Answers to Go

Q. I read in the paper about a new collection the library received called the “Mike Cox Collection.” How does this collection add to the library’s existing collections??

Mike Cox A. is an author, journalist, book dealer, researcher and Texas historian. His collection of donated books and materials has significantly expanded the library’s Texana collection.

When the City of San Marcos built the “new” library (it’s a year old, already), included were plans for two very specific rooms — a history room (made possible in part by a gift from Gwen Smith) and a quiet reading room. In the “old” library, these two functions were combined into one room called the Local History Room. However, through the years, the need for a “special collection” room became evident. San Marcos Public Library Director Diane Insley was approached by Mike Cox in 2017 about the gift of his personal collection of Texana. Of course, Diane said, “Yes.” This generous donation incentivized our building plans — we needed more space for Texas. Thus, the Texas History Room came about. We are extremely thankful that the room was added because the addition of the Mike Cox Collection has expanded the library’s Texana holdings by at least 5,000 volumes (not including serial and pamphlet materials relating to the history of Texas towns, cities, and counties.) These materials were collected over a lifetime of research by Mike Cox of Wimberley. The papers not included in his donation to the San Marcos Public Library are included in the Wittliff Collections at Texas State University, and Baylor University. During his career as a journalist, Cox wrote for the Austin American-Statesman where his Texana column ran from 1982-2013.

The San Marcos Public Library, as an institution, does not create historical documents. Rather, they are given to us so we may share them with the community. That is what happened with the Mike Cox collection. This collection adds to the Tula Townsend Wyatt Collection, which is a continuation of the Francis Stovall Collection. It is a new phase for the library. Everything in the room — every book, paper, manuscript, painting and some furniture in the history room — was donated by a member of our community.

If you come to the library and peer through the glass at the items on display, you will see a chair with a photo of a man sitting in that same chair. This is the chair that J. Frank Dobie sat in when he wrote. It was donated by Mike Cox when he donated his collection. If the name J. Frank Dobie sounds familiar, it should. His is possibly the best-known Texas and Western folklorists…ever.

The Texas History Room contains valuable historical resources. As such, it must be kept secure, and all items must be used in the library. However, all the materials are catalogued and can be found in the library’s online public-access catalogue and the ResCarta photographic database. Much of it has been digitized and is available online through the catalogue. For example, both volumes of the Hays County, Texas, Cemetery Inscriptions are available with a click of your computer mouse. Hundreds of historic San Marcos photos are available digitally, too. While The Mike Cox Collection is still in the process of being cataloged, the majority of the books are already findable in the catalogue. To view the books, visitors to the library just need to look them up in the catalogue, then ask for them at the Information Desk. If you need help looking things up, ask the Reference Librarian at the “big round desk.” There is always a librarian on duty.

The San Marcos Public Library wants to include your family in our San Marcos-Hays County Local History Collection.

We have a form for individuals and families to document their history within the San Marcos and Hays County community. The library is creating a digital history center based on submissions from community members. Submissions should be descriptions of families with ties to Hays County. Using information submitted on this form, the librarian will make a record of the submission in the library’s catalogue and scan the accompanying documents (up to five pages) to our webserver. Your virtual histories will be accessible on the Internet through our library catalog — and ultimately through a Google search. You can pick up a copy of the San Marcos-Hays County Family Digital History Project form at the library, or download it here: hank.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/SMHC/DOCUMENTS/Digital Biography Form.pdf

Suzanne Sanders is the columnist for the library. She is the Community Services Manager for the San Marcos Public Library and came from the Austin Public Library in 2015 after having served there as a librarian for over 20 years. She gratefully accepts your questions for this column.