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2020

Strong (Bernice) Research Papers, 1804-1991

DRT Collection at Texas A&M University-San Antonio

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Bernice Strong Research Papers, 1804-1991

Descriptive Summary Creator: Strong, Bernice (1924-1991) Title: Bernice Strong Research Papers Dates: 1804-1991 Creator Bernice R. Strong was the historian archivist at the Daughters of the

Abstract: Library from 1980 until she retired in 1990. Content This collection contains working papers, research, and correspondence Abstract: related to several articles that Bernice Strong researched and wrote for

the revised edition of the Handbook of Texas, published in 1996 as the New Handbook of Texas. Identification: Col 15152 Extent: .5 linear feet (1 5-inch document box) Language: Materials are in English Repository: DRT Collection at Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Biographical Note

Bernice Alene Rhoades Strong was born in 1924 in Lampasas County. She earned an Associate's Degree in Library Tech from San Antonio College followed by a B.A. in history from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Prior to her work at the Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library, she worked at San Antonio College, with the Texas Parks and Wild Life Department, and at Mission San Jose. In her early career, she was a commercial artist for Slick Airways, but her favorite subjects were historical in nature. Hired in 1980 as part of a significant turnover in Library staff, Strong was the historian archivist at the DRTL until 1990. She achieved the designation of Certified Archivist from the Academy of Certified Archivists in 1990. She was a member in numerous archival, library, and historical societies. She became known as an authority on the history of the Southwest borderlands after she earned her MA in the subject at UTSA in 1987. She began working on several biographical articles for the New Handbook of Texas while an employee of the DRTL and continued after her retirement in l990. Due to illness, she was unable to complete the last of the articles which her colleague, Martha Utterback, finished and submitted. Bernice Strong passed away in 1991 in San Antonio. She is buried in Sunset Memorial Park in San Antonio. Her articles have been digitized for the Handbook of Texas Online. References: Proceedings of the Ninetieth Annual Convention of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Daughters of the Republic of Texas. 1981. Bernice Strong Research Papers, Col 15152, DRT Collection at Texas A&M University- San Antonio. VF - BIOGRAPHY-- STRONG, BERNICE ALENE RHOADES, DRT Collection at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.

Scope and Content Note

The Bernice Strong Research Papers contain correspondence, notes, working papers, drafts, and research materials related to several articles that Bernice Strong produced at the end of her tenure as the historian archivist at the Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library. The bulk of the papers include photocopied research materials of the Ruiz family of early San Antonio de Bexar. In particular, Strong researched heavily for a biographical sketch of Jose Francisco Ruiz, a prominent figure in early Bexar who would go on to become on the two Tejano signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence, along with his relative, Jose Antonio Navarro. Her research includes genealogical information as well as Ruiz's role in San Antonio de Bexar military and political life. Strong corresponded fairly regularly with the editors of the New Handbook of Texas for whom she undertook these biographical articles. Some of that correspondence appears throughout the collection. Strong filed these letters with the items or under the topic referred to in the correspondence. Finally, there are drafts of each of the several articles that Bernice Strong wrote for the Handbook as well as drafts of articles the Handbook editors asked that she critique in her capacity as expert historian.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

No restrictions. The collection is open for research.

Usage Restrictions

Please be advised that the library does not hold the copyright to most of the material in its archival collections. It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure those rights when needed. Permission to reproduce does not constitute permission to publish. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright, literary property rights, and libel.

Related Material

Documents collection, 1519-1979, DRT 9, DRT Collection at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Adolph C. Herrera collection, 1836-circa 1890, 1993, undated, Col 11546, DRT Collection at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Cassiano-Perez family papers, 1741-1976, Col 880, DRT Collection at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Reynaldo J. Esparza research papers, 1802-1995, Col 8827, DRT Collection at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. John Herndon James papers, 1812-1938, Col 4569, DRT Collection at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Leo M. J. Dielmann papers, drawings, and photographs, 1847-1961, Col 883, DRT Collection at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Bernice Strong Research Papers, 1804-1991, Col 15152, DRT Collection at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.

Acquisition Information

Bernice Strong was a staff member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library.

Processing Information

Processed by Jamie Espensen-Sturges, 2013 November.

Finding Aid encoded by Jamie Espensen-Sturges, 2013 November.

Edited by Rebeka Delgado, 2020 July.

Detailed Description of the Collection Bernice Strong Research papers, 1804-1991

Generally, the arrangement of this collection attempts to preserve the original order and organizations created by Bernice Strong. Original folder titles are designated with quotation marks. The collection is organized into three series. The series reflect the natural divisions that appear within Strong's arrangement. Series 1: Working Papers Series 2: Ruiz Research Series 3: Handbook Articles Series 1: Working Papers

The first series encompasses Bernice Strong's handwritten notes, corrected drafts, and some correspondence regarding the article on Jose Francisco Ruiz for the Handbook of Texas.

Box Folder 1 1 "Working Papers" 1 2 José Francisco Ruiz- "General Biography" Legal Notepad. Legal Notepad.

Series 2: Ruiz Research

This series is comprised of photocopies from journals, manuscript publications, books, Adolph Herrera's personal document collection, records of San Fernando Church, and items from the Texas State Archives, among other pieces. The information pertains to the Ruiz family genealogy, José Francisco Ruiz's military and political service, the Texas Declaration of Independence, and Ruiz's son, .

Box Folder 1 3 "Vital Statistics" "Handbook-Ruiz" 1 4 Bernice Strong correspondence with Douglas E. Barnett 1 5 Draft of article "José Francisco Ruiz" 1 6 Genealogy 1 7 Translations and Transcriptions 1 8 Published biographical sources 1 9 "Republic" Box Folder 1 10 "Declaration of Independence" 1 11 "Military-Mexican Era" 1 12 Photocopies, Transcriptions, and Translations 1 13 The Indians of Texas in 1830 by Jean Louis Berlandier [photocopy] 1 14 "Ruiz House" 1 15 John Wayne's The Alamo 1 16 Navarro Family and Herrera Family 1 17 "Francisco Antonio Ruiz" 1 18 Bibliography and glossary of Spanish legal terms 1 19 Translations and Transcriptions 1 20 Memoirs by [photocopy]

Series 3: Handbook Articles

This series is the most topically varied in the collection. Bernice Strong and the Revised Handbook of Texas editorial staff communicated regularly regarding the assignments she had accepted. The series also contains letters and corrected typescripts regarding those articles for which the editorial staff requested Ms. Strong's expert opinion on historical fact. The articles that Ms. Strong submitted include Leo M. J. Dielmann, John James, John Herndon James, José Cassiano, and Jose Francisco Ruiz. Ms. Strong consulted on an article about Enrique Esparza.

Box Folder 1 21 "General" 1 22 Enrique Esparza 1 23 John Herndon James 1 24 John James 1 25 José Francisco Ruiz 1 26 Leo M. J. Dielmann 1 27 José Cassiano Correspondence 1 28 1980s 1 29 1989-1991