's Order 24
• Director's Order 28

 

Research Tools: Library & Resources

The San Antonion Missions National Historical Park Library contains books, research files, and audio-visual educational media and uses Library of Congress call numbers. The museum maintains the library reference collection with reference and resource materials relevant to the management of the natural and cultural resources of the park.

Start Your Research Online

The library is open to researchers, staff, and volunteers by appointment for on-site research. To make an appointment, please contact the park.

• Search the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Library through the NPS LIBRIS online catalog. Use the park's alphacode SAAN to find library material relating to the park.

• Many research reports based on studies in the park not found on NPS LIBRIS may be available through the IRMA Portal.

 

Additional Libraries, Archives, Repositories, Groups

While we may not have what you’re looking for, it’s possible that similar resources exist elsewhere. Happy researching!

Genealogy

• Texana/Genealogy Department San Antonio Public Library

• Family Search

• Bexar County TX Church Records

• Archdiocese of San Antonio

• Los Bexareños Genealogical Society

• American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial MissionsTehuan Band of Mission Indians of San Antonio

• San Antonio Mission Indian Descendants Group

• Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation

• Lipan Apache Tribe

• Tehuan Band of Mission Indians of San Antonio

• San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum

Local (San Antonio, Bexar County)

• Libraries & Archives | Bexar County

• San Antonio Regional Archivist

• UTSA-Center for Archaeological Research

• San Antonio African American Community Archives and Museum

Texas

• Texas Historical Comission

• Texas State and Library and Archives Comission

• Texas Archival Resources Online

• The Portal to Texas History

• Texas General Land Office

• VerNet

• SEINet

Nationwide

• Library of Congress

• National Archives Catalog

• Digital Public Library of America

National Park Service

• NPS Library Search

• NPGallery Search

• IRMA

• eTIC2

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I access the collection?

It is the policy of the National Park Service that its museum collections and archival resources be available for educational and scholarly purposes. The Service is also charged with managing these resources for optimumpreservation. To minimize impact on these collections it is necessary to regulate access to the materials. 

Availability 
The museum collections and archives are open by appointment only. Researchers must contact the park for assistance with access. The museum collections and archives are "non-lending," and the materials will remain in the building. Exhibits are on display at certain parks; the museum storage room does not have a display area and therefore is not appropriate for tours of any kind. 

The park should be contacted in advance to assure assistance is available upon arrival. Access will not be granted on weekends. 

All materials must stay within the study areas provided within the collection management facility. The size and location of these areas may vary according to the time of year, requests from other researchers, and staff available. Only one researcher is allowed at a time due to limited space. The researcher may bring only those materials needed for research into the assigned study area, no bags or coats allowed. Smoking is not allowed in the building. Food and drink are not allowed in the study areas. 

What is a museum collection?

A museum collection is a group of artifacts (including archives) and/or scientific specimens that are relevant to the park’s mission, mandates, history, and themes, and which the park manages, preserves, and makes available for access (through research, exhibits, and other media) for the public benefit. 

Please see NPS Museum Handbook Chapter 1 to better understand what a museum/archive is and how NPS Collections are used.

What is in the park's museum collection?

Cultural Resource Collection: This includes archives, historical objects, and archaeological artifacts. Most of the park's archives are stored at the Western Archaeology and Conservation Center (WACC) in Tucson, Arizona, as well as at the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park (SAAN) facilities. These archives encompass a wide range of materials, including photographs, oral histories, maps, digital media, paintings, and SAAN records. The archaeological collection constitutes the majority of the cultural resources and is housed at the University of Texas at San Antonio Center for Archaeological Research (UTSA-CAR). Historical objects are also part of the collection and are stored at SAAN facilities.

Natural Resource Collection: This collection includes floral and faunal specimens obtained through inventory and monitoring surveys. These specimens are housed at reputable institutions, including the Billie L. Turner Plant Resources Center at the University of Texas at Austin and the Fitzgerald Lab at Texas A&M University.

How can I access other museum collections and archives that may have information on the park?

See Library & Resources section on this page to explore the various repositories that hold materials relating to the San Antonio Missions. While we may not have what you’re looking for, it’s possible that similar resources exist elsewhere. Happy researching!

How do I donate materials to the collection?

Please refrain from dropping off or leaving any items at the park, as there are established protocols for accepting items into the collections. If you have one or more items that you believe would be suitable for the collection, we kindly ask that you contact the park directly rather than presenting them in person.

The Collections Advisory Committee will review potential donations and will reach out to the donor within a reasonable timeframe to discuss the appropriateness of the items for the collection.