This is an ongoing collection combining History Harvests from both Edinburg and Brownsville campuses. The objective of these History Harvests is to create a community collection from the area's families documenting local, regional, and national history to be held at the UTRGV University Library and made available for research, teaching, and educational exhibitions.
Participants agree to give unconditional permission to publish items online. This collection consists of life in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and Northern Mexico. Agriculture, architecture, businesses, customs, festivities, maps, military, sports, and transportation in the Lower Rio Grande Valley are some of the most prominent subjects.
The Rio Grande Valley Oral History Collection consists of over 500 digitized oral histories recorded and collected by faculty, staff, students, and community members and donated to the University Library. Oral histories provide unique, and in many instances, otherwise unavailable written information, and as such provide valuable insight into life in the region, including immigration, military service, ranching, education, agriculture, border violence, sports, and much more. Users can search for specific terms within the collection to find interviews of interest.
UTRGV & TSC Regional History Series. Explore the rich historical heritage of the Rio Grande Valley. The series includes articles written by scholars from a variety of institutions across the United States and Northern Mexico. ISSN: 2691-1825
The research guides compiled by UTRGV staff and students are intended to assist patrons who are embarking upon new research endeavors. Our goal is to expand their knowledge of the types of resources available on a given topic, including books, archival materials, and websites. In so doing, our compilers have taken care to include collections, digital items, and resources that may be accessed not only through UTRGV but also via other institutions, repositories, and websites.
We wholeheartedly respect the research interests of others. Therefore, please contact us if you wish to submit a resource for consideration, or if you have a question about or an issue with a specific cited resource.
Brownsville Memories of Home
Charro Days in Brownsville by
Brownsville, Texas, was established in 1850 on the banks of the Rio Grande. Every February since 1938, this thriving community of nearly 200,000 has joined its Mexican neighbor, Matamoros, to celebrate their shared cultural heritage. Charro Days burst upon the Rio Grande Valley scene in the depths of the Depression, bringing dances, parades, fireworks, boat races, and a rodeo to a dispirited populace. The celebration achieved instant success, followed by national recognition in magazines, radio, and television. Renowned dance bands and celebrities increased the enjoyment of revelers dressed in Charro costumes. As time passed, Charro Days evolved with the addition of events such as the Mr. Amigo presentation, which recognizes an outstanding Mexican, and the Sombrero Fest, which attracts a large number of attendees with its diverse entertainment.
The economic history of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, 1820-1875 (Dissertation) by
The Economic History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 1820-1875 Summary. Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Harvard University. Manuscript available via Brownsville Historical Association.
Historic Brownsville by
An illustrated history of Brownsville, Texas, paired with histories of the local companies.
The history of Brownsville, Matamoros, and their environs.
Brief date line history ... compiled by about thirty Brownsville High School students of government.
The News from Brownsville by
This remarkable collection of letters written by a U.S. Army officer's wife on the South Texas frontier is among the most significant published in recent years. Helen Chapman and her husband William, the first quartermaster at Fort Brown, were founding citizens of Brownsville, Texas. She commented on social conditions along the Rio Grande, expressing forthright opinions on a wide range of topics.Readers interested in the history of the military, Texas and the Southwest, women and minorities, and domestic life on the frontier will find this an invaluable addition to the literature of the American experience.
Explore the links below:
