UTRGV Library

Today we celebrate the beginning of . We will be sharing more facts and info on banned books during the week. 📚

Image from American Library Association

We have put together a collection of posters celebrating entitled "Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together." view the collection at: https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/librarydisplayposters/70/

Looking for your next read? Get a glimpse of the Table of Contents for Fresh Studies in Rio Grande Valley History and explore what's inside. Learn more at https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/regionalhist/17/

We are hiring in Brownsville! For more information: https://careers.utrgv.edu/postings/44277

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! Celebrate by looking through our Hispanic Heritage Month LibGuide where you will find collected titles of eBooks, print books, films, online exhibits, and more!

https://utrgv.libguides.com/hispanic_heritage_month

Today we honor all those we lost and remember the courageous first responders. ❤️🤍💙

Check out the latest volume of the Regional History Series: Recent Studies in Rio Grande Valley History – Explore the table of contents and dive into the rich history of the RGV. https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/regionalhist/18/

For more information on textbook affordability, visit https://www.utrgv.edu/textbook-affordability-project/index.htm

Hello students!
Welcome to a new academic year! To help you get started, we have put together a quick guide of library resources and services to help you. If you need to de-stress, try our activity sheets, coloring pages, and book recommendations.
You can access the guides at any time by clicking the links below and downloading the guides. If you’re off-campus, you will be prompted to enter your UTRGV credentials before accessing the e-resources.

•General Resources Guide: https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/librarydisplayposters/21/
•Graduate Resources: https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/librarydisplayposters/53/
•De-stress @ The Library: https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/librarydisplayposters/66/

Wow, Summer flew by and now its almost Fall. Make sure you know about the library's hours and services. Wishing all a great semester!✌️

https://www.utrgv.edu/library/

Are you interested in working at the library full time and available for nights and weekends? If so, check out our Library Associate position that is available in Brownsville.

https://careers.utrgv.edu/postings/43732

Interested in working at the library? The Libraries in Brownsville and Edinburg are now accepting Work-study eligible applicants. We'd love to have you on our team. Apply on JobX now.

🚨 revised Sunday hours for July 7th 🚨

Just a reminder - we will be closed tomorrow. ✌️

Join us for our next game day - July 18th!

We will be closed tomorrow in observance of

🏳️‍🌈 June is and we celebrate by accepting all!

Like other railway hotels of the era, Hotel El Jardin was built adjacent to the Missouri Pacific depot for the convenience of tourists and travelers. San Antonio architect Robert B. Kelly (1893–1932) designed the depot and hotel and oversaw their completion. The formal opening celebration took place on May 4, 1927. At its peak, El Jardin was proclaimed the finest hotel in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, serving as the hub for Brownsville’s social activities. Matt Thomas (1888–1974) worked as a bellhop at the hotel for over 40 years and became acquainted with hundreds of prominent hotel guests. Like many historic buildings, the once grand hotel sat derelict for nearly four decades after closing in the 1980s—restoration costs proved too high for private owners and investors. However, in August 2023, the Housing Authority of the City of Brownsville broke ground on a $29.1M renovation project for its adaptive reuse as commercial space and residential housing. The project is expected to be completed in 2025.

Valley Historic Hotel Series: The Stonewall Jackson Hotel in San Benito, TX, is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark (2022), yet its future remains unknown. San Antonio architect Harvey P. Smith (1899–1964) designed the Stonewall Jackson Hotel and oversaw its construction. In 1927, the hotel cost $225,000 to construct. In 2013, the City of San Benito acquired the building for $220,000 to repurpose it for the community, but the renovation costs have been prohibitive. In its prime the hotel was the social center for San Benito, serving as the premier venue for formal gatherings and celebrations. Its courtyard was a popular venue for dances, parties, and wedding receptions. Today the hotel is boarded up, and the courtyard paint has faded to reveal the original 100-year-old brickwork.

