Galveston & Texas History Center, Rosenberg Library

About the History Center

The Galveston and Texas History Center at the Rosenberg Library collects, preserves and organizes archival materials that document the history of Galveston and Texas, focusing on Galveston from the city’s incorporation in 1839 through the present and Texas from the Spanish period to the end of the Civil War. Manuscripts comprise the History Center's largest and most significant component. Other holdings in the History Center include a large photograph collection, maps, architectural drawings, genealogical materials, and reference books. The History Center contributes city directories from Galveston for the period 1859 – 1881.

Located in Galveston, Texas, the Rosenberg Library, established by a bequest from Henry Rosenberg in 1893, is the oldest continually operational library in Texas and has served as the principle repository for Galveston’s historical heritage since 1904 when the library officially opened. The Rosenberg Library represents Galveston’s past, present, and future, a unique institution serving as the principal repository of Galveston’s historical heritage and providing technological and traditional library services, all as a continuing resource for the community, its children, and its children’s children.

The Library’s archival collection began with the donation of the Texas Historical Society collection after part of their collection was lost or damaged during the 1900 hurricane. The Galveston and Texas History Center, as part of the Special Collections Department, collects, preserves, and makes available to the public materials relating to the history of Texas from the Spanish period to the end of the Civil War, as well as Galveston from its incorporation in 1839 to the present.

Manuscripts comprise the History Center's largest and most significant component consisting of over 3,000 linear feet of materials and include papers of prominent individuals in early Galveston and the Republic of Texas, such as Samuel May Williams, Gail Borden, Jr., James Morgan, John Grant Tod, and Sidney Sherman. Other holdings in the History Center include a large photograph collection, maps, architectural drawings, genealogical materials, and reference books. Through the Portal to Texas History, the city directories are available online providing access to a valuable piece of Galveston history.

Contact

Gerrianne Schaad

409-763-8854 ext 127

gschaad@rosenberg-library.org

Address

2310 Sealy St.
Galveston TX 77550

At a Glance

Basic statistics about this partner.
82,227 Items	22 Types	225 Titles
25 collections	19 Decades	19 Languages
656 Counties	50 States	94 Countries
602,934 Usage	10 years, 4 months ago Partner Added	6 months, 3 weeks ago Last Updated

Latest Additions RSS Feed

Latest Item #1: Route Map, Hawaiian Airlines : See All Hawaii

Latest Item #2: [Baur au Lac Hotel Lunch Menu]

Latest Item #3: [Letter From T. J. Lawhon to Island City Savings Bank, April 10, 1903]

Latest Item #4: Vietnam: Where Do We Go From Here?

Latest Item #5: [Copy of Letter from Isaac H. Kempner to the Galveston Chamber of Commerce, November 1, 1944]

Latest Item #6: [Letter from Mrs. W. O. Schuler, Jr., to Harris Leon Kempner, June 16, 1970]

Latest Item #7: [Letter from Isaac H. Kempner to the Galveston Chamber of Commerce, November 1, 1944]

Latest Item #8: [Rate Schedule for Hotels in Atlanta, Georgia, 1958]

Latest Item #9: [Letter from Mrs. W. O. Schuler, Jr., to Harris Leon Kempner, June 11, 1970]

Latest Item #10: [Notes of Harris Leon Kempner, June 1970]

Latest Item #11: Twenty-First Annual Meeting National Cotton Council of America [Program]

Latest Item #12: [Stern und Post Hotel Bill, 1950]

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Cite This Partner

Here is our suggested citation. Consult an appropriate style guide for conformance to specific guidelines.

Galveston & Texas History Center, Rosenberg Library, partner contributing to The Portal to Texas History. University of North Texas Libraries. https://texashistory.unt.edu/explore/partners/ROSEL/ accessed January 20, 2026.