The Donald E. O’Shaughnessy Library

The core of these archives is the historical records of the former Southern Province of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. They are the property of the United States Province of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, and have been retained in San Antonio for easier access for researchers on Texas and the Southwest. They comprise the non-active files and related historical material of the Texas-based Oblate administration, ministries, and personnel from 1849 to 1999. The collection includes original documents, photographs, copied material, artifacts, and related published works.

The material covers over 180 parishes, and many more missions served from those parishes, mostly in Texas, but also in Mexico, Louisiana, New Mexico, Colorado, and California. It also includes foreign missions; houses of formation (for training new Oblate missionaries); renewal centers (retreat houses); chaplaincies in hospitals, prisons, the military, and schools; and other special ministries. The records are invaluable for the work of the Catholic Church in the Southwest, especially among Hispanics. They are essential to the history of the local church in south and west Texas and the greater Houston area.

By special arrangement, other collections are also housed in these archives (such as the catholic newspaper The Southern Messenger, 1903-1957).

The Archives is open to researchers by appointment only.

To schedule an appointment, please contact the archivist by email at mmartin@ost.edu or by phone at 210-341-1366 extension 205.

The circulation collection is located on floors 2 & 3 of the north wing.
The reference collection is located on floor 2A of the west wing.
The current journal collection & special collections are located on floor 1A of the west wing.
The bound journal collection is located in the basement of the west wing.
The off-site collection is located in the basement of the campus chapel.