Eugene Campbell Barker Papers, 1785, 1812-1959

Historical Note

Eugene Campbell Barker (1874-1956) grew up in the east Texas towns of Riverside and Palestine before enrolling at the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned his B.A. in 1899 and his M.A. in 1900. He then attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his Ph.D. in 1908. With the death of professor George P. Garrison, Barker became the chair of the University of Texas History Department, a position he held until 1925. Barker is widely credited with leading the UT History Department to a position of national prominence through the recruitment of important faculty and the matriculation of notable students.

Among Barker's seminal works were his collecting, editing, and publishing of The Austin Papers and the subsequent publication of The Life of Stephen F. Austin. He also served as editor of the Southwestern Historical Quarterly and director of the Texas State Historical Association. Barker played a key role in the establishment of the University of Texas Latin American Collection and the development of the Littlefied Collection of Southern History.

Source: The Handbook of Texas Online

Scope and Contents

The Eugene Campbell Barker Papers, 1785, 1812-1959, consist of materials relating to the scholarship, research, and teaching of Texas history by the University of Texas historian and educator.

Barker's materials relate to his role in the development of the Texas State Historical Association, the American Historical Association, and other learned societies; scholarly research and publication; teaching at the University of Texas; national historical affairs; and Barker's consideration of academic freedom, tenure and University of Texas administration.

Research topics detailed in Barker's papers include: the Fredonian Rebellion; Texas finances (1835-1836); Sam Houston and the 1836 Campaign; Mexican Army and Mexican sources; Goliad and the Tampico Expedition; Texas-Mexican relations (1827-1834); causes of the Texas Revolution; letters concerning the writings of Sam Houston; transcriptions of documents concerning the Alamo, James Walker Fannin, Jr., James Grant, Francis W. Johnson, and William B. Travis; Stephen F. Austin; Anglo-American settlement in Texas; Austin's Colony; Austin in Mexico; the Declaration of Independence; the establishment of the Republic of Texas, civil government, land speculation, and nonmilitary events of 1836; native Latin American contributions to the Texas' colonization and independence; and Texas' relations with Great Britain, France, and Europe.

Also included are notes related to the William Barker family; Frederick Jackson Turner; state banks; the Virginia Convention of 1788, economic interpretation of the Constitution, the judiciary and slavery; Velasco, East Texas, expulsion of John Bradburn; the Convention of 1833; the homestead law in Texas; the Mexia Expedition; religion; Peter Grayson; and impressions suggested by Sam Houston's writings.

Restrictions

Conditions Governing Access

A portion of this collection is restricted. Contact repository for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

There are no use restrictions on this collection. Publisher is responsible for complying with copyright law. 

Related Materials

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Eugene Campbell Barker Papers, 1785, 1812-1959, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Briscoe Center staff. Subsequent processing by Evan Hocker, May 2005; and Colleen Hobbs, November 2020.

Accession Numbers

71-43; 94-203; 2018-014

OCLC Number

70277022

Detailed Description of the Collection