Historic Hotels of the Valley Series: LaBorde House
The house was built for François LaBorde (also Francisco or "Don Pancho"). LaBorde was a Rio Grande City merchant, who was born in New Orleans, LA, and raised in Matamoros, MEX. He commissioned the plans for the family home from Paris in 1893. The designs were later refined by local architect Martin Hanson, Jr., to include a general store and office attached to a two-story residence with a central courtyard. In 1917, architect Leo M.J. Dieleman added to the buildings in such a way that they appear almost original to the structure. After La Borde’s untimely death in 1917, the LaBorde family operated their house as a hotel. Then in 1939, it was acquired by George R. Boyle and Gen. James S. Rodwell, who “modernized” the structures and changed the name to the Ringgold Hotel. By the 1970s the hotel was rundown, and the new owner J. Laurence “Larry” Sheerin undertook an extensive restoration completed in 1982. The hotel was known regionally for its striking architecture and lavish interior. It is now managed by the Starr County Historical Foundation. The LaBorde House Hotel is listed on the National Register for Historic Places. Research compiled by Manny Rodriguez, UTRGV University Library, Special Collections & Archives. Hidalgo County Historical Commission

Historic Hotels of the Valley Series: The Villa de Cortez is located at 260 S Texas Blvd. on Weslaco's historic plaza. It was previously known as the Cortez Hotel, which opened its doors to guests on December 31, 1928. Paul G. Silber (architect) designed the Spanish Colonial Revival style building which boasted four stories, a basement, an elevator, and 65 guest rooms. The Cortez Hotel offered all the modern conveniences of its era, including a barber shop, a beauty salon, a coffee shop, a ballroom, a post office, and a telegraph office. In 1998, real estate developers Pattie and Larry Dittburner purchased the Cortez Hotel. The couple recognized the cultural and historical value of the hotel to the City of Weslaco. Their restoration inspired other historic building owners to make interior and exterior improvements, which in turn spurred a larger revitalization movement as business owners and the city reinvested in downtown Weslaco. Today the Villa de Cortez functions as a multi-use event space. The Cortez Hotel is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and in 2005 it was designated a Recorded Texas Historical Landmark. Research compiled by Adela Cadena, UTRGV University Library, Special Collections & Archives, Hidalgo County Historical Commission Collection. Learn more https://omeka.utrgv.edu/exhibits/show/preservation/preserve2022/cortez

Hidalgo County Historical Commission

Historic Hotels of the Valley Series: The San Juan Hotel

The San Juan Hotel is an iconic landmark located in San Juan, Texas. The hotel's history is linked to the establishment of the San Juan Plantation, which not only predates the current structure but also the City of San Juan itself (est. 1917). The original building was constructed in 1909 as a much smaller two-story structure, but the township quickly outgrew its capacity and the new building which stands today was constructed in 1919. After decades of use and later neglect, the hotel was restored and a new addition was constructed in 1983. Then, in 1986, the San Juan Hotel was listed as a Recorded Texas Historical Landmark. UTRGV Special Collections & Archives is the repository for the Hidalgo County Historical Commission Collection, which includes research materials related to the historical marker. Hidalgo County Historical Commission

The UTRGV community and the public are invited to the following free events in honor of the late scholar, poet, and writer, Dr. Gloria E. Anzaldúa (1942-2004). She was El Valle born and raised, valedictorian of Edinburg High School '62, Pan Am graduate '68, and author of numerous influential texts and theories that continue to reach global audiences. The listed events fall on the 20th anniversary of her passing and are co-sponsored by numerous campus departments and Centers.

We are hiring! Library Assistant I position on the Brownsville campus - Special Collections and Archives department. For more info or to apply: https://careers.utrgv.edu/postings/42846

Congrats to all our UTRGV graduates! V's up! ✌️

Come join our team! https://careers.utrgv.edu/postings/42766

Join UTRGV Special Collections & Archives in honoring the legacy of Dr. Héctor P. García on what would have been his 110th birthday. Dr. Garcia was born in Mexico and raised in Mercedes, TX. He overcame discrimination and segregation to become a physician and surgeon and dedicated his life to service. Having served in WWII, Dr. García advocated for Mexican American civil rights as a member of LULUC and veterans' rights as the founder of the American G.I. Forum. Learn more from the books: Héctor P. Garcia: Everyday Rhetoric and Mexican American Civil Rights, by Michelle Hall Kells (2006) and The Inspiring Life of Texan Hector P. Garcia, by Cecilia Garcia Akers (2016).