Our purpose is to support courses at undergraduate and graduate levels; to provide resources for independent scholarly research; to gather materials with local connections but national significance in the fine arts (visual art, music and performing arts).

General guidelines:

a. Language- primarily English; any other acceptable

b. Chronological- no limit

c. Geographical- no limit (see d.)

d. Treatment in priority order:

1. Materials of the University of Texas at Austin’s faculty, staff, graduates, students, administrators, clubs, societies and donors.
2. Materials of individuals, groups, businesses, organizations, agencies and institutions involved in the arts in Austin.
3. Materials of individuals from elsewhere with connections to 1. -or- 2.

e. Types of materials- manuscripts (correspondence, drafts of     publications, postcards, notes, diaries, drawings, receipts and accounts); duplicated documents (agendas, minutes, reports); printed documents (books, pamphlets, scores, journals, newspapers); sound or video recordings; photographs (including slides); computer files; ephemera (posters, playbills); realia (plaques and awards)

f. Date of publication- no limit

g. Other- while some overlap may arise with collections at the Harry Ransom Center or the Briscoe Center for American History, the goal is to compliment and supplement those institutions.

The Austin Theatre Alliance Archive contains about three thousand items, including posters, fliers, documents and ephemera from Austin's historic Paramount and State Theatres, the two venues that compose the Austin Theatre Alliance. These materials are accessible by appointment only. Contact Theatre/Dance Librarian Beth Kerr (512) 495-4482.

The Igor Youskevitch Collection is part of a gift archive from Robert Foshko, retired Radio-Television-Film professor. The collection includes filmed performances, master classes, panel discussions, etc. that were part of a huge gala event honoring Igor Youskevitch on the occasion of his retirement from teaching ballet in the Department of Theatre and Dance in 1982.

In addition to the several hundred books that Kostiuk gave to the Fine Arts Library (findable by a keyword search in the Library Catalog), the Fine Arts Library has a small archival collection (pdf) associated with the donation as well.

Lynn Freeman Olson (1938-1987) was a renowned educator and composer whose works have been studied by countless children learning to play the piano. His collection of music manuscripts, correspondence, books, periodicals, printed sheet music, and sound recordings has been donated to the Fine Arts Library in batches beginning in 1988. These materials are accessible by appointment only. Contact Music Librarian David Hunter (512) 495-4475.

The Sam Shepard Archive was moved to the HRC in December 2010.  Contact the HRC for more information.