HMRC, one of three Houston Public Library Special Collections, is a research library and archive located at the historic Julia Ideson Building (JIB) in downtown Houston. The research center specializes in preserving and showcasing unique collections centered on Houston’s diverse history. HMRC has both digital archives and physical collections available for customers to explore, which include historic documents, photographs, rare maps, building plans, journals, letters and books. Many of these items date back to Houston’s earliest communities and without proper steps in place to preserve these materials from deterioration, items run the risk of being lost forever.

Thanks to the Herzstein Foundation, whose generous support of this project is in direct alignment with their mission “to preserve heritage, educate individuals and communities,” HPL can increase efforts to avoid loss of these invaluable items. Specifically, this funding will enable HPL’s Special Collections team to purchase specialized archival supplies for preservation and contract an archivist that is trained for the intensive work of physically preserving these delicate items.

Once the collections are preserved, they will be made readily available to researchers at no cost. The HMRC team estimate preservation to be completed by December 2022. Due to the fragility of some materials, limited handling will be permitted; however, HMRC ensures public, equitable access to all archival collections by allowing materials to be viewed upon request.

For more information about the Houston Public Library’s Houston Metropolitan Research Center, hours of operation, or to request access to special archives, visit houstonlibrary.org/special-collections or call 832-393-1662.

Visit www.houstonlibraryfoundation.org for more information on the Houston Public Library Foundation and their generous support of HPL programming.

To learn more about the Albert & Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation, please visit: https://herzsteinfoundation.org