Category: Tower Collection

The John G. Tower Collection, which is now approximately 1000 linear feet, consists primarily of materials that Senator Tower accumulated during his 24 years in the Senate, although there are some files that pre-date and post-date his Senate career. The majority of the files are from Washington D.C., but there are also files, mostly casework, from his state offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston and Lubbock. The collection contains papers and manuscripts, printed materials, videotapes, audiocassettes, films, photographs, memorabilia and artifacts, microfilm, and a few electronic records. The 21 series in which the papers are arranged document Senator Tower’s activities and accomplishments: legislation he sponsored or co-sponsored, his voting record, correspondence, casework, campaigns, trips, political activities, committee work, speeches, floor statements, newsletters, radio and television broadcasts and more. During his time in office, Senator Tower served many years on the Armed Services Committee, the Joint Committee on Defense Production, and the Banking and Currency Committee (later called the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee).

On March 2nd of each year, Texas celebrates its own independence day. On that day in 1836, 56 mostly Anglo settlers in Mexican Texas declared Texas to be independent from Mexico, and published a Declaration of Independence to that effect.

The most well-known battle during the Texas Revolution was the Battle of the Alamo. Many people know this battle through popular culture – either from their classrooms as children, or one of the many movies produced dramatizing the battle. The Texian combatants in the Alamo, however, fought not for the independence of Texas, but rather for a return to the Mexican constitution of 1824. Continue reading “William B. Travis Letter and Senator John G. Tower”

September 5, 2017September 15, 2017

Tower Musket

Today I want to talk about an object that crosses two of our major collecting areas – the musket you see above. Firearms, and realia in general, are not really actively collected by Special Collections, as we lack the facilities to care for more than just a few pieces. The significance of this musket requires an exception to this rule, as it combines two of our collecting areas – Texana/Texas history and the life of Senator Tower. Continue reading “Tower Musket”

Senator John G. Tower reads William Barret Travis’ “Victory or Death” letter, 1964.