East Texas Research Center

Conduct research into the history of SFA and East Texas

The East Texas Research Center is more than a holding facility, it is a place to come face-to-face with notable historic people, events, stories, photographs, and memorabilia.  Its collections have something for everyone.  

From recordings of first-hand accounts of the Great Depression and national figures such as boxer, pastor, and entrepreneur George Foreman to county court records about prohibition and slave sales; from the papers of U.S. Representative Charlie Wilson to local diaries documenting the New London School Explosion; from four-foot long World War One military units photographs to autographed books of the Texas Revolution’s leaders; from the business records of lumber companies to the founding documents of SFA; from the papers of local NAACP leaders to 1950s motocross and 1980s local TV films.

Dating back to the first year of SFA, the East Texas Research Center’s is the official university archive and a state-designated repository for the historic records of surrounding counties.  Its faculty and staff, including paid undergraduate and graduate students, conduct oral histories, digitize privately held collections, provide genealogical resources, conserve historic newspapers and photographs, and collaborate with the public history program and other SFA faculty to provide hands-on learning experiences.

The East Texas Research Center is located on the 2nd floor of the Steen Library.  It is open to researchers by appointment only.  Please email asketrc@sfasu.edu or call 936.468.4100 for more information.