Benson Latin American Collection
About
The Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection is one of the premier libraries in the world focused on Latin America and Latin@ Studies. In partnership with the Teresa Lozano Long Institute for Latin American Studies (LLILAS), the Benson Collection is a regular destination for visitors from throughout the world. Founded in 1926 and named, in 1975, to honor its director of three decades, the library excels in humanities and social sciences disciplines, in addition to an array of scientific and professional literature published in Latin America.
The library’s holdings include nearly a million books, magazines, newspapers, journals and other materials. This collection is complemented by a world-class archival collection containing manuscripts, art, maps, letters and other one-of-a-kind materials. The collection is continually enriched by a vigorous acquisitions program and by a growing collection of original digital resources available online.
Situated on the east side of the UT campus, the Benson Collection is a frequent destination for Austin’s Latino community. A variety of conferences, art exhibitions, lectures and the annual ¡A Viva Voz! soirée provide a lively program of events.
We work closely with numerous departments and units on campus, notably the Center for Mexican American Studies, whose mission intersects with our collections and public programming.
Since 2011, the Benson Collection and LLILAS have been engaged in a collaborative venture that represents a new approach to globalized higher education. Read more about this transformative initiative, LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections.
Benson Homepage: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/benson
Access points
Finding aids
1. Finding aids in TARO: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/browse/browse_lac1.html
2. Paper guides (in binders) and card files available in the Rare Books Reading Room (these might or might not be in TARO)
3. Printed/published guides and calendars
Guide to the Latin American Manuscripts in the University of Texas Library by Carlos E. Castañeda and Jack Autrey Dabbs. Cambridge, Mass., Harvard university press, 1939.
In TARO: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utlac/00369/lac-00369.html
In the HathiTrust Digital Library: http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/001765722
Catálogo del archivo de Don Lucas Alamán que se conserva en la Universidad de Texas, Austin. editor Ynsfran, Pablo Max, 1894-1972. Mexico City: J.M. Lara, 1954. [Sobretiro de Historia Mexicana, vol. IV, 2 y 3-Núms, 14 y 15]
Calendar of the Manuel E. Gondra Manuscript Collection, The University of Texas Library, prepared by Carlos Eduardo Castañeda, University of Texas, and Jack Autrey Dabbs, A&M College of Texas. México: Editorial Jus, 1952.
Independent Mexico in documents: Independence, Empire, and Republic (3 volumes) – printed copies available in the Rare Books Reading Room but they are also in TARO
A Calendar of the Juan E. Hernández y Dávalos Manuscript Collection, the University of Texas Library, prepared by C.E. Castañeda and J.A. Dabbs (Independent Mexico in Documents: Independence, Empire, and Republic; Vol. 1) Mexico : Editorial Jus, 1955.
The Mariano Riva Palacio Archives: A Guide (University of Texas. Library. Independent Mexico in documents: Independence, Empire, and Republic; Vol. 2, pt. 1-3) Mexico : Editorial Jus, 1955.
Catálogo de los manuscritos del archivo de don Valentín Gómez Farias: Obrantes en la Universidad de Texas, Colección Latinoamericana, preparado por P.M. Ynsfrán. (Independent Mexico in Documents: Independence, Empire, and Republic; Vol. 3) Mexico: Editorial Jus, 1968.
Taracena Flores Collection about Guatemala (also available in TARO)
Revolution and counterrevolution in Guatemala, 1944-1963: An Annotated Guide To Street Literature in the Benson Latin American Collection / by Ann Hartness. Austin: University of Texas at Austin, 1995.
Revolution and Counterrevolution in Guatemala, 1944-1963: An Annotated Bibliography of Materials in the Benson Latin American Collection / by Ann Hartness-Kane. Austin: General Libraries, University of Texas at Austin, 1984.
Digitized content
Some finding aids in TARO have links to the UTDR.
Lucas Alaman Papers (the entire collection has been digitized): http://lanic.utexas.edu/project/lucasalaman/
Primeros Libros de las Americas: a digital library of 16th century colonial Mexican imprints (the Benson is one of the contributing members). These monographs are very important because they represent the first printing in the New World and provide primary sources for scholarly studies focused on a variety of academic fields.
Approximately 220 unique titles are held in institutions around the world with most held in Mexico and the United States. The project currently brings together 15 partner institutions in Mexico, the United States, South America, and Europe. [from their website & the Benson page]
Portal to Texas History: We have some content here but I don’t think that content is actively being submitted to the portal.